“Sing Sing” Shines Light on Incarcerated Voices

Rarely does a film explore the vulnerability and creativity of incarcerated men seeking freedom not only from physical confinement but also from their pasts and societal stigma, aiming to live authentically. A24’s Sing Sing is one such standout, ranking among my top films of 2024 thus far.

Directed and written by Greg Kwedar, Sing Sing spotlights the “Rehabilitation Through The Arts” theater program at Sing Sing Correctional Facility, helmed by its inmates. The film features award-winning actor Colman Domingo alongside a talented cast that includes Rehabilitation Through The Arts (RTA) alumni Clarence ‘Divine Eye’ Maclin, John ‘Divine G’ Whitfield, David Giraudy, Sean ‘Dino’ Johnson, and Jon-Adrian Velazquez.

For me, Sing Sing was emotionally touching and provided profound insights into the lives of these men and their love for life and creativity. I had the privilege to discuss the film with director Greg Kwedar along with cast members Sean ‘Dino’ Johnson and Jon-Adrian Velazquez, exploring their experiences of bringing this important story to the screen.

Kwedar does a great job placing the viewer in the reality of these group members. We get to experience their excitement in the arts while planning out their next performances; shows not only in their body language but also in the various hues and camera angles that Kwedar uses to bring this production to life. To bring us into this world, Kwedar explains how he was inspired by accident to develop this film, stating:

“I discovered this program quite unexpectedly while producing a short documentary inside a maximum-security prison in Kansas. During a tour of the facility, I passed by a cell where a young man was raising a rescue dog. In that moment, all my expectations of prison and incarcerated people were overturned as I witnessed the healing happening between this man and the animal. That night, in my hotel room, I was desperate to find out if there were others out there doing things differently. Through Google, I stumbled upon the RTA program in New York and came across an article about a time-traveling musical comedy called ‘Breaking the Mummy’s Code,’ performed in 2005 for just two nights. There was something so special about the playful tone of the project juxtaposed with the dark environment that resonated deeply with me. It felt like a glimpse into life itself and an invitation to immerse myself further into this world and understand it better.”

As mentioned, the film features alumni from the real theater program, who display their acting chops alongside the talented Domingo. When asked about the experience of directing these actors, Kwedar stated:

“It’s funny you mention coaching because I feel like I learned far more than I was ever able to teach. These men have an extraordinary amount of stage experience through this program and within the context of their own stories, lifetimes of experience that embody what this program truly means and feels like.”

Kwedar expanded on the experience of the Sing Sing cast who were part of the RTA program and their contribution to the film:

“They were constantly there to inform us at every level of how this really works. What was especially meaningful was my lead actor, Colman Domingo, who is a teacher at heart. Coming from a theater background, alongside his extensive history in film and TV, he was instrumental in translating the stage experience to the screen, enriching our cast and elevating our project to the level it reached.”

One of the standout scenes in the film occurs when Colman’s character, Divine G, engages in a conversation with Clarence ‘Divine Eye’ Maclin, who plays himself, discussing the necessity of letting down his guard and embracing vulnerability during rehearsals to enhance his performance. This exchange ignites a heated yet passionate on-screen discussion that fully immerses the audience in an intense dialogue.

Kwedar explained:

“They first had a heart-to-heart talk. It was very intense in the room, and I just remember what was happening off camera. Colman was really pushing Clarence to go farther, to go harder, to find that limit. When Clarence finally snapped into that, it really intimidated Colman. His reaction, backing up against the wall, was genuine. Also what was so powerful in the movie was when they first discussed using the term ‘beloved’ (beloved was used as a term of support and endearment to other inmates). That’s something that Colman and I learned from Clarence during our first Zoom together. When he said that, I remember Colman being almost speechless, tears coming to his eyes, saying, ‘This needs to be in the movie.’ So, we all wrote it into the film.”

There are so many words used to describe this film, but Kwedar used three from the film’s star Domingo:

“I’ll use three words that Colman first shared with me, hoping that the movie would live up to them: he wanted it to be honest, elegant, and tender. Thank you for taking the time; this is a great and very emotional film, so I really appreciate it.”

Two cast members, Jon-Adrian ‘JJ’ Velazquez and Sean ‘Dino’ Johnson, were proud of the outcome of the film. It was a pure joy to see their efforts from the RTA program come to life on screen. Johnson joyfully stated that he was brought to tears watching the film. Velazquez added:

“It was very emotional, but the best part was just seeing the magic that took place. When you’re in it and you’re acting, you’re always worried about how it’s going to come out. But at the end of the day, it exceeded our expectations. Seeing the finished results with the sound and everything, I was amazed. It really came together.” He continued, “So it was like having to revisit that mental space of recalling what it was like in that way. I suppose I had an advantage because I had only been home a few months after spending half my life in prison. But there was trauma attached to that. However, the idea or the reality of being with my brothers on set—individuals who understood my pain and shared it with me—was also cathartic. To witness something so negative transform into something so powerful and positive, for the world to actually learn something from it, I would do it ten times over if necessary.”

A moment that brought happiness was a scene where the RTA members were auditioning for parts in their upcoming plays. I saw the creative and playful personalities of these men. The use of bright hues and sunlight highlighting the smiles and vibrance of the men made the scene that much more enjoyable.

Johnson described it as:

“…very fun actually. And it let us stir our creative juices. It kind of warms us up.”

Velazquez shared the excitement of that part in the film, stating:

“Yeah, those were the fun scenes.”

Colman and Maclin weren’t the only ones that stole scenes in Sing Sing. One part, in particular, I felt was compelling was Johnson’s reality check to Divine Eye about the importance of cherishing the moments they have with the RTA group and being vulnerable. Johnson vividly describes a moment that changed his life forever.

Johnson reflects on that moment and what influenced it, stating:

“It’s a true story. Um, it happened at a point in my life where I didn’t feel comfortable conforming to norms. I felt like my humanity was being trampled, and I allowed it to happen. Okay, [I was] worried about how someone else might perceive it. I think after that day, I made a conscious decision that I would no longer allow my humanity to be trampled.”

Outside of the film, these two RTA alumni are activists in their respective communities and are advocating for men who are becoming victims of the incarceration system. When asked if Sing Sing would help to contribute to their activism, Velazquez explained:

“Well, this is our work. You know, um, we are activists out there, and we’re sharing a mission. And the mission is to let people know that the same way we trust the process and got to where we got, we want people to trust humanity.” Velazquez added, “We want people to start using people-first language, to start, you know, putting love [first] and allowing love to trump over hate. And that’s really what we’re in. We’re in a business. We’re representing individuals that are incarcerated now and formerly incarcerated. But the reality is, is that we’re representing a bigger population. It’s the human population.”

The cast and crew’s message of hope, peace, and respecting others as human beings echoed during the interview. Johnson expressed the importance of valuing people, explaining:

“I would like to add that we’re, you know, we’re living in a world where people now are loving things, and they’re using people when it’s really supposed to be the reverse. Loving people and using things.”

Sing Sing is a feel-good drama that doesn’t heavily rely on action or CGI but on the pure emotion and experiences of these Black and brown men who are in a system set up to rob them of not only their joy and mental freedom but of their humanity and hope. Every scene is a story of each of these men that could easily be shared as multiple short stories, each interesting and compelling, making you become invested in these characters. This shifts the focus to the essence of these men and not just another body attached to a prison cell.

The director uses light and various angles to convey the characters’ perspectives and moods. He also uses space to highlight the contrast between the RTA program’s open outdoor spaces, where sunlight beams on the characters’ laughter and skin, and the dark, cramped spaces where the inmates reside.

I loved how the film uses the characters’ rooms to reveal their personalities and interests. For instance, Divine G’s cell is neatly organized with books, notes, and screenplays, while his closest friend, Mike, has various snacks and toiletries stacked around his room.

What I loved about this film was that we were able to see the transition of Divine G and Divine Eye go from the lowest of the low, brooding a feeling of angst against the world, to temporarily escaping their harsh reality into a place where they can finally be vulnerable within the walls of incarceration.

In a world where we all, at times, feel troubled by our own issues, vices, and strifes, we need that escape to a creative space and childlike thinking. No doubt this film will garner some attention not only during the award season but hopefully amongst our nation about the issues plaguing our criminal system, sending a message of hope, belief, and love. Check out Sing Sing in theaters everywhere August 2nd.