Ventureland, a California-based production company, has joined forces with Atlanta-based Tenderfoot TV to film a documentary detailing the escalating conflict around Cop City. Additionally, Campside Media is creating a side-by-side podcast to further discuss the tumultuous events.

The 85-acre Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, a.k.a “Cop City”, is currently under construction in a preserved forest in Dekalb County. Ever since former mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced the development plans in the Spring of 2021, activists have bitterly contested the new facility through a variety of protests and demonstrations. The new documentary will explore this complicated situation through the lenses of the individuals entrenched in the dispute. 

“The debate over Cop City is a microcosm of what’s happening in cities across the country,” explained the Co-Founder of Campside Media, Matthew Shaer. “It brings together all these different discussions: about race, about policing, about urban development and environmental resources. I’m convinced that Atlanta in 2023 is the most interesting city in the U.S., and in Atlanta, there is no more fascinating, telling story than that of Cop City.” 

Mayor Andre Dickens, along with many other city officials, has continued to assert that the new training center is necessary to replace the city’s aging facilities, but environmental groups have jammed up the process at every turn through city council meetings, filibustering, forest occupation, and organized protests. 

In a shocking turn of events, an activist named Manuel “Tortuguita” Teran, was killed by police during a Defend the Atlanta Forest movement. Forty-two other protesters have been arrested for domestic terrorism accusations. Five of them are now facing state charges. Three are facing money laundering charges in connection to bail funding. 

“‘Cop City’ is uncovering a timely and relevant story that affects those in our own backyard,” added the CEO of TenderfootTV, Donald Albright. “We’re honored to partner with Ventureland and Campside, whose impact goals align with ours, and to make something the way we know best: through documentary-style storytelling, no matter the medium.”

The documentary and podcast will premiere in Q1 of 2024.