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

Jane says, "I don't have a degree in sitting on my ass."

Hello fans, friends, and supporters! Recently, I had LOADS of fun being interviewed by Melissa Both Heisler for The Empowerment Show. We covered lots of ground in a short time. 

Guaranteed to pique your interest in finding out more about Plain Jane The SHOCKUMENTARY! See complete interview below.

Shockumentary Gains Fans In Australia

Northcott, in Australia, is an organization committed to facilitating people with disabilities in living the lives they choose to live by providing needed support. A shockumentary fan in Australia contacted the library at Northcott and told them they needed to add Plain Jane The Shockumentary to their list of resources...and they did! The following is their very kind review.

Plain Jane: The Shockumentary – Review from Northcott in Australia 

Should work be allowed to be this much fun? This is the question I asked myself while viewing The Shockumentary in preparation to adding the DVD to Northcott’s catalogue. I truly belly laughed out loud and wondered if those within earshot wondered what was happening in the library.

Jane Hash generously shares her whole life with her viewers in this autobiographical documentary. Her condition, Osteogenesis Imperfecta, is a genetic brittle bone disorder. Jane exudes confidence, independence and an energy for life. The documentary uses a range of devices to share Jane’s story. Re-enactments, graphics, stills from the past and video footage combine to tell this sassy lady’s life story. The frankness that Jane exhibits with her sexuality and in relating her past alcohol dependence means that her viewers should be prepared to be confronted but not nervous. Pussy shaving is one topic given full coverage. Honesty is a trait to be appreciated and respected. All people interviewing for home health aides should take a leaf from Jane’s methods in order to find the right person for their needs.

So much of this film is sheer entertainment. The fire scenes along with the drums are magic. The scenes of the destruction of the computer are high comedy and few of us have not wanted to take the same revenge. Jane has no need for political correctness. She wants questioners to be respectful. “Say it nice,” is her message. 

Where will this DVD find its place in the Northcott collection? It will encourage borrowers to choose to live lives that highlight their personal strengths, to seek adventure, to find enjoyable activities and to know when to find ways around what others may see as limitations. Northcott staff will benefit from using Jane’s story to appreciate the breadth of a life well lived thus far. There is undoubtedly much more to follow. 

The assistance of our first borrower in writing this review is appreciated. She enjoyed Plain Jane: The Shockumentary as much as I did.

Judi Lipp
Northcott Librarian 

In general, at this time, Plain Jane The Shockumentary is only available in the US and Canada.  However, in the very near future it will be streaming online.

Interview with Simon Husted from The News Herald

Recently, I had the pleasure of being interviewed by a Reporter from my hometown newspaper.  Simon Husted from The News Herald did an excellent job of revealing enough juicy details about Plain Jane The SHOCKUMENTARY to spark the interest of many yet, not enough to spoil the most shocking surprises! You can read all about it, right here.

Plain Jane The SHOCKUMENTARY (Official Trailer)

Online Only - Plain Jane The SHOCKUMENTARY

Excitement & Gratitude

Words fail to express how excited we are to finally be able to share our movie with all of you!  We reached out to several potential corporate sponsors for financial support in making this film a success.  Nearly all of them admitted Plain Jane The SHOCUMENTARY was a fantastic idea, but they were all afraid to have their company's name associated with it because of the diverse subject matter. 

Fortunately, we have an amazingly supportive community who saw our potential and believed in our project!  You are why we were able to complete this one-of-a-kind movie.  We've all made such a great team thus far, just you and us, let's keep it that way. Plain Jane The SHOCUMENTARY is only available through this website.  You order it and we ship it!  

THANK YOU!

The first shipment goes out on release day - 12.2.2013

Stay Tuned!

If you want up-to-date information about an upcoming, ground-breaking, shockumentary, with tons of social taboos and cult classic potential, then come back often!

Plain Jane the SHOCKUMENTARY