Ava DuVernay Explains Why She Didn't Cast Anyone To Play Donald Trump In 'When They See Us'

[Kind of Blue]

If you follow famed filmmaker Ava DuVernay on Twitter, you already know she’s not afraid to call out the man who occupies the Oval Office. On Monday, when Donald Trump tried to get self-righteous about where he stands on criminal justice reform, it was only fitting that the director of the upcoming When They See Us Netflix miniseries, quickly got him together. https://www.essence.com/news/ava-duvernay-donald-trump-crime-bill/

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

The director went on the explain why she used news footage of Trump instead of casting an actor to play him in the series. DuVernay said that she wanted to present the reality show villain the way the families of the men—then just children—experienced him.

“I decided I was telling the story of the men. They knew a rich, kind of bloated, flamboyant guy who owned buildings across town had said something about them,” she explained. “They were much more concerned with their families and their lives than some guy in a golden tower.”

Unsurprisingly, Trump’s tune hasn’t changed.

While running for president in 2016, 14 years after the men were exonerated and their confessions proven to be coerced, Trump said that he still believes the men are guilty because “they admitted they were guilty.”
In 2002, Matias Reyes, a serial rapist and murderer, confessed to raping Meili, with DNA evidence confirming his statement.
https://www.essence.com/celebrity/ava-duvernay-explains-decision-not-to-cast-trump-when-they-see-us/

Link to tweet

[JustAnotherGen]

1. It's a great program

People too young to have experienced it, or who were not in the USA at the time (my husband) got one hell of an education.

[Kind of Blue]

2. I haven't summoned up the courage

to watch it and your review helps.

Thanks, JAG.

[JustAnotherGen]

3. The 4th episode will show you

Exactly why Kaleif Browder killed himself.

The key focus is on Korey Wise who was first sent to Riker's Island (adult prison) at the age of 16.

In these times of Trump - regardless as to whether Ms. Meili (Matias Reyes confessed and DNA evidence proved his confession as her sole attacker), the rat faced prosecutor (Fairstein), Sheehan (cop), and Lederer (first chair on the case) will ever admit that these boys and now men were innocent - and they all railroaded them from a space and place of racism and evil intent -

I'm glad Manafort's sorry ass is being sent there by the state of New York . *evil laugh*

His boss wanted those innocent boys to be murdered by the state of NY - it's only fitting he gets to sit in the hell that poor Korey Wise went through.

[Kind of Blue]

4. So depressing. After that I had to find how these men are doing

I knew that they were awarded a multi-million dollar settlement. And I'm surprised by this just posted today about rat faced Fairstein!!!

Now I can watch When They See Us knowing that the outcry from it is having a real affect besides the men still proving their innocence to the unknowing masses.

Thank you, JAG, for not hesitating to watch what the guys endured and being a lightweight like me!

Central Park Five prosecutor under fire again after Netflix series
A former prosecutor at the center of New York's notorious Central Park Five rape case faces strong backlash, after the release of a hard-hitting Netflix series. Linda Fairstein stepped down from the boards of a college and a non-profit charity. She was the top Manhattan sex crimes prosecutor when five teenagers were wrongfully convicted following the 1989 attack on a female jogger. Michelle Miller reports.

[tulipsandroses]

5. I haven't watched it yet either - I break down just watching the trailer

I was in NY at the time it was all happening. I was in high school at the time. Its just all too real. I am starting to become a bit disillusioned even here on DU the last few days how easy it is for some people to throw POC under the bus for their own benefit.

[Kind of Blue]

6. tulipsandroses, I've watched it since the last post.

As JAG suggested I watched it with my husband, too. It Is pure horror. It's no wonder to me that I gravitate to sci-fi/fantasy because it's Easier to deal with that than this reality. I was 19 at the time and all I could think was those kids don't even know each other and any one of them is my brother who was 15 at the time. And you hold your breath praying for them hoping that misfortune passes your house but years later it came and because of that I couldn't watch When They See Us for a long while.

Please watch because we have to be witnesses even if there's nothing we can do but protest. It also helped watching knowing that the two bitches involved faced incredible backlash and wonderful loss in finances this case helped them gain in the first place.

Fuck them now and forever because they see nothing wrong with what they did and our men are alive to enjoy their defeat.