TMZ.com
W. Kamau Bell applauds the filmmakers who participated in the first major film festival at the San Quentin Rehabilitation Center… proving that there is emerging talent within the walls of the institution.
We caught up with the comedian and TV host Wednesday on “TMZ Live,” where he shared insight into how the star-studded festival came together … and teased what’s in store for the participating inmates.
As Bell put it…the festival came about after WKB visited California’s oldest prison – formerly known as San Quentin State Prison – for an episode of ‘United Shades of America’, where he met writer and former inmate. Rahsaan Thomas …who co-founded the festival after keeping in touch.
According to Bell, there are many artists who volunteer to work with the prisoners… and so they have been “trained by great filmmakers” to do their own projects.
However, because they can’t hire outside actors, Bell noted that many of the incarcerated participants are making documentaries about their time in San Quentin… but not the typical prison docs you see on TV.
He added… “Remember, there are more black men in therapy at San Quentin, percentage-wise, than there are black men in therapy outside. So these are very self-actualized, sensitive people, who are smart and hardworking. .”
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The festival took place last week and featured notable celebrity attendees including Kerry Washington and comedian Jerry Seinfeld.
Reportedly, some of the films will be released in the near future.