When “The Trial of the Chicago 7” was filmed there was no indication of how relevant it would be at the time of its release. The year 2020 has seen its share of unrest in the United States, not unlike the late 1960s.
Over Zoom, we spoke with Ryan Smith, an executive producer on the film, the President of Production & Development for Streamline Global. Part of his role was to find the funding to green-light the project.
“These guys were renegades, they really had to risk so much to do what they did,” he said of the film’s subjects.
The plan was to release the film just prior to the 2020 presidential election, but the parallels in the film to the 1960s is not something that could have been predicted. The film, which features an ensemble cast that includes Sacha Baron Cohen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Michael Keaton, takes place at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago where riots broke out.
Over the course of five days and nights, rallies, demonstrations, marches, and protests took place on the streets of Chicago, most objecting to President Lyndon B. Johnson’s policies on the Vietnam War. Hundreds of protesters and police officers were injured. The event was later characterized as a “police riot” by the U.S. National Commission on the Causes and Prevention of Violence, and a federal grand jury indicted eight demonstrators and eight police officers.
The Chicago Seven were charged with “conspiracy by protesters to cross state lines to incite a riot.”
“The casting was absolutely brilliant,” said Smith.
The film was written and directed by Aaron Sorkin. Sorkin wrote the screenplay in 2007 and there were plans for Steven Spielberg to direct. Following the 2007 Writers Guild of America strike, budget concerns forced Spielberg to drop out. Sorkin was announced as director in 2018 and filming took place in Chicago and New Jersey in 2019.
“I’m a huge fan of Aaron Sorkin. It’s an absolute dream to have an EP credit on one of his projects,” said Smith. “He is such a beautiful storyteller, an authentic storyteller and amazing writer… He’s as talented of a writer as he is a director.”
“It’s wild because this film was one that was being put into the traditional studio system,” said Smith. The film was originally slated for a theatrical release by Paramount Pictures, but the distribution rights were sold to Netflix during the COVID-19 pandemic. “In a non-COVID world this film would have come out on 3,000 screens with a wide theatrical release.”
“The unbelievable Netflix stepped up and saw an opportunity to help this film find its audience in a timely fashion,” said Smith of the film, which began streaming digitally on October 16.
“Chicago 7” was able to stay on its original timeline, released prior to the 2020 election. It has received positive reviews from critics, who have praised the performances and the screenplay.
For Smith, the film says a lot about “politically where we stand in this country, socially where we stand in this country – with people caring and wanting their voices to be heard and standing up for causes they believe in. With all of that combined, in the middle of a pandemic, I really don’t think there’s a better story that people can find inspiration in and through.”
The film serves as a way to touch lives and impact culture. Smith believes the film offers “a reminder of role models or examples from the past of people who fought for what they believe in and for their voices to be heard.”
“I hope the film will stay as relevant to people in years to come as it is today,” he continued. “I think it’s a great reminder, it’s an inspiration, it’s a wonderful piece of content to look at as we question whatever our beliefs may be: politically, socially, religious. I do believe people should fight for what they believe in and I believe they should stand up and allow their voices be heard because that’s the point of life. Anytime I can find content that achieves that goal then it’s content that I want to put my name behind and push and try to bring out.”
“The Trial of the Chicago 7” is available for streaming on Netflix.
