'Sing Sing' is a story that hits close to home in The Hudson Valley in more ways than one. The screenplay is loosely based around the real-life Sing Sing Correctional Facility prisoner known as Divine G who finds his purpose behind bars through acting in a theatre group alongside other inmates.
(courtesy Black Bear/Edith Productions/Marfa Peach Company via iMDb)
That man is Mount Vernon, New York native Clarence Maclin who, in the mid 90s, was sentenced to 17 years in prison for robbery. While in prison, Maclin joined the Rehabilitation Through the Arts program, putting on plays and musicals inside Sing Sing.
Upon his release, the formerly incarcerated and rehabilitated Maclin began giving back to the community in The Hudson Valley, working as a youth counselor and gang intervention specialist, and passing along the love of the arts he developed while incarcerated.
(courtesy iMDb; Canva)
His real-life story is one of hope, resilience, and reinvention that's plays out beautifully through fiction on the big screen. Just watching it will move you and give YOU hope again and quite possibly restore your faith in humanity.
'Sing Sing' stars Academy Award winner Colman Domingo as John 'Divine G' Whitfield (who received another Best Actor nomination for his performance in this film) and Clarence Maclin playing of younger version of Divine G. That's right. This former inmate of a maximum security prison is now a bonified Hollywood actor.
(courtesy Black Bear/Edith Productions/Marfa Peach Company via iMDb)
The 'Sing Sing' script, based on The Sing Sing Follies: A Maximum Security Comedy by John H. Richardson and written by Hollywood heavyweights Brent Buell and Clint Bentley, is up for Best Adapted Screenplay at the 97th Annual Academy Awards. And because Maclin has a writing credit, if the movie wins its category, he will receive an Oscar for his work. How incredible is that?
You do have to pay for it, but if you want to watch 'Sing Sing' it's available to stream on Amazon Prime and YouTube TV.
Best of luck to the unbreakable Clarence Maclin at the Oscars. I'll be watching!
