The Feminist on Cellblock Y
2018 American film
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Feminist on Cellblock Y is an American documentary film directed by Contessa Gayles and produced with Emma Lacey-Bordeaux for CNN. The titular subject is Richie Reseda, an 25 year old man incarcerated at a prison in California who studies and organizes around feminism and toxic masculinity with his fellow young incarcerated men. The documentary premiered on CNNgo on April 18, 2018.[1][2][3]
- Contessa Gayles
- Emma Lacey Bordeaux
company
| The Feminist on Cellblock Y | |
|---|---|
| |
| Directed by | Contessa Gayles |
| Produced by |
|
| Cinematography | Contessa Gayles |
Production company | CNN |
| Distributed by | CNNgo |
Release date |
|
Running time | 75 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Synopsis
The film follows a classroom of incarcerated men “as they wrestle with vulnerability and the confines of masculine norms through the lens of theorists such as bell hooks."[4] Called Success Stories, the program is led by a 25 year-old then known as Richard "Richie" Edmond-Vargas, (now known as richie reseda).[5] He teaches his fellow inmates about feminism and toxic masculinity at the Correctional Training Facility in Soledad, California. Richie's then-wife, Taina Vargas also appears in the film.[4]
Production
Background
CNN producer Emma Lacey-Bordeaux met Richard "Richie" Reseda[6] (then known by the name Richard Edmond Vargas) in 2008 when he was a high school student who was suspended for publishing a V-Day issue of his school newspaper to bring attention to date rape on Valentine’s Day that included the schools text book image of the female anatomy on the cover.[7] Lacey-Bordeaux read about the story in the Los Angeles Times and interviewed Reseda about the incident in her role as director of the radio station at Georgia State University.[7] She reached out again in 2016 when seeking sources for a CNN story about criminal justice, and Reseda's wife notified her that he was incarcerated for two armed robberies on local Rite Aid pharmacies.[6][7]
Reseda and Lacey-Bordeaux began to converse by phone. She and fellow CNN producer Contessa Gayles developed the idea for the documentary after sitting in on Edmond's weekly feminist education group, Success Stories.[7]
Filming
The film was shot over several months and production worked around the correctional facility's regulations.[7] It was directed and co-produced with Gayles, who also served as the cinematographer.[4] The crew was small and consisted of Gayles, Lacey-Bordeaux, and sound mixer Eric Day.[7]
Release
The Feminist on Cellblock Y was released on CNNgo on April 18, 2018.[1]
Awards
- Vera Institute of Justice, Best of Justice Reform Award, 2018[8]