Former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground Productions is producing for release on Netflix a feature film adaptation of author and Pulitzer Prize winner David W. Blight’s “Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom.”
Douglass, who died in 1895, escaped slavery and became a leading abolitionist, formative writer, stirring orator, statesman and photography theorist.
“We created Higher Ground to harness the power of storytelling. That’s why we couldn’t be more excited about these projects,” Barack Obama said in a statement. “Touching on issues of race and class, democracy and civil rights, and much more, we believe each of these productions won’t just entertain, but will educate, connect, and inspire us all.”
Michelle Obama said they are enamored with their slate of seven such films that span different interests and experiences.
“Yet it’s all woven together with stories that are relevant to our daily lives,” the former first lady added in the statement. “We think there’s something here for everyone — moms and dads, curious kids, and anyone simply looking for an engaging, uplifting watch at the end of a busy day. We can’t wait to see these projects come to life — and the conversations they’ll generate.”
Higher Ground Productions is home to a wide range of scripted, unscripted and documentary-style series, as well as feature-length narrative and documentary films. Their first release is “American Factory,” a Sundance award-winning documentary. The film explores post-industrial Ohio, where a Chinese billionaire opens a new factory in the husk of an abandoned auto plant and hires 2,000 blue-collar Americans.