Coming September 4, 2012
‘The Chicago 8’ is a courtroom drama based on actual court transcripts from the trial that resulted when seven young leaders of the Vietnam anti-war movement including Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, and Tom Hayden along with Black Panther Party Chairman Bobby Seale were charged with conspiracy to incite a riot.
Starring Gary Cole, Philip Baker Hall, Orlando Jones, Mayim Bialik, Steven Culp, Danny Masterson, Thomas Ian Nicholas, and Peter Mackenzie. Written and Directed by Pinchas Perry, edited by Colleen Halsey, ACE, and Academy Award winner Richard Halsey, ACE, with James Mathers serving as Cinematographer and Co-Producer.
In 1968, America was divided over the Vietnam War. Due to the growing anti-war movement, President Lyndon B. Johnson announced that he would not run for re-election. Democrat Robert Kennedy, the Presidential hopeful, was assassinated that summer. The Democratic National Convention was held in Chicago where leaders of the anti-war movement planned a protest.
During the protest, Chicago Mayor Daley used police force to brutally quell the rally, and as a result, rioting broke out in the streets. One person was killed, hundreds were injured and thousands were arrested.
One year later, newly-elected President Richard Nixon gave the green light to prosecute eight men who were accused of conspiracy to incite a riot. The FBI brought them to Chicago, where they stood trial. They were known thereafter as “The Chicago 8.”
Visit The Chicago 8 official website: http://thechicago8.com or join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thechicago8
