Madison Jail Documentary Film
Donation protected
If you were confined to a 9' x 11' space with small, narrow windows you could hardly see out of for 23 hours per day and which you shared with another person, what would you do to pass the time? Where in your mind would you go?
“Inside Madison” is a documentary/art video that explores images and text drawn and written by prisoners on the cell walls of Madison Street Jail in downtown Phoenix. Closed in 2005, the jail currently sits as a silent, dusty catacomb of hand drawn imagery that gives expression to how inmates spent their time, what they valued, and what they fixated on within their own walls. What makes these cell walls so unique is twofold. Prison policy throughout the country dictates that inmates are never allowed to draw on walls. The fact that so many cells on multiple floors are covered with drawings and writings suggest an authorized break from that policy, perhaps because both prisoners and guards knew the facility was going to close. More fascinating is the fact that many of these images and writings are striking in content and artistic quality, and were created with the only implement provided them - golf pencils.
Funds will allow me to complete post production of the documentary. In particular, these funds will be used to secure copyright permission for published music, compensate local musicians for original scoring, color correction and marketing of the doc.
While I have been involved in professional video production for over 20 years this is my first full length documentary. I have used my own personal savings in this production which began five years ago. Your contributions will allow me to bring this rare and captivating view of inmates' inner artistic expressions to the public. You can get more information on the documentary including a trailer and photos on my website: www.longwaveproductions.com.
“Inside Madison” is a documentary/art video that explores images and text drawn and written by prisoners on the cell walls of Madison Street Jail in downtown Phoenix. Closed in 2005, the jail currently sits as a silent, dusty catacomb of hand drawn imagery that gives expression to how inmates spent their time, what they valued, and what they fixated on within their own walls. What makes these cell walls so unique is twofold. Prison policy throughout the country dictates that inmates are never allowed to draw on walls. The fact that so many cells on multiple floors are covered with drawings and writings suggest an authorized break from that policy, perhaps because both prisoners and guards knew the facility was going to close. More fascinating is the fact that many of these images and writings are striking in content and artistic quality, and were created with the only implement provided them - golf pencils.
Funds will allow me to complete post production of the documentary. In particular, these funds will be used to secure copyright permission for published music, compensate local musicians for original scoring, color correction and marketing of the doc.
While I have been involved in professional video production for over 20 years this is my first full length documentary. I have used my own personal savings in this production which began five years ago. Your contributions will allow me to bring this rare and captivating view of inmates' inner artistic expressions to the public. You can get more information on the documentary including a trailer and photos on my website: www.longwaveproductions.com.
Organizer
Thomas Eldridge
Organizer
Phoenix, AZ
