The Lena Baker Story

Based on true events, Hope & Redemption: The Lena Baker Story recounts one African-American woman’s struggle to rise above the challenges of her life, face the choices she makes, and ultimately triumph over her impossible circumstances.

As a young girl in the early 1900’s, Lena spends her days with her mother picking cotton in the hot southern sun of rural Cuthbert, GA. As a teen, Lena is witness to a tragic event which alters the course of her life forever. As a result, Lena falls into a world of alcohol, prostitution, and a vicious cycle of abuse that eventually lands her on death row.

Lena Baker was found guilty of murder in less than six hours by a jury of 12 white men. She was the first and only woman to be sentenced to death by the electric chair in the state of Georgia and was executed in 1945. In the end, she died with dignity and strength, confident in the knowledge that God would judge her in a way that her fellow human beings could not.

In 2005, sixty-three years after her death, Lena was pardoned posthumously.

Meet the Director - Ralph Wilcox

Ralph Wilcox is the writer, director, producer, and the brainchild behind The Lena Baker Story (the movie). He is a 30 year veteran actor on the New York Broadway stage and in Hollywood. After living 6 years in Africa producing documentaries on the lives of missionaries, he relocated to Southwest Georgia, built a 22,000 square-foot movie studio, and founded the Henny Penny Video / Television Production training program. Wilcox is the Southwest Georgia Film Commission Director and markets 12 counties to the film and television industry. He is also the CEO of Schusters Cash, LLC, a film / video / television production company that joined forces with Laughing Crow Entertainment to produce “The Lena Baker Story”.

 

The cast of Hope & Redemption: The Lena Baker Story

Tichina Arnold (Lena Baker)
Tichina Arnold was born in Queens New York and attended the High School of Music and Art. At the age of 18, Arnold was nominated for an Emmy for her work on “Ryan’s Hope.” From the role of Crystal in the big-screen version of “Little Shop of Horrors” to the role of feisty Pam on the televisions series “Martin” and now as Rochelle of “Everybody Hates Chris”, Arnold has skillfully transitioned into the dramatic role of Lena Baker in “The Lena Baker Story”.

Peter Coyote (Elliot Arthur)
This actor and author has narrated many documentaries and audio books. In 1966 a play he co-authored, directed and performed in won an OBIE in New York City. In 1993, he won an Emmy for narrating the 9 part series “The Pacific Century.” In 1998 his memoir about the Sixties, “Sleeping Where I Fall,” was published, a chapter of which won a Pushcart Prize, a national prize for literary excellence. He has appeared in over 120 films for television and cinema working for directors like Roman Polanski, Martin Ritt, Steven Spielberg and Pedro Almodovar. In “The Lena Baker Story,” he plays Lena’s nemesis – Elliot Arthur. While filming in Southwest Georgia, he could be seen talking to local residents, visiting restaurants, walking into stores, and drinking in the customs and accent of this part of the country. From stage to film, he has built a “more than” impressive list of credits. Peter brings tremendous definition to the Elliot Arthur role.

Beverly Todd (Annie Baker)
Beverly Todd is a People’s Choice Award winner and four-time NAACP Image Award Nominee. Mentored by Sidney Poitier, she has a robust list of television and film credits including, “Brother John,” “Roots,” “Six Feet Under,” “Lean on Me,” “House,” “The Closer,” “Lincoln Heights,” Oscar winning “Crash”, and most recently co-starred in “The Bucket List” with Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson.

Michael Rooker (Sheriff Haney)
Michael was born in 1955 in Jasper, Alabama. When he was 13 his parents divorced and he went with his mother to live in Chicago. He caught the acting bug while attending college, and began appearing in local stage productions. On first breaking into film, his intensity and “don’t-mess-with-me” good looks were highlighted to chilling effects as the title character in “Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer”, filmed in 1986 but due to its controversial nature, not released until 1990. Since that widely noticed and highly praised performance, much of his career has been spent playing brutes, villains and psychopaths. His occasional turns as a “good guy,” however, are always well-acted and a welcome change for a talented actor to often typecast.