Madeleine Sackler Remembers Emmy-Nominated ‘It’s a Hard Truth Ain’t It’ Co-Director Charles Lawrence
As protests have swept the country over the last several months, awakening more people to the urgent call of Black Lives Matter, Covid-19 remains a constant reminder of the inequities of our systems. Disproportionately impacting people of color, Covid-19 is in particular ravaging people locked inside our prisons, which itself disproportionately impacts people of color.
Recently, these systems failed a dear friend of mine. An actor, singer, and filmmaker who I worked with inside a prison, Charles Lawrence, needlessly died of Covid while incarcerated in a maximum-security prison in Indiana.
One of the films we worked on together, “It’s a Hard Truth Ain’t It,” was just nominated for an Emmy, marking the first time anyone in prison has made a nominated film. “Hard Truth” was co-directed by 13 men from inside prison and released by HBO. But many of these men don’t even know their film was nominated.
Recently, these systems failed a dear friend of mine. An actor, singer, and filmmaker who I worked with inside a prison, Charles Lawrence, needlessly died of Covid while incarcerated in a maximum-security prison in Indiana.
One of the films we worked on together, “It’s a Hard Truth Ain’t It,” was just nominated for an Emmy, marking the first time anyone in prison has made a nominated film. “Hard Truth” was co-directed by 13 men from inside prison and released by HBO. But many of these men don’t even know their film was nominated.
- 8/17/2020
- by Madeleine Sackler
- Indiewire
“It was probably the most powerful experience I’ve had, and probably the most challenging,” admits Jeffrey Wright about his role as a convicted murderer in HBO’s film, “O.G.” A Tony and Emmy winner for the stage and television versions of Tony Kushner‘s “Angels in America,” Wright has earned two additional Emmy nominations for his role as Bernard on “Westworld.” In our exclusive interview (watch the video above), Wright discusses the impact the telefilm had on him and how it shines a light on the link between violence, mass incarceration, and poverty.
“O.G.” tells the story of Louis, a middle-aged convicted murderer who is about to be released after 24 years in prison. The movie is unique in that it was shot in an actual maximum security prison in Indiana, and much of the supporting cast consists of many of the inmates housed at that prison. Wright jokingly says...
“O.G.” tells the story of Louis, a middle-aged convicted murderer who is about to be released after 24 years in prison. The movie is unique in that it was shot in an actual maximum security prison in Indiana, and much of the supporting cast consists of many of the inmates housed at that prison. Wright jokingly says...
- 6/3/2019
- by Tony Ruiz
- Gold Derby
With a seemingly endless amount of streaming options — not only the titles at our disposal, but services themselves — we’re highlighting the noteworthy titles that have recently hit platforms. Check out this week’s selections below and an archive of past round-ups here.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (Chiwetel Ejiofor)
The phrase “important film” covers all manner of cinematic sins. If a narrative speaks to a specific issue or disenfranchisement, it can make critique a little complicated. Thankfully, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind plays more like entertainment than education while teaching its viewer something all the same. Written and directed by Chiwetel Ejiofor, adapted from the book by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer, the film’s set in Wimbe, a village in the Southeast African country of Malawi. It concerns the life of a family trying their best to survive both extreme weather and a government that will offer no help.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (Chiwetel Ejiofor)
The phrase “important film” covers all manner of cinematic sins. If a narrative speaks to a specific issue or disenfranchisement, it can make critique a little complicated. Thankfully, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind plays more like entertainment than education while teaching its viewer something all the same. Written and directed by Chiwetel Ejiofor, adapted from the book by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer, the film’s set in Wimbe, a village in the Southeast African country of Malawi. It concerns the life of a family trying their best to survive both extreme weather and a government that will offer no help.
- 3/1/2019
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
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