Atlanta is known as “Black Hollywood.” The city has served as the setting and backdrop for many movies and television shows. Although it has played host to many film and television studios, Atlanta itself has never really been shown in its true light. With many different communities and social circles in the city it could be a little difficult pinpoint what Atlanta really is. Television shows like Love & Hip-Hop fail to provide an accurate representation of the city. The only film to somewhat show an accurate depiction of life in Atlanta is the film ATL starring T.I. and Lauren London. Donald Glover a.k.a Childish Gambino, an Atlanta native, is looking to show what life in Atlanta is like through his perspective.
The show Atlanta is a fictitious account of a man, played by Glover, who moves back to Atlanta and begins to manage the career of his cousin who is a popular rapper within the city. The show is inspired by the rap scene in Atlanta and it explores an organic perception of the city itself. The show will touch on Glover’s views of success, race and art. Glover, whose resume includes rapping and acting, took a different approach to developing this show. Instead of meeting writers in an office or studio, they all go to Glover’s house to work.
“The writers – we don’t have an office. They come to my house. I make food and… we hang out, and we talk, and we see what’s on the Internet. I want to feel like we’re family, because I think the Internet has kind of like ruined the bacteria that’s culture. Not ruined it, but it’s just kind of turned it into something that can’t really grow.”
The show was announced three years ago and now we are starting to see the rollout. Atlanta has been picked up by FX for a 10-episode season, each one lasting 30-minutes. Along with Donald Glover, actors Brian Tyree Henry, Lakeith Lee Stanfield and Zazie Beetz will also star in the show. The first teaser for the show appeared during the finale of the FX original series, American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson.
Atlanta is scheduled to air in September. In the meantime, check out the latest teasers, which were shot in East Atlanta Village. They don’t reveal much about the show but they do garner some excitement.
