Quendrith Johnson

by Quendrith Johnson, Los Angeles Correspondent

Boys, Texas, a mock election, what could go wrong? Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner for 2020, BOYS STATE, chronicles 1100 eager teenage mini-men as they vie for a week-long bid to make their own state government, in this Apple Original to hit theaters on July 31.

Directed by Jesse Moss and Amanda McBaine, this all-male shindig down in the Lone Star State may come off as tone-deaf in a ‘woke,’ hashtag MeToo environment, but boys will be boys. Meaning?

Part of the fabric of any healthy society is to promote non-toxic masculinity. And these kids in BOYS STATE are positioned to challenge each other in this Red State vs Blue State of mind exercise. In other words, it’s a raucous caucus.

Steve Jobs' widow Laurene Powell Jobs, veteran producer Davis Guggenheim, Jonathan Silberberg, and Nicole Stott executive produce with co-executive producer Shannon Dill.

Here’s a look at these boys to men, as they form life-long friendships while running for office in this annual political drama that is really about coming-of-age in deeply divided times in America.

Apple and A24 have joined up for this Concordia Studio Production, which will follow the end of July theatrical open with a “global premiere” on Apple TV+ Aug. 14.

Show it to your kids, their friends, and friends of friends, because this may be the most poignant documentary for the times we are living through right now.

Male or female, there are no bad kids, there are just bad circumstances under poor leadership. BOYS STATE is a refresher on why each generation feels like they can rule the world (better), and how that enthusiasm should be encouraged.

Watch for it.

Find out more about BOYS STATE here at Sundance (https://www.sundance.org/projects/boys-state) and at Jesse Moss’s site http://www.jessemoss.com/.

DIRECTED BY: Jesse Moss, Amanda McBaine

PRODUCERS: Amanda McBaine, Jesse Moss

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Laurene Powell Jobs, Davis Guggenheim, Jonathan Silberberg, Nicole Stott

CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Shannon Dill

# # #