Writ writer [videorecording] / a co-production of Susanne Mason and the Independent Television Service (ITVS), in association with Latino Public Broadcasting ; produced by Passage Productions ; directed [and] produced by Susanne Mason ; narration adapted by Dagoberto Gilb.
Mason, Susanne.; Gilb, Dagoberto, 1950-; Borrego, Jesse, 1962-; Lewis, Deborah Eve.; Rhodes, Gabe.; Guzman, Joel.; Turner, William Bennett.; Passage Productions.; Independent Television Service.; Latino Public Broadcasting (Firm); New Day Films.; Public Broadcasting Service (U.S.)
2008
HV8658.C7 W75 2008
Available at DVDs

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Title Writ writer [videorecording] / a co-production of Susanne Mason and the Independent Television Service (ITVS), in association with Latino Public Broadcasting ; produced by Passage Productions ; directed [and] produced by Susanne Mason ; narration adapted by Dagoberto Gilb.
Uniform Title Independent lens (Television program)
Variant Title Subtitle on container: One man's journey for justice
ISBN 9781574482331
1574482335
Imprint [Harriman, N.Y.] : New Day Films, c2008.
Language English
Language Note Closed-captioned.
Description 1 videodisc (54 min.) : sd., col. with b&w sequences ; 4 3/4 in.
Other Standard Identifiers 884501039949
Call Number HV8658.C7 W75 2008
Dewey Decimal Classification 791.43
Summary In 1960, Fred Arispe Cruz, a young man from San Antonio, Texas, was arrested for robbery, convicted and sent to a state prison farm to pick cotton. Inspired by the civil rights movement, Cruz, a Mexican American with only an 8th grade education, became jailhouse lawyer-- writ writer in prison parlance-- and the catalyst of prison reform in Texas. Because he helped other prisoners with lawsuits, the Texas Department of Corrections classified Cruz as an agitator, transferred him to the Ellis Unit "the Alcatraz of Texas," and subjected him to long periods in solitary confinement. Cruz filed a case against George Beto, director of the TDC, which Cruz won in the Supreme Court. This led directly to the 1974 class action suit that found the TDC system unconstitutional. As told by wardens, convicts, and former prisoners who knew him, the film weaves contemporary and archival film footage to evoke the fascinating transformation of Fred Cruz from prisoner to activist, and a prison system still haunted by its past.
Note "The narration of this film was adapted [by Dagoberto Gilb] from the writings and testimony of Fred Arispe Cruz"--End credits.
Documentary originally produced in 2007.
Voice of Fred Cruz, Jesse Borrego ; commentators, John V. Martinez, Erasmo Mercado, Rudy Portillo, Paul Lucko, Benny Clewis, William Bennett Turner, Carl Robins, Floyd Patterson, Al Slayton, Carlos Alva, Billy Wayne McCarter, C.L. 'Beartracks' McAdams, Robert Barber, Steve Martin, Jacquie Jalet Gordon, Vanessa Jalet Stanescu, Robert Cousins.
Credits Cinematography, Deborah Eve Lewis ; editing, Karen Skloss ... [et al.] ; original music, Gabe Rhodes and Joel Guzman ; consultant, John V. Martinez ; research, Susanne Mason, Robin Carter.
Time and Place of Event Television premiere, June 3, 2008, on Public Broadcasting Services's series Independent Lens, season 9, episode 23.
Audience MPAA rating: Not rated.
System Details Note DVD ; NTSC, region 1.
Awards Official selection: SXSW Film Festival, 2008 ; San Diego Latino, Film Festival, 2008.
Added Author Mason, Susanne.
Gilb, Dagoberto, 1950-
Borrego, Jesse, 1962-
Lewis, Deborah Eve.
Rhodes, Gabe.
Guzman, Joel.
Turner, William Bennett.
Added Corporate Author Passage Productions.
Independent Television Service.
Latino Public Broadcasting (Firm)
New Day Films.
Public Broadcasting Service (U.S.)
Linked Resources Information about the film from the official Writ Writer website:
Information about the film plus educational materials from PBS's Independent Lens website:
Record Appears in On-Campus Resources > DVDs
All Resources
Convicted
Agitator
Portia
Trial
Appeal
Credits.

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