A Place to Stand

Filmmakers have begun work on "A Place to Stand," a movie based on the early life of the writer and activist Jimmy Santiago Baca. In his memoir of the same title, Baca told the story of his transformation, in an Arizona penitentiary, from a convict to a celebrated poet.

The producers describe their project this way:

"A Place to Stand is a film about Jimmy Santiago Baca, an award-winning poet and novelist who began his career while incarcerated in Arizona’s maximum security Florence State Prison. Through Jimmy’s story of how writing, very literally, saved his life, the film will explore the viability of education and the arts to reduce violence in prisons, foster community, cut down on recidivism, heal trauma and increase self-worth. In examining Jimmy’s growth from illiterate convict to award-winning poet, the film will demonstrate that there is always hope to change one’s life, even in the midst of hell."

You can view images from the film in progress, and contribute to the cause, here.