SQ film crew spotlighting youth offenders in fire camps
San Quentin’s ForwardThis broke unprecedented ground by spending seven weeks at the Sierra Conservation Center in Jamestown, Calif., filming a documentary on youth offenders going through fire camp training.
For the first time in CDCR history, incarcerated filmmakers travelled from one prison to another to make a film.
Three incarcerated documentarians of ForwardThis — Anthony Gomez, Edmond Richardson, and Vince Turner — filmed in collaboration with notable Hollywood producer Scott Budnick and his production company One Community Productions. They arrived at Jamestown in September and returned to San Quentin in November.
“Leaving to film incarcerated men in another prison will hopefully open the door for more opportunities,” Turner said. “As we break these walls and barriers down, a trust must be built.”
In August, Budnick and celebrity Victor “Vicblends” Fontanez first met with the ForwardThis production team. Their pitch of the idea of an eight-week internship received both enthusiasm and hesitation. “[We] can set a precedent by filming the first-ever program like this in the nation,” Budnick said about filming the youth offender fire camp program.
“Professional filmmakers are shooting this whole thing and for any of you to work alongside them is the greatest experience of all time,” Budnick said.
In July, the legislature passed a bill that allows youth offenders the opportunity to serve their time at a fire camp pilot project instead of just sitting in prison. The bill amended certain carceral point system restrictions that would have prevented them from qualifying to stay at a minimum-security facility.
The correctional staff and residents at Jamestown welcomed the ForwardThis team with curiosity and bombarded them with questions.
SCC’s PIO Lt. Jauregui, and his twin brother, Capt. Jauregui, had committed to the project and helped every step of the way. Turner said Lt. Jauregui considered the project one of the highlights of his career.
Turner called the experience not only mind-blowing but also groundbreaking. The full support from San Quentin and Jamestown administrations, CDCR, and Budnick’s production team gave them everything they needed to make the documentary. “If they could open the doors for this, they could for others as well,” Turner said.
“[This] opportunity would not have presented itself if I wasn’t doing the right thing,” Gomez said. “I feel honored. [The administration] would not have just taken this chance on anyone. It is the work that we do at the Media Center, the work we do as a team, that got us that opportunity, this experience,” Gomez said.
As a filmmaker, Gomez said he felt grateful to play a part in cinematically relating the narrative of the fire camp residents. “I understand the importance and value of this opportunity and how I am helping tell their story.”
The ForwardThis crew assembled a complete shot list in pre-production before they left San Quentin. The film focuses on 14 youth offenders who had entered the fire camp program, with emphasis on four incarcerated persons from Valley State Prison, their journey through the training, and their rigorous physical fitness regime.
Before they filmed at fire camp, Budnick’s production team had travelled to Valley State Prison to film the four YOPs and their preparations for fire camp. Budnick’s co-producer Ameet Shukla coordinated with ForwardThis to ensure that they would have the proper equipment and tools for the shoot. He stayed in direct contact with producers and the production crew.
After meeting the veteran production crew, the collaboration with the ForwardThis team took off. The ForwardThis team appreciated how the professionals looked to them for feedback and direction on what to film. “We witnessed teamwork and camaraderie among the YOPs, as well as their development,” Gomez said.
ForwardThis filmed from 9 AM to 5 PM daily, following the day-to-day living and activities of the firefighting trainees. The production team worked collaboratively with the heavy and expensive equipment the whole time, even in the 100-degree heat.
Gomez said the quality of shots from the ForwardThis team impressed Budnick’s production company. “When we started using the same vernacular and vocabulary, they were like, let us get to work,” Gomez said.
“I think to receive validity from the professionals is a reflection of our ForwardThis team and the training we received, which set me up to be in a position to work amongst these professionals,” Gomez said. “This opportunity allows me to utilize the rehabilitative qualities I acquired working in the Media Center and take it to another community, one that hasn’t been given the chances we have.”
ForwardThis team member Ryan Pagan said that he appreciated the team having had this opportunity. He said everyone who has worked in the Media Center has taken part in one another’s development. “I am living though them. I feel proud we helped each other get to where we are now,” Pagan said.
Once the ForwardThis crew finished the filming of the physical fitness training, only two of them returned to San Quentin. Richardson received an invitation to continue participating in the fire program as a trainee, which allowed him to reside at the fire camp. He joined the program participants on scaling a steep rocky ravine called “Stairway to Heaven,” part of the physical fitness curriculum.
“Working with Scott and his team, I am going to be a student all over again. I am going to be able to work beside professional filmmakers and learn everything they have to teach me,” Richardson said.
Once finished with post-production, the documentary will likely distribute through Netflix or another major streaming service.
