*Ava DuVernay’s star-studded short film “August 28: A Day in the Life of a People” will make its television debut tonight (also Aug. 28) at 7 p.m. EST on OWN.
Lupita Nyong’o, Angela Bassett, Don Cheadle, Regina King, David Oyelowo, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Andre Holland, Michael Ealy and Glynn Turman star in the 22-minute scripted film about six historical moments that happened on August 28 in different years.
Combining both documentary and narrative techniques, the short follows the passing of The Slavery Abolition Act on August 28, 1833, the lynching of Emmett Till on August 28, 1955, the first radio airplay from Motown Records on August 28, 1961 with The Marvelettes “Please Mr Postman,” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech during the massive March on Washington on August 28, 1963, Hurricane Katrina making its tragic landfall on August 28, 2005 and then-Senator Barack Obama’s acceptance of the Democratic nomination for the presidency on August 28, 2008.
The film was lensed by cinematographer Malik Sayeed and edited by Oscar nominee Spencer Averick. Paul Garnes produced, with co-producers Tilane Jones and Tammy Garnes.
The score was composed by 10-time Grammy nominee Meshell Ndegeocello, who also sings the theme song for DuVernay’s other OWN project, “Queen Sugar.”
Watch the trailer for “August 28” below:
