Director Aaron Sorkin and Abdul-Mateen, who plays Bobby Seale, discuss the distressing courtroom scene.
At the trial, seven anti-Vietnam War activists were charged with inciting a riot at the Democratic National Convention.
As would be expected, this is one of the most distressing visuals in the film.
Credit: Niko Tavernise/NETFLIX
And he becomes afraid of you, and you become stronger than him."
Bobby wasn’t defeated by that moment.
I believe that he challenged them to give him their worst, and they did.
Aaron Sorkin with the cast of ‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’.Niko Tavernise/NETFLIX
And it didn’t defeat him.
I wanted to go into that scene and come out of that scene a winner.
Then I also knew that there’s a responsibility to tell those stories."
When it finally came time to shoot the scene, Abdul-Mateen felt very supported on set.
“Even though these things are props these shackles you’re concerned about the actor.
Want to take a break?'
And he was [like], ‘No, this is great.
I’m ready for another.’
So that’s how that worked.”
So this just added to the gravity to the moment.
The Trial of the Chicago 7is available to stream on Netflix now.
