Lock-Up: The Prisoners of Rikers Island: America Undercover (HBO)

About Lock-Up: The Prisoners of Rikers Island: America Undercover (HBO)

"Lock-Up: The Prisoners of Rikers Island: America Undercover" is a 1994 HBO documentary that provides a raw and uncompromising look into the lives of prisoners at the notorious Rikers Island jail in New York. The film, directed by Jon Alpert and Nina Rosenblum, features several inmates narrating their own stories, highlighting the severe realities of crime, punishment, and the American prison system.

Making / Production

In creating "Lock-Up: The Prisoners of Rikers Island: America Undercover", Jon Alpert and Nina Rosenblum spent years researching and gaining unprecedented access to the inmates and staff of Rikers Island. Shooting this documentary required intimate interviews, careful observation, and treaded the thin line between investigative journalism and emotional storytelling.

Actors

• Jon Alpert - Serving as the Director and Interviewer, Alpert essentially plays himself, drawing out the stories of the inmates with compassion and challenging their perspectives.
• Many Rikers Island Inmates - The inmates play themselves, offering raw and unfiltered narratives of their lives, crimes, and experiences within the prison system. Their performances, though not traditional acting, provide a unique and candid look into the harsh realities of prison life.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The film was part of HBO's "America Undercover" series, which aired unvarnished documentaries on a variety of topics.
• Rikers Island is considered one of the world’s largest correctional institutions and mental health institutions.
• Jon Alpert is known for his unique filmmaking style which heavily involves direct participation and interaction with his subjects.

Quotes

• "It ain't the place where you want to be, but you've got to make the best of it." - Inmate
• "You've gotta learn how to do time, not let time do you." - Inmate

Music, Soundtrack

• The documentary does not feature a traditional music score or soundtrack, instead it relies on the natural sounds of the prison environment.