Listen "A unique visual music album & documentary"
Episode Synopsis
Songs From The Hole was the inspiration of JJ’88, who at 15 took a life. While serving a double-life prison sentence, he wrote the songs that become the genesis of this unique documentary visual album. It’s part of the InThrive Festival, which celebrates the voices and talents of incarceration survivors, and runs Oct 18 – 19 at First Baptist Church. The discussion with JJ’88 and the director Contessa Gayles includes:
– How Contessa got involved
– The story behind the characters
– Why this approach instead of regular “talking head” doc
– Using animation and other visual elements
– The complex combo of real people and actors
– Winning the SXSW Vision Audience Award
– A background on the festival
LINKS
InThrive Film Festival (Richmond event)
Songs from the Hole website
Virginia Film Festival
My review of the Offer (about making of The Godfather)
– How Contessa got involved
– The story behind the characters
– Why this approach instead of regular “talking head” doc
– Using animation and other visual elements
– The complex combo of real people and actors
– Winning the SXSW Vision Audience Award
– A background on the festival
LINKS
InThrive Film Festival (Richmond event)
Songs from the Hole website
Virginia Film Festival
My review of the Offer (about making of The Godfather)
More episodes of the podcast Sifter
What is Hard Light Cinema?
24/12/2025
Where & what is Rock Castle Home?
03/12/2025
WRIC’s new lifestyle show
26/11/2025
Production Designer for “The Lost Bus”
19/11/2025
An animated Powwow
12/11/2025
An Edgar Allan Poe doc in time for Halloween
29/10/2025
This film is about his best friend
22/10/2025
He’s shot everyone from Castro to Clinton
15/10/2025
Douglas B. Maddox co-produced and then some
08/10/2025
Closed prisons from 2 POVs
01/10/2025
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.