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ABOUT
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VISITORS is a feature-length documentary-in-progress about the passengers of a charter bus that leaves New York City every weekend for various prisons located in upstate New York, most of them long hours away from the city.
Reflecting the struggles of a unique culture living at the intersection of the confinement and the free world, the director a former prison visitor herself follows the coordinator of the bus – Denise Robinson – whose husband is coming home soon after 17 years of imprisonment.
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ABOUT
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VISITORS is a feature-length documentary-in-progress about the passengers of a charter bus that leaves New York City every weekend for various prisons located in upstate New York, most of them long hours away from the city.
Reflecting the struggles of a unique culture living at the intersection of the confinement and the free world, the director a former prison visitor herself follows the coordinator of the bus – Denise Robinson – whose husband is coming home soon after 17 years of imprisonment.
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WHAT MAKES THIS PROJECT DIFFERENT
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There are 70 prisons in New York State. Although 60 percent of all prisoners in New York State come from New York City, 95 percent of these prisons are located upstate, in remote rural towns and villages, like Attica, Dannemora, and Malone. Every Friday night about 800 people, mostly women and children, almost all of them African American and Latino, gather at Columbus Circle in Manhattan and board buses for the north. Depending on the destination, the trips can take 8 or 10 hours one way. Visitors arrive at their designated prison early the next morning, allowing enough time for the slow procession. They then spend a good part of a weekend afternoon with an imprisoned family-member or friend. By late afternoon, they are riding on the bus back to Manhattan, where they sometimes arrive after midnight.
(1)
In the media, we encounter many stories focusing on the different aspects of the US criminal justice system. The visitors or the inmates families perspectives are often considered secondary to the story of the person incarcerated. However, for the partner of someone in prison the punishment can be equally hard. After the shock of arrest and separation, comes the struggle to pay the bills and to bring up a family alone. Parents of prisoners often blame themselves and suffer guilt and self-doubt. Their needs are largely ignored and they feel unable to confide in anyone. Yet prisoners are up to six times less likely to re-offend if they maintain strong family ties while in prison.
More than 600.000 men and women will leave prison in 2008. In making the transition back to the community, many will turn to their families and others—for some kind of assistance. These family members become the “front line” of reentry, providing former inmates with critical material and emotional support including shelter, food, clothing, leads for jobs, and guidance in staying sober or avoiding criminal behavior. (2)
Authorities suggest that the families can be a powerful force for positive change. However, the problems of the millions of families affected by incarceration have not been part of the social policy agenda.
With this film we aim to shed light upon this subculture. We want to challenge the current safety and security paradigm and emphasize the aspect of human bondage by exploring how love, sacrifice and support can function in a system of rupture, violence and despair.
(1) Eric Schlosser, Atlantic Monthly
(2) Vera Institute of Justice
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| HOW THESE FUNDS WILL BE USED |
| For some of the post production expenses and the consultant editor |
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