SHOTS FIRED SET TO DEBUT ON 20TH CENTURY FOX MARCH 22
By Naomi Richard
Shots Fired, a new and original power packed series, is about to launch on the Fox Network March 22 from 8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT. From Gina Prince-Bythewood (“Beyond the Lights,” “The Secret Life of Bees,” “Love & Basketball”) and Reggie Rock Bythewood (“Notorious,” “New York Undercover,” “Get on the Bus”), SHOTS FIRED is a 10-hour event series that examines the dangerous aftermath of two racially charged shootings in a small Southern town, providing an explosive autopsy of our criminal justice system.
Ripped straight from the headlines, SHOTS FIRED is a provoking drama that delves into the complexities that arise in police-civilian shootings. The underlying premise of the program brings to light the limits of factors often analyzed in real-life racialized crimes: from poor police-community relations, to officer assumptions and biases, to reliance on witness cooperation-- just to name a few. One thing is clear, embarking on such a divisive topic is a bold move, particularly in today’s adversarial political climate when the trajectory of justice is unclear, to say the least.
The writing is brilliant highlighting commonalities across racial lines, hitting controversial issues dead on, and masterfully shedding light on the disparities among people of color. One element of SHOTS FIRED that sets it apart from a traditional crime show is the music. The music across genres makes the show more engaging and reinforces its commitment to blending its story line with the powerful impact of music our society.
The producers and music supervisors (Jabari Ali/John Houlihan) enlisted top talent to musically tell the story of this highly-anticipated drama. Three-time Grammy nominated artist BJ The Chicago Kid is the title track artist. There are also songs featured from Aloe Blacc, Da Honorable C-Note, Leon Bridges, Antonique Smith, Swizz Beatz, NAS, Anthony Hamilton, Mali Music, Ro James, Heather Victoria, Dionne Farris and more.
In an interview with music producer Jabari Ali we discussed the role music plays in the series. He had this to say, “We have an obligation to reflect our anger through art. Music promotes change in the forefront. Music moves us to a common goal. I selected original music to bridge the gap between Hip-Hop and Blues; between Civil Rights and Black Lives Matter; and between the older generation and milleniums. When a life is taken, it hurts no matter what color you are. This is a real story that must be told, inspired by the real lives of the Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman tragedy. The music has to connect with the audience right where they are.”
SHOTS FIRED is produced by 20th Century Fox Television, in association with Imagine Television and Undisputed Cinema. The series is created and executive-produced by Gina Prince-Bythewood and Reggie Rock Bythewood. Brian Grazer and Francie Calfo also serve as executive producers. “Like” SHOTS FIRED on Facebook at facebook.com/Shots Fired. Follow the series on Twitter @ShotsFiredFOX and join the conversation using #ShotsFired. See photos and videos on Instagram @ShotsFiredFOX.
# # #
