Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1531774
a typical wood-clad courtroom with an elevated podium for the judge, but after fruitless scouts, our guide shared that, actually, those parole hearings would take place in any room in the prison that was available on the day. It speaks volumes about how the system treats people. We had a nondescript room with stacks of chairs lining the walls, the parole board seated at a desk that was too small for all three of them, one of them using a stupid chair-desk, arranged with no plan and in a rush, with no regard to a person that may have been waiting for this moment for a decade and is literally fighting for his life. The film shows Divine G during his parole interview in this anemic room, talking about the theatre program he co-founded and participated in. The judge follows up with the most cynical question—if he was also acting throughout this interview. This text, unfortunately, was not fictitious, but from a transcript of the real parole hearing of unjustly incarcerated Divine G. He even graciously shared his actual 3-inch-thick parole packet for the scene, its copies are seen on the desks in front of the judges in the movie. Divine G and Divine Eye were also generous with providing insights into prison life, items they had in their cells. I got to learn how little of one's personal belongings that carried identity were allowed in prison. Even some colors, like blue, black, orange and grey, are not allowed. It was fascinating to see that with so many limits, one's personality is still able to shine through. I was not interested in over decoration for the characters' cells, it was full on method. The crew recreated their cells the way they were, and I was surprised how visually distinct they were and how much story they were able to tell despite all the limitations. Divine G is a writer and a lawyer. Throughout his prison sentence, he wrote and published numerous novels and theatre plays, he studied law to help others with their cases, as well as himself. His cell was his mind map—it was buzzing with daily, weekly and monthly checklists to keep him focused A. SHARON WASHINGTON IN THE PAROLE HEARING ROOM SET. PHOTO BY DOMINIC LEON. B. REHEARSAL ROOM SET AT DOWNSTATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY. PRODUCTION STILL. C. DIVINE G (PLAYED BY COLMAN DOMINGO) INSIDE HIS CELL AT DOWNSTATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY. PRODUCTION STILL. D. DIVINE G (PLAYED BY COLMAN DOMINGO) INSIDE HIS CELL AT DOWNSTATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY. PRODUCTION STILL. A B C D