Giving Voice

How "Giving Voice" Brought August Wilson’s Legacy to Netflix—With a Little Help From Denzel and Viola

Netflix’s 2020 documentary Giving Voice didn’t just spotlight the next generation of theater talent—it became a love letter to August Wilson’s enduring influence, with two of Hollywood’s most celebrated actors lending their star power to the project. Directed by Fernando Villena and James D. Stern, the film follows high school students competing in the August Wilson Monologue Competition, a national contest celebrating the Pulitzer-winning playwright’s work. But behind the scenes, latestnetflix.com argues, the documentary’s connection to Wilson’s legacy runs deeper than a typical competition doc.

Denzel and Viola: More Than Cameos

Oscar winners Denzel Washington and Viola Davis aren’t just listed in the credits—they’re woven into the film’s DNA. Washington, who directed and starred in the 2016 film adaptation of Wilson’s Fences (earning Davis her Academy Award), appears in Giving Voice as both a mentor and a symbol of Wilson’s impact on Black storytelling. Davis, meanwhile, is a frequent collaborator in Wilson’s universe, having originated the role of Rose Maxson in Fences on Broadway before reprising it on screen .

Their involvement wasn’t just a PR move. The documentary captures Washington visiting the competition’s finalists, offering advice and reflecting on Wilson’s work—a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse of his passion for theater. Davis, though less visible in the film’s runtime, is name-checked as a touchstone for the young performers, many of whom cite her performances as inspiration .

The Competition That Almost Wasn’t

The August Wilson Monologue Competition, central to Giving Voice, was nearly derailed by the pandemic. The film’s production wrapped just before COVID-19 shut down live events, but the documentary’s release on Netflix in December 2020 gave the contest—and its finalists—a second life. The timing was serendipitous: as theaters went dark, Giving Voice became a virtual stage for Wilson’s words, introducing his work to audiences who might never have seen it performed live .

The film’s directors, Villena and Stern, have hinted in interviews that the competition’s organizers were initially hesitant to let cameras in. The documentary’s access was hard-won, with Stern noting that the team had to prove they wouldn’t exploit the students’ stories. That trust paid off—Giving Voice avoids the pitfalls of many competition docs, focusing less on rivalry and more on the transformative power of Wilson’s writing .

A Quiet Tribute with Big Ambitions

Unlike flashy Hollywood biopics, Giving Voice is a low-key affair, but its ambitions are anything but small. The film positions Wilson’s work as a tool for social change, with the competition serving as a pipeline for young Black actors to claim space in an industry that often sidelines them. The directors have called it a "call to action," urging audiences to support arts education and diverse storytelling .

The documentary’s reception was warm but understated. Critics praised its sincerity, though some noted it played it safe, avoiding deeper dives into the systemic barriers facing its young stars . Still, for a film about theater in the age of streaming, Giving Voice punched above its weight—thanks in no small part to its A-list connections.