FILM

Uprising: Hip Hop and The LA Riots

Dir. Mark Ford, 66 Minutes/USA (2012) Alberta Premiere

About the Film

20 years after riots ripped through Los Angeles, "Uprising" documents how hip hop forecasted – and some say ignited – the worst civil unrest of the 20th century. The film revisits the riots in gripping detail and draws from a diverse collection of voices – the rappers, rioters, victims, police officers, journalists and everyday citizens of South Central Los Angeles. The documentary traces the rise of dissent in Los Angeles in the 80's and 90's and explores why citizens chose to rise up violently against police abuse and perceived injustices.

About the Director

Mark Ford is a writer/director from Los Angeles. He started his career at CNN and has produced more than a hundred hours of television though his company, Creature FIlms. Credits include VH1's "Behind the Music" and MTV's "Laguna Beach." He has directed documentaries about NWA, Notorious BIG, and Aerosmith, among others.