The Business ENCORE: ‘Sing Sing’ director Greg Kwedar models pay equity; This Week’s Banter: Hollywood turns on LA Mayor Karen Bass
Jan 17, 2025
Greg Kwedar, director of the film 'Sing Sing,' shares insights on his innovative pay equity model, ensuring all cast and crew earn the same daily rate. He emphasizes the importance of equity in the film industry and the impact of hiring formerly incarcerated actors. The conversation also touches on Hollywood's frustrations with LA Mayor Karen Bass and the need for revitalization in film production. Tune in for a critical look at how politics, social equity, and the entertainment industry are interlinked in today's landscape.
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Inspiration for Sing Sing
- Greg Kwedar's film, Sing Sing, was inspired by an Esquire article about inmates forming an acting troupe.
- Kwedar contacted the author and met with the real-life inmates, who later starred in his film.
Kwedar's Prison Encounter
- Kwedar's first prison experience involved a documentary about a man training a rescue dog.
- This sparked his interest in alternative prison stories, leading him to the Sing Sing acting program.
Casting Colman Domingo
- Kwedar sought Colman Domingo for the film to blend professional acting with lived experience.
- Domingo agreed, drawn to projects that offer learning opportunities, despite a busy schedule.