The Documentary Club is an incredible addition to the OWN Network lineup. Oprah and her team are focused on bringing a range of interesting documentaries to OWN viewers. Basically….this is the film version of Oprah’s book club! Each film seems to give the viewers a deeper look into something that may help to change their OWN perspective on how they view life.
The first new documentary that we all get a peek at is “Sons of Perdition”. This 2 hour film will delve into the lives of 3 teenage boys following their escape from a Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints compound located on the Utah, Arizona border. It happens to be the oldest polygamist community in the US. Without family, money, education or any real support, this film follows these teens as they try to make sense of their lives and surroundings. The “Sons of Perdition” airs Thursday, June 2nd at 9 PM EST.
Next in line is the first OWN original documentary, “Serving Life”, which was produced by Academy Award winner, Forest Whitaker. This film gives OWN viewers a look inside Angola, a maximum security prison in Lousiana. This isn’t your average prison…the average sentence is more than 90 years. Many of these prisoners will die within the prison walls of Angola. However, this film features the extraordinary hospice service within the prison where these hardcore prisoners care for their dying inmates. “’Serving Life’ reveals the humanity that exists inside each and every one of us,” said Whitaker. “In the Angola prison’s hospice, we meet inmates who decide to take an opportunity for redemption, reminding us of the connection that exists between each and every human being.” “Serving Life” is sure to be an eye-opening documentary. It airs Thursday, July 28th at 9 PM EST.
The final documentary mentioned was “Life 2.0”, a film that will give us all a peek into the lives of several people who find peace in the virtual world of Avatars and alter-egos. The character-based drama takes us into a world that will amuse and possibly even disturb us. I am sure it will change the way we all look at this “new reality” and how it impacts society. This film already premiered at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival and was the winner for Best Documentary Feature of the 2010 Philadelphia Film Festival. “Life 2.0″ will air on the OWN Network this August.
With so many interesting documentaries in the announcement, I can’t end without giving a shout out to the first OWN Documentary Club film that will air Tuesday, May 10th. The groundbreaking film “Becoming Chaz” follows Chaz Bono (yes- the only child of Sonny & Cher) through his OWN intimate, honest and inspirational journey from woman to man. Set your DVRs because you shouldn’t miss this!
Serving Life; Did you read James Ridgeways article about the prison: http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/07/burl-cain-angola-prison
I am a Hospice nurse working in a Wisconsin prison. Our Hopsice program is only 4 years old but going strong. Our program is the only prison Hospice program in Wisconsin. The need for a hospice program in our prison system was identified about 7 years ago and took alot of planning and effort. Since this was new to Wisconsin, we sent a team to a prison in Iowa to learn about their program and how to set one up at our prison. We now have a wonderful, beautiful Hospice program at Dodge Correctional Institution with many inmate volunteers giving their hearts and souls to help others die with dignity. We use the Angola story in our staff training as well as our volunteer training because it is so inspirational and gives a message that the world needs to hear. Our team even won an award and got to go to the state capital to receive recognition from our Governor. We each received a little trophy and a pin to honor our efforts to the State of Wisconsin. I was very pleased to see your “special” on Angola as I can now relate it to my own work. We have hit many bumps in the road along the way, but aren’t giving up. We keep pushing and trying to educate correctional staff that even though these men are inmates, they are still someone’s father, brother, husband, etc and they deserve the right to die with dignity. Its a rough road but our team feels it is very necessary. We have given several talks at our institution to educate staff and have now been asked to give a session on our program at a Wisconsin State Hospice Seminar. Right now, we are the only program in Wisconsin, so any inmate who wishes to be in our Hospice program, and meets the criteria, has to come to our institution. The numbers are growing and the time will come for other institutions to provide the same care that we do, so we will need to assist these other institutions in setting up their programs. It has been a very rewarding adventure so far and it can only get better. Thank you Oprah for doing a special show on these exceptional men who give of themselves to help others. I would love for you to come to my prison and let me show you our wonderful program and meet some of the unique men that give of themselves daily to help others at the end of their lives. Thank you.