In February, I stunt coordinated a movie called Incarcerated. We shot at two prisons in SoCal, Pitchess Detention Center in Castaic and Mira Loma Detention Center in Lancaster. Prison is no fun!
What struck me most about shooting Incarcerated was sitting in a solitary confinement cell. There is absolutely no way to escape - the hinges are outside the cell, the only key access is outside the cell, even the food tray access can only be opened from outside. All needs are met from outside and there's no freedom inside.
I spent the night in jail once (Theft By Taking of road signs for a prank, went to court on my 18th birthday), but I was with my friend and other people - even if they were sketchy people of alleged white collar and blue collar crimes. It was far from solitary and gave me scenes for two screenplays.
Solitary confinement reminds me of the verses in the Bible that say we are born dead in our sins, such as Ephesians 2:1. What can a spiritually dead person do for themselves? What can someone in solitary confinement do for themselves?
Actually sitting in a solitary confinement cell was sobering. Actually being separated from the Creator is sobering. Thank God, that's not the end of the story (read the rest of Ephesians 2. We celebrate Easter today, aka Passover aka Resurrection Sunday. The God that we cannot reach because we are confined in our spiritual death came down from Heaven to do for us what a dead person cannot do for themself.
As Jesus said from the cross; "It is finished." God did it all. He opened our cell door to give us freedom, life abundance, and so much more. All we can do is say; "Thank You!"
Amazing love! Happy Easter!
Ian
No comments:
Post a Comment