IFFB: Shakespeare Behind Bars Q and A Recap

The director Hank Rogerson was in attendance to answer some questions after the film. He went up to the stage and the crowd gave him a standing ovation. He said he was born and raised in Boston so it's great to be here at the IBBF with his film.

"I wanted to do a film on acting," says Rogerson who first read about the group in an article done for American Theater magazine. He contacted the director and the film's production began shortly after. They filmed one week a month for the 9 month production of the play.

The only parameters set were that they only talk to people in program, this includes other prisoners and officers.

They played the movie for the guys last month and "from what I could tell they liked it. " He said they gave it a standing ovation, which was very gratifying for him. One of the guys told him "the film made him feel like we mattered, we're told all the time that we don't matter."

The production was funded by PBS and will air next year. It will also air on BBC in Europe. Currently they're trying to get theatrical distribution (which he didn't seem too confident about.)

Rogerson also plans on trying an education and prison distribution. But for right now its festivals. His parents, who were in attendance, are teachers - so he feels the need to bring it to schools and teach people about the program.

Apparently twenty years ago three hundred plus prisons offered college degree programs. Today due to the death of the Pell Grant, there are only 12. The prison in the film was one of them.

"They're sort of the best of the worst. To get into the program you have to be sponsored by a senior member," explained Rogerson. He credits his female cinematographer for the prisoners opening up and maybe being more personable and on their best manners. He says the fight in the film happened while she was in the bathroom.

At one point he had to step back and instruct his crew to keep their distance as they were all becoming friends, which is potentially bad.

Sammy played Othello in a previous play. He related a lot to the character because they both strangled their lovers. At the start of the program, the performers were heckled in the yard but now the other prisoners respect them and want to get in on the action.

"My style of asking questions is to not. I do tend to let them just talk and let them fill in the silences."