The documentary Put the Guns Down: A World Epidemic, executive produced by Ice-T and co-directed by Terry C. Carney, Sr. and Eric Herbert, will premiere at the Hollywood Weekly Film Festival on Saturday, November 15th at Warner Brothers Studios. The film provides an unflinching exploration of gun violence with specific focus on South Central Los Angeles, humanizing statistics through raw testimonies and unprecedented access to affected communities. As the first installment in a planned 12-part series, the feature-length documentary examines root causes of gun violence including economic hardship and inadequate mental health care.
The film features exclusive interviews with victims, families, community members, and artists such as Spice 1, Chilly Chill, and Kokane, offering intimate perspectives on the escalating global crisis. More than just a film, it serves as a global rallying cry aimed at inspiring viewers to understand deeper societal forces behind violence and catalyze transformative reforms. Director Terry C. Carney, Sr., founder of Platinum City Golden West Entertainment Films, brings personal experience to the project, having witnessed the impact of gun violence throughout his life.
Carney's background includes challenging early years in Denver, Colorado, and later near Oklahoma City where he encountered drug-related crime and the incarceration of two brothers for murder. These experiences shaped his understanding of life on society's fringes and inform his narrative approach emphasizing redemption and resilience. The tragic loss of friend and collaborator Nipsey Hussle further galvanized his advocacy against gun violence through artistic expression. 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.
Additional information about the documentary and its creators can be found at https://terryccarneysr.com, while details about the festival are available at https://filmfreeway.com/HollywoodWeeklyMagazineFilmFestival. The film will also be accessible 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. Carney's previous recognition includes the Fathers in Hip Hop Fatherhood Acknowledgement Award for positive influence and the 2024 TAF Dignitary Award of Supreme Excellence for community contributions, along with the 2025 TAF Humanitarian Award from the Teachers Appreciation Foundation.
