In celebration of Black History Month, TV One will be releasing its highly anticipated made-for-television movie Behind the Movement. The film explores instrumental figures of the Montgomery Bus Boycott and highlights their pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement. Actress Meta Golding has been given the honor of starring as Civil Rights icon Rosa Parks.
Filmed in Atlanta, Behind the Movement covers the intense three days that took place between Rosa Parks’ infamous arrest in 1955 to the launch of the boycott. Audiences will not only witness history in the making but also experience the emotions and struggles of everyday people before they were immortalized as legends. It peels back the curtain to reveal the preparation that took place to pull off the most successful boycott in American history.
Mostly known for her role as Enobaria in The Hunger Games franchise, Meta Golding is a phenomenal actress who has given stellar performances in film and television since the 90s. Some of her other appearances include CSI, Tomorrow People, and Criminal Minds. Naturally, Meta studied hard to do the role of Rosa Parks justice. Not only did she read various books written by and about Rosa Parks, she also listened to audio and watched videos depicting the former seamstress.
Through her research, Meta found that Rosa was deeply rooted in her faith. Her devotion to God was a recurring theme throughout her work and a pillar in her life. It wasn’t uncommon for people of color during those times to use the strength of their faith to carry them through the fire.
“I was so honored to play Rosa Parks. I felt such a responsibility to honor her and to find as much as I could about her. She means so much to this country, so many people, and to the world. I felt a real responsibility to get her right,” Meta expresses as she reflects on her preparation for the role.
She also confessed that before seeing the script she had doubts about whether or not the film would be any good. After reading it, Meta found the script to be a phenomenal piece of work. More importantly, a chance to depict the Civil Rights movement from a point of view that hadn’t been explored before.
Behind the Movement isn’t a biopic about Rosa Parks’ life, but a window into a historic event that affected the lives of many people; specifically people of color. Through this film, the spotlight is broadened to include other civil rights leaders and organizers who were essential to the cause including E.D. Nixon and Jo Ann Robinson. Other unsung heroes who participated in the boycott are highlighted as well.
Starring alongside Meta are actors Isaiah Washington (The 100), Loretta Divine (Waiting to Exhale), Roger Guenveur (American Gangster), and Shaun Clay (Crazy/Sexy/Cool: The TLC Story). These men and women all play important roles in the film with Shaun tackling the role of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Roger portraying Rosa’s husband Raymond Parks. Loretta and Isaiah take on the roles of activist Jo Ann Robinson and Civil Rights leader E.D. Nixon.
The city of Atlanta served as the perfect backdrop for Montgomery, AL in 1955. Most of the scenes were shot in Black churches, which were historically the central hub for most of the activities involving Civil Rights Movement. In fact, some of Atlanta’s Black churches were directly involved during in the movement, with Ebenezer Baptist Church serving as the headquarters for Dr. Martin Luther King’s activities. Though most of the city has modernized, some these churches have maintained their existence since the 1800s.
TV One will premiere Behind the Movement Sunday, February 11 at 7 pm EST during Black History Month. Visit www.tvone.tv for more information about the film. Join the conversation by connecting via social media (@tvonetv) on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
