Rock and a Hard Place

About Rock and a Hard Place

Rock and a Hard Place is an inspiring documentary film that was released in 2017. It was executively produced by Dwayne Johnson, known as "The Rock", highlighting a revolutionary program designed for incarcerated young people to gain a second chance at life.

The film takes viewers into a Miami-Dade County Boot Camp Prison, where a group of young offenders are admitted undeniably because of serious crimes but offered a chance to change their destiny. Regardless of the grueling physical training and discipline, if they complete this program, they can avoid their long prison terms and potentially turn their lives around.

Making / Production

The movie is directed by Rasha Drachkovitch and Matthew O'Neill and is co-produced by Dwayne Johnson and Dany Garcia. Much of the film’s impact is down to its unflinching honesty, refusing to sugar-coat the harsh realities of the lives these young men are seeking to leave behind, while simultaneously offering a powerful note of hope.

Actors

• Dwayne Johnson: Apart from executive producing the film, Dwayne Johnson also appears in it to motivate the young men with his own life’s trials and tribulations, and adds a touch of reality and concrete optimism to the documentary.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• This documentary film is inspired by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson’s own brushes with the law as a youth.
• The Miami-Dade County Corrections & Rehabilitation Boot Camp Program has successfully graduated over 11,000 individuals to date.
• The film premiered at the Los Angeles Film Festival before being aired on HBO.

Quotes

• “The second you walk through these doors, your past is your past.” – Dwayne Johnson
• “We’re doing this because we want to effect change!” – Staff Member of Boot Camp

Music, Soundtrack

• While there is no specific soundtrack, the movie features ambient and dramatic music to heighten the emotional essence of the scenes. The music in this documentary subtly underscores the gravitas and triumphs captured within this film.