Two events are planned locally to introduce the public to a new documentary filmed inside Graterford Prison near Philadelphia.
An artist lecture is scheduled to discuss "Concrete Steel and Paint" at 4 p.m. Thursday in the Heim Building, room G-11 at Lycoming College.
Tony Heriza, who co-produced and co-directed the documentary with Cindy Burstein, will be on-hand to show clips of the film and discuss the content and process of making the film.
A full screening of the film is set later in the evening at 7 p.m. during the 2009 Documentary Film Festival at the Campus Theater, 419 Market St., Lewisburg.
Heriza said the film explores the concept of "restorative justice" and highlights a rehabilitative process that promotes dialogue between victim and offender in an attempt to foster forgiveness, understanding and healing through art.
According to Heriza, restorative justice affords victims of crime the opportunity to express the full impact of the crime upon their lives, allows prisoners a chance for forgiveness and helps to heal the communities in which these horrible crimes affect.
"In doing so, society as a whole benefits," he said.
The documentary begins as men in a prison art class agree to collaborate with victims of crime to design a mural together.
At first, Heriza said the two sides found very little dialogue or agreement.
In the end, a compromise is reached and two separate murals are created, one by the victims and the other by the inmates.
"Powerful emotions are reflected in the art they produced," Heriza said.
The film showcases how art can be used as the catalyst to ignite and inspire this difficult and oftentimes painful dialogue between victims of crime and offenders who commit it.
The documentary, which was filmed inside the concrete walls of Graterford Prison, houses some of the state's fiercest criminals. Built in 1929 and surrounded by 30-foot walls, Graterford is Pennsylvania's largest prison facility.
Heriza said although it was a challenge to film inside a maximum security prison, in the end, prison officials allowed filming in areas otherwise deemed off-limits.
"Eventually, we were able to get permission from prison officials to film inside some of the prisoner's cells," Heriza said.
Heriza said it is important to understand and help inmates who are eventually released back into society.
Many of the prisoners in the documentary are repeat offenders and according to Heriza, this fact should cause us to question the effectiveness of our existing practices and policies in regard to rehabilitation of prisoners.
The film was a collaborative effort between Heriza and his wife, Jane Golden, who heads the mural arts program in Philadelphia.
"The goal is to use the film as a vehicle or tool to raise awareness," he said.
Heriza said the film doesn't have all the answers, but challenges preconceived notions about crime, punishment and prisoners in general.
The film, which premiered in July, has been well-received by various government institutions and community organizations, according to Heriza.
During their filmmaking careers, Heriza and Burstein have used their medium to effectively and creatively showcase relevant issues advocating social change.
Since co-founding the Community Media Workshop in Dayton, Ohio in 1974, Heriza has been involved in many aspects of media for social change. His documentaries have been broadcast nationally on PBS.
He is now director of educational outreach for the American Friends Service Committee and teaches documentary video production at the University of Pennsylvania.
Burnstein is an independent producer and outreach professional. She serves as regional outreach coordinator for the Independent Television Service Community Cinema Program and teaches media and cultural studies in the film and media arts department at Temple University.
"Concrete, Steel and Paint" is a documentary that goes where others have not. It addresses remorse, forgiveness and healing by bringing two very different worlds and pointing them toward one common goal.
For more information, visit the film Website at www.concretefilm.com.
