Mario Van Peebles to Direct Docuseries Following Civil Rights Leaders, Activists Throughout 2024 Election Cycle

Mario Van Peebles has his eyes targeted on the upcoming election cycle.
The actor and filmmaker is about to direct the docuseries The Beat Goes On for Companions in Form Productions, a brand new manufacturing firm designed to heart “storytelling on the intersection of inspirational affect and leisure,” The Hollywood Reporter can completely reveal. For the sequence, Van Peebles will shadow civil rights leaders, organizers and activists by means of the 2024 election.
The Beat Goes On marks a partnership with civil rights nonprofit the Drum Main Institute and the Drum Main Coalition. Martin Luther King III, a civil rights advocate, world humanitarian and chairman of the board of the Drum Main Institute, and Arndrea Waters King, a champion of nonviolence and social change initiatives and president of the Drum Main Institute, will co-executive produce the sequence alongside Van Peebles. King III is the oldest son of civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King.
Arndrea Waters King and Martin Luther King III
Ben Gabbe/Getty Photographs
“Our hope is for The Beat Goes On to be an inspiring message for potential voters, highlighting the work of grassroots organizers throughout the nation who’re working tirelessly to embrace social motion and convey concerning the change we have to see at this pivotal second,” stated King III.
Added Waters King: “We wish each particular person to know that they’ve the facility to uniquely contribute to the motion that can result in actual change, true justice and actual fairness. This docuseries will probably be many issues: a wake-up name, a motivating message for these at the moment doing the work to maintain going, a call-to-action for these on the sidelines to become involved and consider that they, too, can effectuate change, and a beacon of hope for the longer term we all know is feasible.”
Van Peebles stated he’s “extremely honored” to be concerned within the mission and to be working with the King household and Companions in Form. “The steadfast work by organizations which might be in search of to maintain our basic rights and democracy alive deserves this highlight.”
Scottsdale, Arizona-based Companions in Form was co-founded in 2022 by philanthropists Gillian Hormel and Shelly Tygielski. They’ve not too long ago named Dorothy Toran as president of the corporate. Toran has labored within the unscripted house and is credited as an government producer of The Actual Housewives of New Jersey and she or he not too long ago produced a number of Race in America specials.
“America is at an inflection level,” stated Toran. “We’ve to seek out impactful methods to have a good time our variations and shield our shared humanity. At Companions In Form, we consider that storytelling is a strong device to that finish.”
Van Peebles’ current credit embrace Superstition, Wu Tang: An American Saga, A Million Little Issues, Energy Guide III: Elevating Kanan, Salt-N-Pepa and the upcoming Outlaw Posse and Black Cake. He’s at the moment writing a tribute to his father to be carried out at Lincoln Middle.