By Kharisma McIlwaine
Art proves how it can change lives, no matter the circumstance.
Recently, A24 hosted a private screening for the film ‘Sing Sing.’ Based on a true story, ‘Sing Sing’ shares the firsthand account of “Divine G,” played by Tony and Emmy award-winning, and Academy Award nominated actor Colman Domingo. Domingo’s character is based on the life story of his co-star, Clarence “Divine Eye” Maclin.
In the film, Divine G is incarcerated at Sing Sing, one of America’s most notorious prisons, for a crime he didn’t commit. Despite the hopelessness of his current situation, Divine G finds his new purpose by acting in a theater group that he helped create, where he plays the role of playwright and actor alongside other men in the prison. When an unexpected member joins the group, the men perform their first original comedy combining elements of Shakespeare, Egyptian history, “Nightmare on Elm Street” and more. The film takes the audience on an emotional journey as it highlights the power of art. while centering on the humanity of incarcerated people- a notion often rejected in our punitive justice system.
Ultimately, “Sing Sing” is a story about redemption and the possibilities that lie on the other side of creativity when people are seen as more than the sum of their mistakes. The film gifts audiences with an authentic glimpse of this story of perseverance told through the eyes of the men that lived it. The story arc reveals the intricate tapestry of human experiences behind bars allowing audiences to see the quest for freedom denied, dreams never realized, the pain of loss, and the glimmers of joy found in brotherhood and friendship.
Colman Domingo and Clarence “Divine Eye” Maclin in a scene from “Sing Sing.”
Photo courtesy: A24
“Sing Sing” is simultaneously heartbreaking and heartwarming, but a necessary tool that can be used to dispel the stigma so often attributed to our imprisoned population. Not only does the film put the transformative power of art front and center, it also features an unforgettable ensemble cast of formerly incarcerated actors who are given the opportunity to share various aspects of their own stories on film.
What sets “Sing Sing” apart is not just its compelling storyline, but its intimate connection to the real-life Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) program. Founded at Sing Sing Correctional Facility in 1996, RTA has been a guiding light and symbol of hope for thousands of incarcerated individuals through arts-based workshops that have proven to be life-changing. The film serves as a powerful illustration of RTA’s impact.
Since its inception, RTA has expanded from a single theater workshop to a comprehensive arts program operating in multiple New York State prisons. The program’s success is truly remarkable. Statistics have shown that fewer than 3% of RTA members return to prison, a stark contrast to the national recidivism rate of 60%, once again proving that the power of art prevails.
Beyond the statistics, “Sing Sing” captures the essence of personal growth and community building fostered by RTA and programs like it. The program has not only transformed individual lives but has also contributed to a positive shift in prison culture, which has been recognized by both participants and facility staff respectively. Hundreds of RTA alumni have gone on to pursue higher education and give back to their communities as social workers, advocates, academics, and entrepreneurs, embodying the program’s success in breaking the cycle of incarceration.
Programs like RTA have shown time and time again that they literally change the life and trajectory of participants in art-based rehabilitation programs.
Immediately following the screening of “Sing Sing,” there was a panel discussion on the importance of programs like RTA. The panel was moderated by Suave Gonzalez, Pulitzer Prize winner, artist, and formerly incarcerated podcaster; Jane Golden, executive director, Mural Arts of Philadelphia and Dawn Michelle Chamberlain, formerly-incarcerated speaker, and author of “Cell to CEO: Stop Playing and Get Your Sh** Together.” The panel shared personal anecdotes of how programs similar to RTA had a profound impact on their lives.
“It was sort of a miracle that we were able to come in and create this program,” Golden, who started one of the first restorative justice programs in Philadelphia, said. “We created such a bond with Suave and the men in the class that lasts to this day.”
“First, I think you all were really skeptical,” Golden said. “You said, ‘White people come in, they put this on their resume, raise money, and then leave,’ and I believe it. But we’re a very tenacious group at Mural Arts, and we do our work with a lot of integrity and that would’ve been shameful if that’s what was happening. So, we were very committed and totally inspired. We did this small mural, and in some way, we never looked back. It was life-changing to be there. I want to be really clear — it wasn’t just us teaching. This was 100% mutuality [on] how we were impacted.”
Chamberlain shared her thoughts on the film, as well as her personal experience seeing how art can be used as a pathway to healing.
“The movie was very real and very similar to my experience and triggering. The story couldn’t be told any better than it was,” she said. “My incarceration experience was in the federal system in West Virginia. I spent 2 years, 2 months, 2 weeks, and 2 days in custody. We started an arts rehabilitation therapy program during our incarceration which I was able to continue on. We’re going on the 8th year at the Chester Community Charter School with rehabilitation arts working through trauma,” Chamberlain said. “What we found is that in the criminal justice system, during our incarceration, there were people that weren’t doing well. Nothing was getting through to them. Our regular therapeutic effort, the drug programming, just wasn’t working. What I did notice, my first few weeks in, was when we were engaged in arts and arts programming, it was a language that everybody understood. It was a feeling of euphoria and vulnerability that was displayed among everybody… just a beautiful experience. So, I said, ‘You know what? We’ve got to do more of this.”
Gonzalez, who spent 31 years at Graterford State Prison and was one of the founding members of The Mural Arts Program in prisons in Pennsylvania, expressed his gratitude for how transformative the program was for his life and the lives of the men in the film.
“People ask do these prison programs work? I would say yes,” he said. “When we created Mural Arts, it was almost to create something for us, so that when we come home, we’d have something to fall back in. We learned a whole set of new skills. As we saw here today, five of the actors in here (in the film) were in Sing Sing (the prison) — I met all five of them. To see someone go from Sing Sing to probably going [on] to win a whole bunch of awards — it’s amazing! They’ll probably play other parts in other movies. This is what these programs do.”
“Sing Sing” is more than just a movie; it’s a testament to the enduring human spirit and the power of artistic expression. The film showcases the real-world impact of programs like RTA. The film also challenges viewers to reconsider their ideas surrounding incarceration and rehabilitation. “Sing Sing” offers an opportunity to appreciate the transformative potential of art and the importance of programs that offer hope and purpose to those behind bars. It is a powerful tribute to the resilience of the human spirit and the life-changing impact of creative expression, even in the most challenging circumstances.
“Sing Sing” is currently in select theaters nationwide. Check your local listings for showtimes.
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