“A Theory of Change” is a feature documentary in development that follows the life story of Rhidale Dotson and his remarkable endeavours towards transformative justice within the prison system. Dotson has served 25 years of his life sentence without the possibility of parole, and he urges us to name this inhumane sentence “Death by Incarceration” (DBI) since he is sentenced to die within prison walls. Through experimental cinematography and a multimedia approach to archival video, spoken word, artwork, photography, and animation, the documentary traces key moments of Dotson’s life before and after his incarceration at the age of 21.

Inspired by the work of Mexican cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki’s cinematography, the documentary will trace imaginative recreations of Rhidale’s life as a highly ambitious youth before incarceration, as well as the series of violent and brutal conditions of imprisonment that lead Dotson to uncover his purpose as a change-maker and create a series of programs that harness the personal potential of incarcerated individuals. His story lends way to larger academic expositions of dismantling the legacies of slavery and colonization that underpin systems of mass incarceration through animation and testimonials. It features the work of marginalized artists and writers to immerse the viewer in an impactful journey through experimental storytelling grounded in various artistic mediums.

More Information on:

https://rhidaledotson.com/