Chicago 10

At the 1968 Democratic National Convention, anti-Vietnam war protestors who were denied permits for demonstrations repeatedly clashed with the Chicago Police Department. Tensions mounted, and an already fraught week culminated in riots broadcast live to a television audience of more than 50 million, further polarizing the nation. I was initially drawn to this subject matter for both political and cinematic reasons. I wanted to make a fi lm that would remind people about the importance of exercising one’s constitutional rights. I found my source of inspiration in the story of the Chicago Conspiracy Trial and the 1968 Democratic Convention. I have long admired the courage and resilience of both the protestors and the defendants and I wanted to make a film that celebrated their actions and allowed a new generation to witness a story about how far people will go to have their voices heard. The events in Chicago happened nearly 40 years ago, which basically suggests that most Americans under the age of 50 have never seen these images. My goal from the beginning has been to reintroduce this chapter of recent history to a new generation, for they are the ones who will hopefully benefi t the most from this story.