ESPN’s ‘OJ: Made in America’ Documentary Event Set to Screen in LA, NYC Theaters This Weekend (Video)
If you find yourself with extra time on your hands this weekend and in need of a truly unique theater experience, we have just the thing for you.
ESPN Films announced Friday that its “OJ: Made in America” documentary will play at the Cinema Village in New York City and Laemmle theater in Santa Monica, California, from May 20-26.
The epic seven hour, 43 minute doc will show on two screens per day at each theater. Given the length of the project, they will show Parts 1 and 2 of the film, then break for approximately 15-20 minutes. Then Parts 3 and 4 will be shown, followed by another 15-20 minute break, concluding with Part 5.
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The full feature premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 22, playing in its entirety with a lunch break in the middle.
Directed by Peabody and Emmy winner Ezra Edelman, “O.J.: Made in America” is the first miniseries event for ESPN Film’s highly-acclaimed “30 for 30” brand.
The episodic documentary tells the defining cultural tale of 20th-century America by exploring the themes of race and celebrity by tracing a personal journey, from how O.J. Simpson first became a football star, to why the country fell in love with him off the field, to his being accused of murdering his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her acquaintance, Ron Goldman, his subsequent acquittal and why he is sitting in jail 20 years later for another crime.
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“We are incredibly proud of this epic work of documentary filmmaking. It’s one of the most unique projects ESPNFilms has ever done,” Marie Donoghue, EVP, Global Strategy and Original Content, said in March. “We are especially excited to team with our ABC colleagues to premiere the first installment on ABC.”
“30 for 30” tackled the O.J. Simpson story in a very different way two years ago with director Brett Morgen’s doc “June 17th, 1994,” detailing the numerous noteworthy sporting events that occurred during the infamous Bronco police chase.
The film, which features no narration nor interviews, consists simply of music set to clips from news sources during the fateful day and commentary from sportscasters such as Chris Berman and Bob Costas talking to their producers about how to deal with the O.J. story within the context of the events they were covering.
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For those who would rather watch “‘OJ: Made in America” on the small screen, the series premieres on ABC on Saturday, June 11 (Part 1) then moves to ESPN the following week with the 5 parts airing over four days — June 14, 15, 17 and 18.
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