Black Outside explores what it takes to hike the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada. For Gary Wilkerson, Jr., it takes overcoming a family that didn’t like going outdoors because of racism. Black families in the South didn’t want to worry about what sort of community they were hiking past on the trail. Have things changed on his journey? The documentary arrives on digital in September. Here’s the press release from Shout! Studios:
Shout! Studios
Presents
A Riverside Entertainment Production
BLACK OUTSIDE
Directed by Gary Wilkerson, Jr. and Mary Jeanes
CAPTIVATING DOCUMENTARY FILM PREMIERES IN HOME THEATERS FOR DIGITAL PURCHASE AND/OR RENTAL ACROSS ALL MAJOR PLATFORMS
SEPTEMBER 3, 2024 FROM SHOUT! STUDIOS
Shout! Studios, in collaboration with Riverside Entertainment, is proud to present BLACK OUTSIDE, directed by Gary Wilkerson, Jr., and Mary Jeanes. This timely and unflinching documentary film that celebrates the power of human mettle and chronicles one man’s grueling journey to confront a generational fear will debut on major digital entertainment platforms for purchase and/or rent on September 3.
Produced by Whitney Clinkscales and Brian A. Loschiavo, BLACK OUTSIDE follows the transformative journey of filmmaker Gary Wilkerson, Jr., as he defies cultural norms and embarks on the adventure of a lifetime: hiking 2,600 miles from Mexico to Canada on the Pacific Crest Trail. As he struggles to navigate the breathtaking wilderness and treacherous terrain, we follow his profound path to self-discovery, forming unexpected bonds with fellow hikers and confronting deep-rooted generational fears of what happens to Black people in the woods.
Movie Synopsis
“That’s for White people…” A phrase that infuriated Gary Wilkerson, Jr. as a young, Black kid wanting to do outdoorsy things, like camping. He wasn’t old enough to understand that it was a warning, passed down from generations of Black Americans who weren’t permitted to explore the outdoors for fear of being killed. To confront this inherited fear, Wilkerson turns the cameras on himself to document his experience as he challenges himself to conquer the Pacific Crest Trail. This grueling 2,600-mile thru-hike from Mexico to Canada takes six months to complete. With the guidance and support of his ride-or-die best friend and fellow filmmaker Mary Jeanes, Wilkerson sets off on the adventure of a lifetime. This grueling journey is no easy feat – especially for a guy who’s never spent a night outside in his life.
As he struggles to navigate the breathtaking wilderness and difficult terrain, we follow his profound path to self-discovery, forming unexpected bonds with fellow hikers, and challenging the notion of what happens to Black people in the woods.
Produced by Whitney Clinkscales and Brian A. Loschiavo
Directed by Gary Wilkerson, Jr., and Mary Jeanes
Executive Producers, Brian A. Loschiavo, Jeff Molyneaux, Pastor Alvarado III
Music by Forrest Lotterhos
Edited by Kaylee Kim
Co-produced by Scott Emmer, Michelle Fenn, Amanda Abicalaffe, Elizabeth Mishaan
Post Producer, Mike L. Taylor
Director of Photography, Mary Jeanes
BLACK OUTSIDE
Available Digitally in the U.S. and Canada starting September 3, 2024
AppleTV, Amazon, GooglePlay, YouTube, Microsoft, Bell Media, and other digital platforms in the U.S. and Canada
Not Rated | Movie Running Time: 80 minutes
North American Distributor: Shout! Studios
