MLK/FBI Director Sam Pollard

Fresh off the heels of celebrating what would've been Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s 92nd birthday, we interview Emmy Award-winning and Oscar-nominated director Sam Pollard about his new documentary MLK/FBI. Here he talks about the journey of making the film and how he used newly declassified files and never-before-seen footage to present new information about the FBI’s surveillance of Dr. King.

1:45 - Pollard talks about the responsibilities of a documentarian. He speaks on not wanting to use his documentary to further deify MLK, but present him as a man who had a lot on his plate as he led a movement to combat discrimination in America. 

5:30 - Pollard gets into the two-and-a-half-year journey of making this film and how so much of what was captured 50-60 years ago still rings true today. He also talks about where the research began when starting the project.  

10:35 - Pollard talks about why after all of the work MLK had done, the March on Washington is what made the FBI start paying attention to the movement he was building. He also speaks on how MLK has gone from being considered a threat when he was alive, but a hero after he was assassinated.

15:00 - Pollard talked to Ambassador Andrew Young and a few others for the documentary. He talks about trying to approach people like Young to tell a story that they are probably tired of talking about.

20:00 - Here we all ponder how after decades of documented corruption; the FBI is still active and as strong as ever. He also talks about how his interview with former FBI director James Comey came together. 

28:45 - Pollard gives up and coming filmmakers some advice on how to get in the game, navigate and flourish.

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