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Interview with the Director
Q: What was the inspiration behind Faith in the Big House?
Faith in the Big House took shape in the midst of making a film on rape in prison. I was working as the US Co-Producer on the BBC series
“Correspondent,”with David Aikerman. We were focusing on sexual abuse of prisoners and prison rape.
While I was up to my neck in predators and victims, I noticed that inmates with deep spiritual beliefs, whether Christian or Muslim, tended to be left alone or even respected by other inmates and guards. Especially if their spirituality was perceived as authentic.
They were ranked squarely above even those who practice essential prison trades such as tattoo artists, barbers, and Mothers Day card makers. These religious groups existed outside of the social sexual tragedy that plays out in daily prison life and held the same level of power as gang leaders. Later, I was introduced to outsiders coming into prisons to proselytize. I wondered if the efforts of these religious missionaries were justified to prison officials due to the fact that state lawmakers were slashing budgets formerly aimed at prisoner rehabilitation, drug programs, and college education.
I forgot all of this when I began post-production on Turned Out: Sexual Assault Behind Bars. It wasn't until a year later, when I had a conversation with Ted Poitras, who would later become the Executive Producer of Faith in the Big House, that my curiosity returned. I again began to wonder if prisoner conversion is a legitimate phenomenon or do prisoners convert to Christianity in prison out of desperation or loneliness.
Later, I was introduced to outsiders coming into prisons to proselytize. I wondered if the efforts of these religious missionaries were justified to prison officials due to the fact that state lawmakers were slashing budgets formerly aimed at prisoner rehabilitation, drug programs, and college education.
I forgot all of this when I began post-production on Turned Out: Sexual Assault Behind Bars.
It wasn't until a year later, when I had a conversation with Ted Poitras who would later become the Executive Producer of Faith in the Big House, that my curiosity returned. I again began to wonder if prisoner conversion is a legitimate phenomenon or do prisoners convert to Christianity in prison out of desperation on loneliness.
Q: To what extent does Faith in the Big House relate to work that you've done in the past?
I had done enough film work in prison to take interest in anything which could help keep prisoners from killing each other. Lay ministry organizations like the Jaycees or Toastmasters International help bring some level of literacy to inmates. These types of programs allow prisoners some access to the outside world, challenge them to step outside their comfort zone, and to cross color and even gang lines. At the very least, the participants briefly engage with one another on a level.
Additionally, I've had the honor to work in remote parts of the world with indigenous people from Latin America, Africa, and Asia. On one hand I witnessed, and reported on, how religious missions can tear-apart tribes, set individuals from the same clan against one another, and co-opt or steal traditional ways of living. On the other hand I observed some of the best community development, education, and advocacy taken on by those deep in faith. Admittedly, I came into the making of Faith in the Big House with preconceptions.