HE WAS A PIONEER OF TELL-IT-LIKE-IT-IS RADIO AND TELEVISION, AND NOW HIS OUTSIZED LIFE STORY IS TOLD WITH RARE FOOTAGE AND INTERVIEWS
ADJUST YOUR COLOR
The Truth of Petey Greene
The Real Story of the Shocking Host Who Inspired the Acclaimed Feature ‘Talk to Me’ Comes to Digital Platforms and DVD From Virgil Films in July
New York, NY (June 13, 2016) – He was a radio and TV personality like no other, a pioneering shock jock and talk-show host who took on racism like no one before to become an inspiring voice for understanding. ADJUST YOUR COLOR: THE TRUTH OF PETEY GREENE, featuring rare footage and classic interviews, comes to digital platforms and DVD from Virgil Films on July 12, 2016.
In the tumultuous 1960s and ’70s, Petey Greene emerged as a one-of-a-kind voice speaking out against racism, crime and poverty. An ex-con, he used his years in prison as an education in people and society, and as a radio host and later a TV personality in Washington, D.C., spoke the people’s language to point out what needed to be changed to make life better for everyone.
Oscar-nominated actor Don Cheadle (who portrayed Greene in the 2007 award-winning feature Talk to Me) narrates this insightful documentary that explores the life and times of Greene, the bombastic radio DJ-activist who rose to prominence in the 1960s via his groundbreaking show, “Rapping With Petey Greene.” By the 1970s, he was hosting a similar show on TV, “Petey Greene’s Washington,” whose wide range of guests included a young shock jock named Howard Stern – shown here in rare footage wearing blackface and an afro during an interview with Greene. (Stern has called Greene the greatest radio personality of all time.)
Fearless and provocative, Greene galvanized audiences with his frank and often humorous commentaries on topics like race, religion, poverty, sex and corruption. He was unafraid to state truths that others would rather avoid, such as, “People use drugs because drugs is good!” Numerous prominent figures appear in ADJUST YOUR COLOR to pay tribute to Greene’s importance and influence, including sportscaster James Brown, boxer Sugar Ray Leonard, former Washington Mayor Marion Barry and actor Robert Hooks, who calls Greene “the ghetto jester, the original rapper.”
ADJUST YOUR COLOR, written and directed by Loren Mendell (Bad Boys of Summer), was originally broadcast on PBS’ acclaimed series “Independent Lens.” It’s an invaluable reminder of the power of speaking the truth loud and clear.
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