Paramount Pictures’ powerful film heads to VR in honor of the Black Lives Matter movement.
In 1965, Martin Luther King Jr and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) planned a protest march that would begin in Selma, AL and end on the steps of the state’s capital in Montgomery. The Selma to Montgomery march was organized in response to the murder of Jimmie Lee Jackson, an African American veteran and civil rights activist who was unarmed, was beaten and then shot by Alabama State Troopers during what was supposed to be a peaceful voting rights march.
The 54 mile route was broken up into three days of protest marching that was led by King, SCLC Director of Direct Action James Bevel, Activist Amelia Boynton and others. Each day, protesters found themselves facing violent opposition along the way.
The march was watched by millions of people all over the world and would end up proving instrumental in raising awareness towards the national Voting Rights Act.
To tell this story, Paramount Pictures produced the film Selma based on the historic events that transpired in 1965. Directed by Ava DuVernay, the film would make its premier during the 2014 American Film Institute Festival before releasing nationwide in 2015. Selma would go on to be nominated for Best Picture at the 87th Academy Awards.
In honor of the current Black Lives Matter protests happening all across the world, social VR movie platform Bigscreen will show Selma for free in the United States beginning June 13th at 4pm Pacific / 7pm Eastern in the hopes of amplifying the message and resolve of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The screening of Selma is possible through a partnership established last year between Bigscreen and Paramount Pictures. Both companies see this as an opportunity to stimulate conversation and inspire people to take positive action within their local communities.
“We hope this small gesture will encourage people throughout the country to examine our nation’s history and reflect on the ways that racial injustice has infected our society. The key message of Selma is the importance of equality, dignity and justice for all people,” said one Paramount Pictures representative.
If you can’t make the June 13th live movie screening, you can catch the powerful film free on-demand via Bigscreen until June 30th.
Bigscreen is available free on Oculus Quest, Oculus Rift/Rift S, and SteamVR.
Image Credit: Bigscreen Inc.
