The documentary Put the Guns Down: A World Epidemic by Terry C. Carney, Sr. has been selected for premiere at the Hollywood Weekly Film Festival on Saturday, November 15th at Warner Brothers Studios. Executive produced by Ice-T and co-directed by Carney and Eric Herbert, the feature-length film provides an unflinching exploration of gun violence with specific focus on South Central Los Angeles.
This documentary represents the first installment in a planned 12-part series that humanizes gun violence statistics through raw testimonies and unprecedented access to affected communities. The film examines root causes including economic hardship and inadequate mental health care, featuring exclusive interviews with victims, families, community members, and artists such as Spice 1, Chilly Chill, and Kokane. More than entertainment, the project serves as a global rallying cry intended to inspire viewers to understand deeper societal forces behind violence and catalyze transformative reforms.
The production team includes executive producers Eugene Ysaguirre, Monae Veronica Chavez, Harold Cheatham, and Juan Villanueva, along with assistant producers Ernest Churchill, Sean E. Sean, Jorge Hinojosa, Cornell Joseph Ward, Tim Crowe, Mack Tompkins, Lawon D. Carney, Sonya A. Carney, Jajuan Bryant, Andre Mitchell, and Devin Mitchell. Director Terry C. Carney, Sr., founder of Platinum City Golden West Entertainment, brings personal experience to the project, having witnessed the impact of violence throughout his life.
Carney's background includes receiving the Fathers in Hip Hop Fatherhood Acknowledgement Award for positive influence and the 2024 TAF Dignitary Award of Supreme Excellence for community contributions. The Teachers Appreciation Foundation also presented him with the 2025 TAF Humanitarian Award. His personal experiences, including the tragic loss of friend and collaborator Nipsey Hussle, galvanized his advocacy against gun violence through artistic expression.
The film's selection for the Hollywood Weekly Film Festival provides a significant platform for this critical conversation. For additional information about the filmmaker and project, visit https://terryccarneysr.com. The documentary will also be available through https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0DL75MQ8S/ref=atv_sr_fle_c_Tn74RA_1_1_1?sr=1-1&pageTypeIdSource=ASIN&pageTypeId=B0DL6L93TJ&qid=1758868223332.
This documentary matters because gun violence represents a growing global epidemic with profound social and economic consequences. By humanizing statistics and exploring root causes, the film provides essential context for policymakers, community leaders, and citizens seeking effective solutions. The project's timing coincides with increasing public concern about community safety and the need for comprehensive approaches to violence prevention that address underlying social determinants.
The involvement of high-profile figures like Ice-T and the film's festival selection signal growing mainstream recognition of gun violence as a critical social issue requiring urgent attention. As the first in a twelve-part series, this documentary establishes a framework for sustained examination of violence prevention strategies and community-based solutions that could influence public discourse and policy development for years to come.
