MTV Entertainment Studios & Bassett Vance Productions Tap Award-Winning Writer Nathan Alan Davis for Limited Series on the Tu...
May 24 2021 - 2:44PM
Business Wire
On the centennial anniversary of the
tragedy, the dramatic adaptation will be executive produced by
Courtney B. Vance and Angela Bassett as part of overall deal with
MTVE
Headshots here
MTV Entertainment Studios and Bassett Vance Productions today
announced that Award-winning playwright Nathan Alan Davis will
write a scripted original limited-series inspired by the Tulsa Race
Massacre of 1921, considered the single worst incident of racial
violence in American history.
A century after the devastating event that left hundreds of
Black people dead and entire homes and businesses destroyed, the
series will be the first dramatic adaptation devoted to telling the
story of Greenwood district in Tulsa which at that time was the
wealthiest Black community in the United States and known as "Black
Wall Street.”
“As storytellers - together with Courtney, Angela and Nathan -
we have the privilege of shining a light on a devastating event in
our history that is important, necessary and still resonates 100
years later,” said Nina L. Diaz, President of Content and Chief
Creative Officer at MTV Entertainment Group. “This partnership
underscores our shared commitment to raise diverse voices and
create content our global audience is yearning for that is both
timely and telling.”
“Angela and I have always had a deep appreciation for history,
especially when it comes to stories that are rooted in the Black
community. We look forward to working on this series with MTV
Entertainment Studios that will explore an important slice of
American history as we look to reflect on events that changed the
lives of countless Black families in Tulsa, Oklahoma one hundred
years ago,” said Courtney B. Vance, principal at Bassett Vance
Productions. “We are excited to work with Nathan because his vision
directly aligns with the story that Angela and I want to tell.
Although the series will revisit the Black pain and tragedy that
took place on May 31 and June 1, 1921, it will also importantly
introduce to many the stories of the extraordinary, entrepreneurial
people who built Black Wall Street and all that this community
accomplished.”
Davis added, “I am honored to be partnering with Courtney,
Angela, MTV Entertainment Studios and their extraordinary teams in
this vital endeavor. Exploring the history of Tulsa’s Greenwood
District as a limited dramatic series affords us a precious
opportunity and a deep responsibility. I greatly look forward to
crafting a story that will not only shed light on the people of
Black Wall Street, but give fresh life to the spirit, ideas, hopes,
fears, and dreams that motivated them.”
This is the first project from Bassett Vance Productions as part
of the deal made with MTV Entertainment Studios in 2020. Having
served as a writer for projects such as BET's American Soul and
Facebook Watch's Sorry For Your Loss, this marks Davis's first run
as a show creator after receiving multiple awards for his produced
plays, including Nat Turner in Jerusalem, Dontrell Who Kissed the
Sea and The Wind and the Breeze. He previously provided a take on
the Tulsa Massacre for his play, The High Ground, which is slated
to premiere at Arena Stage in Washington D.C.
Meghan Hooper White, EVP and Head of Original Movies and Limited
Series and VP, Original Movies and Limited Series, Amal Baggar will
oversee the project for MTV Entertainment Studios. Bassett and
Vance will executive produce the series, along with Dwayne
Johnson-Cochran and Lynnette Ramirez for Bassett Vance
Productions.
Davis is repped by ICM and managed by Literate. Bassett Vance
Productions is repped by Darrell Miller, Fox Rothschild LLP.
Bahareh Kamali brokered the deal for MTV Entertainment Studios.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210524005756/en/
Press Contacts: Chris
Delhomme Chris.Delhomme@viacomcbs.com Jo Flattery
Jo.Flattery@viacomcbs.com Kelly Andersen
Kelly.Andersen@viacomcbs.com Lauren Woulard
Lauren.Woulard@viacom.com
ViacomCBS (NASDAQ:VIAC)
Historical Stock Chart
From Aug 2024 to Sep 2024
ViacomCBS (NASDAQ:VIAC)
Historical Stock Chart
From Sep 2023 to Sep 2024