The BraveMaker Podcast

https://theprisonwithin.org/

The  Prison Within is narrated by Hill Harper (The Good Doctor, Homeland,  CSI:NY, Covert Affairs) and author of Letters to an Incarcerated  Brother, which speaks to the current mass incarceration crisis. Director  Katherin Hervey, a former Los Angeles Public Defender and volunteer  prison college instructor, is the first filmmaker to gain access to  chronicle these intimate and revealing sessions inside San Quentin  Prison.

People incarcerated for murder inside San Quentin Prison transcend the  barriers of the punitive prison system by working with victims of  violent crime to unearth the root cause of their own violence. Each  character undergoes a radical transformation revealing how every human  being, on both sides of the wall, can break out of their own personal  prisons to stop the cycle of violence.

The  Prison Within exposes the devastating impact untreated trauma has on individuals and communities through the powerful stories of survivors of  violent crimes and prisoners incarcerated for murder in San Quentin  prison. The prisoners and survivors come together and participate in the  Victim Offender Education Group (VOEG)—an innovative restorative  justice program enabling prisoners to discover how the trauma they’ve  experienced contributed to their criminality and to understand the  impact their crimes have on their victims. Together, the prisoners and  survivors confront and expose the pain, shame, and rage caused by the  extreme trauma they’ve experienced throughout their lives.

We  are asking the audience to set aside what they think they know about  incarcerated people. Most people in prison are first a victim. Anger and  violence stems from untreated trauma. When our justice system excludes  the notion of rehabilitation, it necessarily perpetuates the cycle of  violence by failing to address trauma. And the fallout from untreated  trauma ultimately affects the entire community. This film serves as an  example of how all people can change, how we can evolve as a community,  and the power of connecting to the humanity in others, even those who  have committed harm.

https://www.instagram.com/prisonwithinfilm/

Episode 74 is hosted by Krystina Jackson + Tony Gapastione

http://d4darious.com/

Darious Britt is a Director, producer, screenwriter and actor.

He attended film school at the University of Arizona and graduated in May of 2012 with a bachelors in Media production.

He  toured his short film “Seafood Tester” to four international film  festivals including the oscar qualifying Aspen Shorts fest in 2012.

Darious  created the youtube channel D4Darious, in August of 2013 and it has  since grown to over 140,000 subscribers and over 5 million views in  three years.

He  have Toured his first feature film “Unsound” on the film festival  circuit screening at over 20 international film festivals, winning 7  awards including best director at The Pan African Film Festival in 2015.

He loves telling stories and helping other filmmakers learn the craft to reach their highest potential as storytellers.”

He vlogged the entire journey with his first freature film UNSOUND on youtube.

At minute 33 we share a TRAILER to THE SCARLET THREAD can be found here:

https://www.bravemaker.com/thescarletthread

Watch the BBC film here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ptvmahVE-s&feature=emb_logo

It’s  been 30 years since the World Health Organization declassified  homosexuality as a psychological disorder - being gay is no longer  considered something that can be ‘cured’. 'Gay conversion therapy'  attempts to change sexual orientation through psychological, spiritual  and sometimes physical means. It's been widely labelled unethical and  potentially harmful. But so-called gay conversion therapy is still  widely available around the world.

BBC  News Arabic has met a doctor in Jordan who’s been offering ‘gay  conversion therapy’ and talked to people who have suffered as a result  of going through this so-called treatment.

It  is extremely rare for a doctor offering this controversial practice to  speak openly and this is the first time anyone has covered this issue in  depth in the Middle East.

This  film highlights the emotional toll experienced by two young people who,  in a desperate attempt to fit in, undergo ‘gay conversion therapy’.  This film exposes the negative impact of such therapy and we hear  details of what both characters experienced and how the treatment almost  cost them their lives.

We  also hear from a doctor who practices gay conversion therapy who  believes homosexuality is a psychological disorder that can be cured.  The film is about two people’s emotional struggle to be accepted and to  love freely despite social stigma and family rejection.

A film by Jason Hanasik.

https://www.instagram.com/jasonhanasik/

http://www.jasonhanasik.com/

Animation by Leah Nichols.

Live Chat with Hollywood Teen Actresses Izabella Alvarez + Talia Jackson hosted by Tony Gapastione 

Most  recently Izabella can be heard voicing the lead spunky character,  'Ronnie Anne Santiago,' in Nickelodeon's "The Casagrandes." The animated  series tells the story of 11-year- old Ronnie Anne after she moves to  the city with her older brother Bobby and her mom, where they now live  with their big, loving multi-generational family, the Casagrandes. By  depicting stories based on Mexican-American and Latino themes, "The  Casagrandes" is a bridge to Latino culture.

And will be seen as lead in the in the upcoming CW's "The Republic of Sarah," currently in production.

LA Times writes, "Izabella Alvarez, a Rising Latina Star, commands desperation-ridden scenes with skill and maturity."

https://www.instagram.com/izabellaalvarez/

+

Talia  Jackson has been auditioning since the age of 7 and didn't get her  first break until August 2018 when she booked the series regular role of  Jade McKellan in Netflix's Family Reunion and Zoe in ABC's Station19.  She booked the series regular role of Dusty Gable on  ABC/Warner/Berlanti/Diablo Cody pilot Raised by Wolves in 2017 but it  didn't get picked up. Talia is also a singer and will release her first  single "I'm not Jealous" in July 2019.

Talia  moved from Wisconsin with her mother and brother to Santa Barbara in  February 2009 after a divorce to be near relatives and to pursue her  dreams of becoming an actress and singer. For 10 years she auditioned  and booked 1 small independent film and a couple of commercials but  didn't book a TV role or film that actually aired somewhere. She was  close to giving up on her acting career right before she booked a  starring role in Family Reunion and Station 19 in the same month.

https://www.instagram.com/taliajacksonofficial/

***Follow BraveMaker's correspondent IRVING on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/irvingruan/

INFO ON OUR FEATURED GUEST: 

-----

Sign up for our email list:

https://www.bravemaker.com/buzz

Classes:

https://www.bravemaker.com/classes

Follow BraveMaker's correspondent IRVING on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/irvingruan/

-----

Sign up for our email list:

https://www.bravemaker.com/buzz

Classes:

https://www.bravemaker.com/classes

Kyra Jones is a queer Black multidisciplinary artist and filmmaker based in Chicago, IL. Kyra received her degree in Theatre and Gender Studies from Northwestern University. As an actor, she's appeared on Empire (Fox), Chicago Justice (NBC), Kappa Force (Revry), Seeds (OTV) and more. She's the co-creator, executive producer, and star of the award-winning web series,The Right Swipe (OTV). She's currently in pre-production for her first feature film, Go to the Body, a boxing film that tackles sexual violence in the Black community. In addition to her work in film, TV, and theatre, Kyra is also an educator and advocate, working with survivors of gender-based violence. She's represented by Stewart Talent.

https://www.instagram.com/kyra.a.jones/

Teen singer/actor Becky Alex is on the show to talk about her song and music video.

https://www.instagram.com/becky.alex/

Watch her video here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUu5nwcIXUg

Behind the scenes here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63thue_JELo

https://www.legerecreative.com/

Légère Creative was founded by Minna Rogers to fill the need of rest and introspection in our culture and daily lives. Busy schedules, routines, and living on auto-pilot often causes us to lose sight of ourselves and our creative energies. Each person is gifted with a desire to create and thrive, and we want to honor, nurture, and cultivate that at Légère. Through our programs, participants take the time to slow down and create, to get back in touch with their innermost, creative selves. This provides the opportunity for introspection and rest at a spiritual level, causing a ripple effect to other arenas of life, and creating the possibility of living life more aligned with self and purpose.    The goals of Légère: To use creative arts to facilitate healing and renewal. To provide a safe space to explore creativity and self. To explore mind-body connection. To locate the source of your deepest inspiration and creativity . To connect with others who are interested in looking inward. To provide inspiration and the opportunity for rejuvenation, so participants can return to their lives refreshed.

https://www.instagram.com/legerecreative/

Our last film selection for our VIRTUAL FILM FEST was: THE LOST, a short film written and directed by Vincent Cortez. 

In this interview Tony and Krystina interview the very talented CORTEZ FAMILY who produced and acted in the film. 

Find more about the film here: https://www.mitchellstreetpictures.com/