Clarence “Divine Eye” McLinn, Oscar-nominated for his screenplay for “Sing Sing,” has joined director Ben Recki’s short documentary “The Breakthrough Group” as an executive producer.
The Academy Award-nominated film chronicles the journey of formerly incarcerated people through rehabilitation programs. Undine Buca was co-produced by Doug Blasch, producer of the Oscar-winning films Elephant Whisperers and Period End of Sentence.
This documentary takes viewers into The Other Side Academy (TOSA), a Salt Lake City-based program that differs significantly from traditional rehabilitation models. Participants take part in a rigorous two-and-a-half year program at no cost to them, funded by the organization’s own businesses such as moving companies and thrift stores. The film follows four people who go through the program with one of the directors.
What sets TOSA apart is its peer-driven structure. There are no therapists or clinical staff involved, only formerly incarcerated people mentoring others with similar backgrounds. Those accepted into the program typically face arrest an average of 15 times. The results speak volumes. Graduates returned to prison less than 20% of the time, a dramatic improvement from the national average of 70% and representing a 350% reduction in recidivism.
“The mission of this documentary speaks to a lot of things that are important to me,” Maclin said. “In ‘Sing Sing,’ I had to tell the story of how I can turn my negative feelings in the city into something positive for others. This film tells a similar story of people trying to rebuild their lives. Many people who come back from prison feel like they owe society. They may not always be able to keep the scales balanced. But we have to keep trying, and one of the ways we give back is by helping the next person. That’s what I like about this movie: When one person on the team fails, it’s not just themselves, but everyone around them loses.”
The subject resonates personally for Maclin, who served 17 years at Sing Sing Prison in upstate New York. While incarcerated, he participated in Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA), an experience that shaped his acclaimed role opposite Colman Domingo in last year’s awards season standout.
Reki, whose last documentary, “The Reunited States,” was executive produced by Van Jones and Meghan McCain, said he sympathized with TOSA’s approach.
“As someone who has struggled with addiction and depression for many years myself, I was struck by TOSA’s innovative interventions that are achieving real results. Their unique approach is changing the lives of people who society has given up on,” he said. “It’s an honor to work with Clarence Macklin to bring this film to audiences. He embodies that transformation with all his heart. From his arrest as a young man, to paying his debt to society for nearly 20 years, to his Oscar nomination for telling his true story, Clarence is living proof that no one is beyond redemption and that the past doesn’t have to determine the future.”
Brash joined the cast after filming wrapped and spent over a year shaping the final cut with the team.
“When I first saw what Ben and Undine had captured, I was in awe of the access they had and the trust they had built with TOSA,” Brash said. “You’re right there watching these characters go through their deepest, darkest moments. It’s truly extraordinary. Recovery is hard work, and we felt it was important not to gloss over it. There’s a moment in the third act where one of the characters makes amends with his family that really hits home. For anyone who has struggled with addiction, or knows someone who has, this is a story that proves that no one is beyond redemption.”
In addition to the Oscar-winning project, Brush’s credits include producing GameStop: Rise of the Players and editing the Academy Award-winning Icarus and Twenty Feet from Stardom.
Reki’s other directorial work includes “Watch List,” an XYZ Film and Bron Studio production set in the Philippines, about a young mother working undercover in a police death squad during Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war.
For Sing Sing, Maclin was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay along with Greg Kweder, Clint Bentley, and John “Divine G” Whitfield. His performance in this film received recognition from the BAFTAs, Critics Choice Awards, Independent Spirit Awards, and he also won the Gotham Award. British actor Ray Panthaki has just finished filming his starring role in “In Starland,” his directorial debut, and is currently in post-production.
“One of the reasons ‘Sing Sing’ was a hit was because it was so honest,” Maclin said. “This film wasn’t about violence in prisons or corruption among staff. It was instead about change. That can happen anywhere, and that’s what this doc is about. Even outside prison walls, people are trapped in their beliefs. People think they’re alone in their suffering, so they don’t need help. You know what I mean? And this movie says you’re not alone. We’ve all been through it. And if I can get my life back, that’s great, too, and I can’t wait for people to see it. ”
