Prisoners find inspiration without objectification

Jane Hash
photo by: Alternative Noise Productions

One goal of making Plain Jane The SHOCKUMENTARY is to provide audiences with a source of inspiration. Few people need and appreciate inspiration more than those who are spending a portion or the entirety of their lives incarcerated.

When the Executive Director of Re-Entry Bridge Network contacted me and asked if I would be interested in speaking to her students within the Richland Correctional Institution, I was shocked. How’s that for irony?

I had hoped this film would open up opportunities to do SHOCKUMENTARY Q&A presentations. Universities and disability related groups are where I imagined this objective would take me. Doing a presentation at a men’s prison was the furthest thing from my mind. After pondering this unique proposal though, the feelings of gratitude and excitement made it impossible for me to decline.

There are situations that I face daily, when someone tells me inappropriately that I am an inspiration. When able-bodied people tell me that I’m an inspiration simply because I am in a public place, that is an insult. Those perpetrators are objectifying me to make him/herself feel better.

Not once did I experience this sickening scenario while I was within the prison walls. Few populations have treated me with more respect and dignity than the Inmates at the Richland Correctional Institution for men. In fact, the only times I ever got nervous during the presentation is when the guards would pop into the room.

Until writing this post, right at this moment, I didn’t realize why the guards would randomly run into the room. It was the laughter. There is so much laughter in my life that I have taken it for granted. Every time the Inmates would roar with laughter, the guards would run in to see what was wrong. Then their observation would mesmerize them. The silly, shocked look on their faces was priceless.

Throughout the SHOCKUMENTARY Q&A presentation, we covered an array of thought provoking, intellectual, and fun topics. Of the numerous questions I was asked, none of them were about my disability. Not one! It would not have offended me. I’m just shocked once again! The Inmates were so appropriately inspired by the whole experience that they volunteered their limited resources and abundance of time to support a new project I am involved in.

It’s a good thing I wear a seatbelt all the time because this adventurous life I lead is rapidly gaining momentum!

The old Mansfield Reformatory that is situated next to Richland Correctional Facility

Online Only - Plain Jane The SHOCKUMENTARY

Laugh Until You Pee Your Pants!

Dear Friends, Fans, and Supporters,

On this Thanksgiving Day, I am very grateful that we can finally share Plain Jane The SHOCKUMENTARY with you!  I am proud to say that I have accomplished more in my lifetime than was ever expected. However, this movie is by far my greatest and most challenging accomplishment.

My main goal for making this film is to inspire people of all abilities to overcome their perceived obstacles and truly embrace their authenticity.

I understand that within the disabled community, the word “inspiration” is often viewed as being condescending and rude.  Personally, I am not offended by it if it is used in the proper context.   Here are a couple examples.

• UNACCEPTABLE CONTEXT - “Aw, look at you buying bread! You are so brave and inspirational.”
• ACCEPTABLE CONTEXT – “I was always too afraid to get on the dance floor until I saw you at the club, dancing in your wheelchair.  You are really inspirational.”

Don’t worry. If you are not offended by the word “inspiration,” there are lots of other things in Plain Jane The SHOCKUMENTARY that will likely offend you AND make you laugh until you pee your pants…sometimes simultaneously.

Seriously though, this is indeed a very special Thanksgiving Day. I am deeply grateful for Tom Trainer, who made Plain Jane The SHOCKUMENTARY a work of art instead of just a documentary. He captured the true essence of who I am, in a way that words can’t describe.  He is the Director, Producer, Photographer, Videographer, Editor, Boom-Guy, Set Director, Narrator, Wardrobe Consultant, Trigger-Puller, Chauffeur, and Bodyguard.  Also, I am eternally grateful for the support of our vast community that spans across the country and beyond. We could not have reached this enormous goal without your support!

Thank you all,

Jane Hash aka Plain Jane

p.s. You should order a copy so you can tell me what you think.  I can't wait to hear!

What makes this movie a “SHOCKUMENTARY?”

Hello there, friends, fans, and amazingly supportive community! Questions about Plain Jane The SHOCKUMENTARY are starting to roll in and we are very happy to respond! There is one question we are asked the most so we decided this was a good place to provide an answer.

Q. What makes this movie a “SHOCKUMENTARY?”

A. This movie is a “SHOCKUMENTARY” because although it’s wacky and entertaining, it is a documentary. None of the characters are fictional. Every topic is presented with either a big dose of dark humor, obscure imagery, awesome original music, or all three. Other than the obvious dream sequence where Jane carries out an act of revenge, none of the scenarios are contrived.

There are plenty of documentaries about spirituality, sexuality, addiction, recovery, health, family dynamics, disability, dwarfism, activism and other subjects that many find uncomfortable yet inspiring.  What makes this movie a "SHOCKUMENTARY" is that it combines ALL of these topics in one film...plus a few surprises.

Introducing...Documentarian, Tom Trainer

I am an Artist who’s primary medium thus far has been photography.  My career began in Los Angeles in 1986, when I started my photography business.  It was successful from the beginning and did not suffer any losses when I relocated from California to Ohio in 1992. 

The only ‘critiques’ I have ever received about my work is that it was too real, harsh, and controversial.  I choose to take these critiques as compliments because I intend for my work to make thought provoking statements.

The photography industry has undergone some massive technological changes since I started my career, which has opened up other creative avenues such as, video.  This renewed my passion for my work and I was ready to take this next step in my career.

Although I had the excitement and enthusiasm of an Artist with a fresh canvas, I lacked a subject.  Instead of going out to find a subject though, the subject of my first film found me. 

When Jane first contacted me and proposed this film idea I was more than a little apprehensive.  My main concern was that people would think that I was exploiting her in some way because she lives such an outrageous lifestyle.  For an exceptionally small woman, Jane can be very persuasive. 

I am veryproud to present to the world, this film that is entertaining yet very real, abit harsh, and totally controversial.