Jessey Dearing http://www.jesseydearing.com visual storytelling Mon, 15 Apr 2013 11:46:21 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 Massachusetts Incarceration http://www.jesseydearing.com/massachusetts-incarceration/ http://www.jesseydearing.com/massachusetts-incarceration/#comments Wed, 03 Apr 2013 03:58:35 +0000 dearing http://www.jesseydearing.com/?p=551 An inmate peeks out of his prison cell at MCI-Cedar Junction at Walpole, Mass. MCI-Cedar Junction is the maximum security reception center for male offenders in Massachusetts. At the center, prisoners are classified for placement in a maximum, medium, or minimum security prison based on their crime and behavior.

I worked on this story while I was at The Boston Globe. I toured four different prison facilities with reporter, David Abel, to see a supervised view of the Massachusetts prison system. I say supervised because our tour was carefully guided by a public relations representative who was present during all interviews and all locations. We toured the reception center, which is used to place inmates into a category of maximum, medium, or minimum security prison. An inmate, unless their charge is severe, will earn his way from where he is originally placed, to a minimum security prison and ultimately released.

 

Corrections officers move an inmate in leg and handcuffs at Souza-Baranowski maximum prison. Located in Shirley, Souza-Baranowski is the newest correctional facility in the state of Massachusetts. A tri-level cell block houses new prisoners at MCI-Cedar Junction in Walpole, Mass. MCI-Cedar Junction is the maximum security reception center for male offenders. While this area features older style, barred jail cells, the newer maximum and medium security prisons have solid doors with small windows. The prison also houses the Departmental Disciplinary Unit, DDU, which is reserved for the more serious offenders and problematic prisoners. An inmate peeks out of his prison cell at MCI-Cedar Junction at Walpole, Mass. MCI-Cedar Junction is the maximum security reception center for male offenders in Massachusetts. At the center, prisoners are classified for placement in a maximum, medium, or minimum security prison based on their crime and behavior. Prison security officer Kevin Shepard navigates the security camera system at Souza-Baranowski. Approximately 365 cameras monitor inmate activity at all times. Souza-Baranowski is the newest correctional facility located in Massachusetts and is a maximum security prison for male offenders. An inmate receives his meal through a small opening between the mess hall and the kitchen at Souza-Baranowski. The mess hall is one of the more high-risk areas for trouble and fights because of the concentration of inmates. The calendar of Marcos Martinez, 41, of Lawrence, in prison at Souza-Baranowski for assault and battery with intent to murder. Martinez uses the calendar to remember the things he did that day, such as who he talked with, his schedule for Alcoholics Anonymous class, and schools days. A prisoner who works in the kitchen walks back to his cell block at MCI-Shirley Medium Security Correctional Center. In medium security prison, inmates are allowed to walk more freely between buildings than in maximum security prison. However, the facility has a double fence which is approximately 25 feet tall with barbed wire. MCI-Shirley is a combined medium and minimum security prison for male offenders in Massachusetts. Prisoners sit through an orientation in cell block A at MCI-Shirley Medium Correctional Center. The prisoners are either new to the Massachusetts prison system or were recently moved from another prison in the state to this one. After an orientation at MCI-Shirley Medium Security Correctional Center, a prisoner speaks with a fellow inmate about how one's responsibilities as a prisoner differ greatly from those of a free man. Rebekah Sigall, a spectrum Correctional Recovery Academy (CRA) instructor, teaches a CRA 1 class where prisoners learn basic manners at MCI-Shirley Medium Security Correctional Center. Many prisoners said that they wish they had more programs for developing skills and education. Jose Garcia, 43, of Puerto Rico, in MCI-Shirley Minimum Security Correctional Center for drug trafficking, works in the library on a letter proposing a program that would help kids stay out of prison. Inmates do not have access to computers or copiers and must type all letters and copies on an electronic typewriter. A small, handmade weapon with a sheath and handle grip that was confiscated at MCI-Shirley Medium Security Correctional Center. Weapons are often made of common office supplies and prison structures, such as clipboards, binder clips, and light fixtures. A prisoner works out in a small, enclosed area at MCI-Shirley Medium Security Correctional Center. The prisoner is in segregation because he acted out of order and was taken out of his cell block. In segregation, prisoners are kept in their cells for 23 hours a day and allowed one hour of outdoor exercise in a 30-foot by 30-foot enclosure. They can request to go to the law library, shower, and other activities during those 23 hours, if approved. Kevin Sullivan, 54, of East Cambridge, in MCI-Shirley Medium Security Correctional Center for second-degree murder, laughs with his wife, Antonette Sullivan, 64, in the visiting room about what life will be like as a couple outside of prison. The Sullivans married a little more than four years ago while he was in prison. They have never been in a relationship with each other outside of prison. Douglas Hurlbert, left, 51, of Saugus, in MCI-Shirley Minimum Security Correctional Center for armed robbery, brushes his teeth as Kenny Carbone, 60, of Woburn, in for his fifth drunken driving arrest, walks to the bathroom in their 14-man dorm room style housing block. In minimum security prison, inmates are allowed more freedoms and interaction with one another. MCI-Shirley Minimum Security prison uses "out of bounds" signs, instead of a perimeter fence, to indicate where prisoners can and cannot go. Prisoners can walk between buildings and play basketball without being supervised by corrections officers. The inmates are counted every hour. The MCI-Shirley Medium prison is the row of red buildings in the top left, beyond the brick buildings. MCI-Shirley is a combined medium and minimum security prison for male offenders in Massachusetts. Christian Roche, left, and José Rivera, cut grass at the Leominster Cemetery during a work crew outing from MCI-Shirley Minimum Security Correctional Center. Inmates in the minimum security prison rarely take advantage of these opportunities to flee because they only have four years or fewer left to serve before they are free. Escaping automatically adds time to their sentence. ]]> http://www.jesseydearing.com/massachusetts-incarceration/feed/ 0 Spilling Over http://www.jesseydearing.com/spilling-over/ http://www.jesseydearing.com/spilling-over/#comments Mon, 01 Apr 2013 19:59:57 +0000 dearing http://www.jesseydearing.com/?p=94 SPILLING OVER is a documentary that examines the human consequences of America’s often excessive energy use. The story follows the Arnesen family and the town of Venice, Louisiana as they refuse to become casualties of our endless desire for more energy resources. In the wake of the largest oil spill in U.S. history, the people of Venice are left with a difficult choice: Do they stay and risk their health for the sake of their culture and livelihood? Or do they sacrifice their way of life, community and heritage in order to flee the lasting effects of the oil spill?

This film has been a work-in-progress since May 2010. The story has developed and changed immensely as we’ve trekked along with the Arnesens and the Gulf community through some tumultuous times, speckled with good memories and tender moments. We are honored that they allow us the privilege of documenting this journey. To learn more about the film, please visit the film website.

]]> http://www.jesseydearing.com/spilling-over/feed/ 0 A Prison Without Walls http://www.jesseydearing.com/a-prison-without-walls/ http://www.jesseydearing.com/a-prison-without-walls/#comments Sun, 31 Mar 2013 00:32:15 +0000 dearing http://www.jesseydearing.com/?p=589 A Prison without Walls tells the story of prisoners in the MCI-Shirley minimum security prison in Shirley, Mass. I filmed and photographed at multiple prisons with Boston Globe reporter David Abel. This is one of several short multimedia pieces that were edited from the multiple day shoot.

Filming and photography by Jessey Dearing.
Editing by Lauren Frohne.

]]> http://www.jesseydearing.com/a-prison-without-walls/feed/ 0 Bring it to the Table http://www.jesseydearing.com/bring-it-to-the-table/ http://www.jesseydearing.com/bring-it-to-the-table/#comments Thu, 28 Mar 2013 19:07:46 +0000 dearing http://www.jesseydearing.com/?p=536 This is the trailer for the narrative aspect of Bring it to the Table, a project produced by Talking Eyes Media. Bring It to the Table is a participatory online platform, community engagement campaign, and webisode series aimed at bridging political divides and elevating the national conversation. The project is for those who are tired of hyper-partisanship.

I am the director of photography for this project as well as the editor for the narrative film. Additional filming has been done by Andrew Hida, Mark Kendall and Ed Kashi.

]]> http://www.jesseydearing.com/bring-it-to-the-table/feed/ 0 A Well Deserved Vacation http://www.jesseydearing.com/a-well-deserved-vacation-2/ http://www.jesseydearing.com/a-well-deserved-vacation-2/#comments Thu, 28 Mar 2013 01:06:38 +0000 dearing http://www.jesseydearing.com/?p=457

This short documentary was produced while I was working as an intern with The Boston Globe during the summer of 2011.

Interviews, video and photography, and editing by Jessey Dearing.

]]> http://www.jesseydearing.com/a-well-deserved-vacation-2/feed/ 0 Fresh Lifelines for Youth http://www.jesseydearing.com/james-irvine-leadership-awards-christa-gannon/ http://www.jesseydearing.com/james-irvine-leadership-awards-christa-gannon/#comments Thu, 28 Mar 2013 00:07:40 +0000 dearing http://www.jesseydearing.com/?p=481 Each year, The James Irvine Foundation hires Talking Eyes Media to produce short profiles for their leadership awards. We usually schedule about two days of filming per winner and about a five to eight days editing. While all the winners are often doing amazing work, Christa Gannon’s Fresh Lifelines for Youth (FLY) program stood out to me and I am happy with the outcome of this piece.

Videography and photography by Jessey Dearing and Ed Kashi.
Editing by Jessey Dearing.

]]> http://www.jesseydearing.com/james-irvine-leadership-awards-christa-gannon/feed/ 0 Dreams of American Healthcare http://www.jesseydearing.com/dreams-of-american-healthcare/ http://www.jesseydearing.com/dreams-of-american-healthcare/#comments Tue, 26 Mar 2013 22:07:34 +0000 dearing http://www.jesseydearing.com/?p=139 Even after passing health reform legislation, heated debate continues around the country about whether we should pay for others’ health care. While it is too soon to see the effects that the legislation will have on this country, it is clear that the current system is not helping those in need. Medicare, Medicaid and Disability are programs that often help citizens with debilitating diseases support themselves while receiving treatment.

While these programs may succeed in some areas, such as Medicaid paying for nearly 100 percent of health bills, they also fail in many others. Disability is often to little to afford to live and rarely enough to afford to save, but sometimes too much to qualify for Medicaid. And often times, the only way people are able to survive is through the generous donation of time and finances and shelter from friends and family.

]]> http://www.jesseydearing.com/dreams-of-american-healthcare/feed/ 0 VII Photo – 2012 Teaser http://www.jesseydearing.com/vii-photo-2012-teaser/ http://www.jesseydearing.com/vii-photo-2012-teaser/#comments Fri, 22 Mar 2013 04:04:30 +0000 dearing http://www.jesseydearing.com/?p=522 VII Photo commissioned Talking Eyes Media to produce a teaser / promo reel for the agency. This was a fun project to piece together and find similarities in composition, light and content to create diptychs and smooth sequencing. It was also incredibly humbling and difficult to make selects from such an amazing body of work.

All photography from VII Photo Agency photographers. Editing by Jessey Dearing.

]]> http://www.jesseydearing.com/vii-photo-2012-teaser/feed/ 0 Yuna – Music Video http://www.jesseydearing.com/yuna-music-video/ http://www.jesseydearing.com/yuna-music-video/#comments Wed, 20 Mar 2013 04:26:24 +0000 dearing http://www.jesseydearing.com/?p=528 I filmed this music video with Sarah Riazati at the Converse Rubber Tracks studio in Williamsburg. We did about 3 or 4 takes and I was shooting with a long lens focusing on details and tight shots. Sarah filmed the wide to medium shots and edited the video together.

]]> http://www.jesseydearing.com/yuna-music-video/feed/ 0 Rent Memories or O Brother, Where Art Thou? http://www.jesseydearing.com/rent-memories-or-o-brother-where-art-thou/ http://www.jesseydearing.com/rent-memories-or-o-brother-where-art-thou/#comments Sat, 02 Mar 2013 07:13:31 +0000 dearing http://www.jesseydearing.com/?p=327 This is a personal story that was originally produced for an autobiographical film assignment while taking an experimental film course at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I cannot classify this as a journalism or editorial piece, because it is my own story, in which case my storytelling cannot possibly be objective.

Scripting, narration, filming and editing by Jessey Dearing.
Music by Sigur Ros.

]]> http://www.jesseydearing.com/rent-memories-or-o-brother-where-art-thou/feed/ 0