Valeray Richardson, T.R.U.S.T.

   Fellow, Chairman, Events

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First Annual Movie Night

 

Sponsored by the Events Committee of San Quentin T.R.U.S.T.

May 10, 2019

 

Pixar’s

"Inside Out"

 

We were very excited to present this movie as an “Open Call” to the men of San Quentin.  Approximately 250 men filled the Protestant Chapel. As the lights were turned down, you could hear a pin drop as inmates and volunteers had all eyes and ears on the big screen.

 

This film is a charming, intelligent journey through the emotions of an 11 year old girl, Riley. You are taken inside her brain to see how emotions develop from infancy, how they can be influenced by experiences in childhood, and how they  impact each other. The movie visually depicts the formation and loss of memories along with the development of perceptions of “self" and the world.  The concepts are based upon current scientific understanding.

 

The movie was followed by a Question and Answer session with

UCSF Neurologist: John Engstrom, M.D. and

Child Psychologist: Diana Kronstadt, EdD.

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From John Engstrom, Neurologist

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"This film is a humorous and accurate window into the emotional ecosystem that makes us human and gives us a soul. As a physician, I am trained to obtain a diagnosis and then attempt to treat the body after an injury to the nervous system. I have come to appreciate that fixing the body without attending to the soul results in only a partial cure, at best. The important work done by T.R.U.S.T. strives to facilitate the recovery of the soul. Thanks to everyone for allowing me to be part of the discussion."

 

 

Reflections from Viewers:

 

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Aaron M., T.R.U.S.T. Workshop Participant

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"This movie was brilliant, funny, insightful, and emotionally stimulating. It caused me to have several epiphanies about my emotions and how to process and manage them. I had never considered the benefits of sadness and how necessary it is for joy and sadness to work together. This is a movie that every school in the world should show, because children need to know that their emotions should not be ignored by themselves or adults, and they need to know that it is okay to talk about how they feel. Had I learned this, I would never have committed the crimes I did. I would have not rebelled and lashed out the many ways I have."

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Louie Light, T.R.U.S.T. Fellow

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"I was one of the fortunate guys who was able to watch the movie. I have to say, I loved it. The movie painted a picture for me to understand some of the emotions I, too, was going through as a kid. It made me think about the different feelings and the different memories, good and bad. To be completely honest with you, I didn’t expect the movie to touch me the way it did. It not only touched my heart but helped me process my own emotions today. And then, the cherry on the top was when I had several visitors come to my cell door sharing with me how much they enjoyed it as well. Not only did they ask when the next movie was, but inquired as to how to become part of T.R.U.S.T., and that my friend is what it's about…I am so proud to be a T.R.U.S.T. Fellow."

 

 

Brian Shipp, T.R.U.S.T. Fellow

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"What really stood out to me was how the emotion of Joy always tried to keep Sadness away from the lil’ girl’s core memories! In the end, I realized after the lil’ girl ran away from her family, that Sadness, Joy, Fear, and Anger all work together in bringing the lil’ girl back to her family. It really opened my eyes to the inner workings of my emotions, which are linked to my thoughts and ultimately to my actions and decisions in life."

 

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