Screening ‘The 50’ celebrated inside, outside walls

June 6, 2024

Screening at CSP-Solano

Director Brenton Gieser was brimming with anticipation as he joined the population at the screening of his film “The 50” at California State Prison, Solano.

The film, partially recorded within the same walls of the institution, captured transformation through the eyes of the first 50 graduates of the Occupational Mentor Certification Program (OMCP).

The first cohort of OMCP at Solano were among the nation’s first people to become certified Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Counselors inside a correctional facility. All of them have since released from prison, and many of them provide these services to this day. The screening was held April 18 at Solano.

“For the people who contributed to ‘The 50,’ it’s a testament to their resilience of the human spirit even in the face of adversity,” Gieser said.

Gieser’s two-day tour to premiere the film started the day prior, when he presented the same film at the Crest Theater in Sacramento. Those attending included CDCR Secretary Jeffery Macomber, CDCR staff, legislators, and community organizations. That event included a panel discussion with members of “The 50.”

“Today was great,” Gieser said April 17 from the Crest Theatre. “A lot of CDCR staff here, a lot of government officials, people in treatment.

“(The audience was a) cross-section we really wanted to hit of people who can watch this film and feel it. Then (they) can do something about it, take it back to their teams at CDCR and explore the efficacy of a program like this. (They can see) how they can further expand this, how they can improve it.”

‘The 50’ screening shows healing, helping others

“This is a healing thing. When this is all over and done, they learn how to be substance abuse counselors, but we also had an opportunity to deal with their stuff,” OMCP founder Sol Irving said. “So now marry them together, as a parallel process, and you got an excellent counselor.”

A day after the Sacramento viewing, as the lights dimmed in the CSP-SOL chapel, 68 incarcerated persons and 21 staff buzzed with excitement and curiosity.

They were not disappointed.

New OMCP members learn from program’s beginning

New members of the OMCP cohort at Solano got a firsthand glimpse of how the program changed lives and empowered rehabilitation for peers suffering from complex and ongoing childhood trauma.

“The 50” struck a chord. The raw authenticity of the film’s portrayal resonated deeply, eliciting nods of recognition, murmurs of agreement, and tears throughout the screening.

The premiere showcased the success of those first 50 graduates, while also serving as a reminder of the human stories often overlooked within these settings. The film also highlights the challenges someone faces when subjected to a life of trauma. Perhaps most importantly, the film pointed toward clear hope in the face of those challenges, through committed rehabilitation.

“Some of the incarcerated persons (at the) screening today are existing in the darkest holes imaginable as they process the horrible things they have done in their lives,” Gieser said. “The film provides reinforcement for individuals to continue down that path by shining the light in those deepest holes and transforming out of the darkness.”

To learn more about “The 50,” and enjoy your own viewing, visit The 50 (the50film.com).

By Todd Javernick and Ike Dodson
Office of Public and Employee Communications