Documentary 'Put The Guns Down: A World Epidemic' Selected for Hollywood Weekly Film Festival

Platinum City Golden West Entertainment Films announced the premiere of its documentary Put the Guns Down: A World Epidemic at the Hollywood Weekly Film Festival on Saturday, November 15th at Warner Brothers Studios. The feature-length film, executive produced by Ice-T and co-directed by Terry C. Carney, Sr. and Eric Herbert, provides an unflinching exploration of gun violence with specific focus on South Central Los Angeles.

As the first installment in a planned 12-part series, Put the Guns Down: A World Epidemic humanizes statistics through raw testimonies and unprecedented access to those affected by gun violence. The documentary examines root causes including economic hardship and inadequate mental health care, featuring exclusive interviews with victims, families, community members, and artists such as Spice 1, Chilly Chill, and Kokane. This approach transforms abstract numbers into personal narratives that reveal the human cost behind the global crisis.

The production represents more than cinematic achievement, positioning itself as a global rallying cry aimed at inspiring viewers to understand deeper societal forces behind violence and catalyze transformative reforms. The documentary's selection for the Hollywood Weekly Film Festival at https://filmfreeway.com/HollywoodWeeklyMagazineFilmFestival provides significant platform for its message, potentially reaching industry influencers and broader audiences through prestigious venue exposure.

Director Terry C. Carney, Sr. brings personal experience to the project, having faced challenging circumstances in his youth including relocation near Oklahoma City where he witnessed drug-related crime and family incarceration. These experiences shaped his understanding of life on society's fringes, while the tragic loss of friend and collaborator Nipsey Hussle galvanized his advocacy against gun violence through artistic expression. His collaboration with Cornell Ward and affiliation with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass underscore the project's commitment to diverse voices and critical social issues.

The documentary's availability extends beyond festival screenings through platforms like https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0DL75MQ8S/ref=atv_sr_fle_c_Tn74RA_1_1_1?sr=1-1&pageTypeIdSource=ASIN&pageTypeId=B0DL6L93TJ&qid=1758868223332, ensuring broader accessibility to its important message. The production team includes executive producers Eugene Ysaguirre, Monae Veronica Chavez, Harold Cheatham, and Juan Villanueva, along with assistant producers Ernest Churchill, Sean E. Sean, Jorge Hinojosa, Cornell Joseph Ward, Tim Crowe, Mack Tompkins, Lawon D. Carney, Sonya A. Carney, Jajuan Bryant, Andre Mitchell, and Devin Mitchell.

This documentary's festival selection and subsequent distribution could influence public discourse around gun violence prevention, potentially impacting policy discussions and community initiatives. By focusing specifically on South Central Los Angeles while framing the issue as a world epidemic, the film bridges local experience with global relevance, offering insights applicable to communities worldwide facing similar challenges. The project's emphasis on redemption and resilience, influenced by Carney's experiences as father and grandfather, provides hopeful counterpoint to the difficult subject matter, suggesting pathways forward through understanding and collective action.