Befriending Time Changed My Life
New York Times opinion piece shares Project Mend production
In conversations about prison, people often mistake punishment for justice. Instead of investing in prevention, repair and healing, the carceral system often doubles down on violence. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
In collaborating on “Prison and Time" [short film linked here], we melded expressive animations with personal testimony of incarceration to explore how time itself can nurture growth and even offer a kind of freedom. Along with an indictment of prison’s destructiveness, this is an invitation to imagine and advocate for a radically different yet possible world — one that cherishes both time and life.
I believe the purpose of an artist is to move the crowd. And my hope is that everyone watching our film will be moved in some way. I particularly hope that our film will resonate deeply with the younger folks watching it. Resonate in a way that helps them to realize how impactful their time here on earth can be if they use it wisely.
Marvin Wade is a writer, speaker, spiritual activist and family man based in Brooklyn, N.Y. His essay that inspired this film was originally published on Project Mend. Evan Bode is an independent filmmaker, animator, educator and interdisciplinary artist based in Colorado.