Ain’t Nuff Time is a digital performance for prisoners, showing the positive impact art can have on their lives pre and post-release. We have been researching and developing Ain’t Nuff Time since 2022 and it is currently in post-production, with the world premiere being held in Spring 2024 at Hyde Park Picture House in Leeds, before it gets distributed to prisons via His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service Digital Hub.

Ain’t Nuff Time will be shown to 7,000 prisoners across the UK in the following prisons: HMP Humber, Moorland, Wealstun, Berwyn, Erlestoke, Feltham B, Garth, Lindholme, Ranby, Stoke Heath, Swaleside, The Mount, The Studio, Wayland, New Hall, Styal, Cookham Wood, Feltham A, Werrington and Wetherby.

As well as watching Ain’t Nuff Time, prisoners will also be able to respond creatively to the film through creative writing, poetry, rap, drawing, painting etc which fosters innovation, creativity and learning culture in a digital world. Selected prisoners responses will feature in a book circulated to prisons and the public, increasing prisoners’ agency and self-esteem as well as educating the public. 

“Arts and Creativity in criminal justice settings can support improved wellbeing, awaken an interest in learning and can help people build new positive identities. Engaging in the arts can also lead to new skills and employment opportunities, as well as equipping participants with a desire to actively engage in their community and culture.” National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance

Evidence from academia and the Ministry of Justice demonstrates that the arts can support the process of desistance from crime. 

“Access to the arts can show a set of possibilities of how you can live your life differently and make a meaningful contribution to society.”

The need to reduce reoffending is also important for the whole of society for economic and social reasons:

“The cost of current levels of reoffending has been estimated at £18.1 billion per year.” Ministry of Justice

People with lived experience are at the heart of the project and have been employed in the research, development, and creative process of Ain’t Nuff Time: “Having people with lived experience involved helps make the whole thing more relatable to the viewer.” Person with a Conviction

imagine if ran research workshops ran throughout 2022-23 with people with convictions as well as prison officers, probation workers and Ministry of Justice staff to ensure that Ain’t Nuff Time had the right content and form for prisoners to actively engage with.

Project breakdown and script development with people with convictions.

After the research and development phase, we went into production at HMP Shrewsbury (where ‘TIME’ was filmed, featuring Sean Bean and Stephen Graham) with a full creative team.

CREATIVE TEAM

Writer: Chesca Joy

Director: Andy Twyman

Director of Photography: Jordan Clarke

Executive Producer: Chesca Joy

Producer: Chesca Joy, Andy Twyman

Assistant Producer: Lucy Brown

Story Consultant: Mark Catley

Script Advisor: Andy Twyman

Early Stage Development Writer (Lived Experience): Ray

Mitchell: Nick Preston

Anthony: Craig Blake

Supporting Actors: Mike James, Tyler Dobbs, Jennifer Banks, Phil Pearce

1st Assistant Director: Emily Brown

Assistant Camera: Dominika Besinska, Richard O’Hare

2nd Assistant Camera: Tom French

Camera Trainee: Alex Gunton

Gaffer: Nuno Rodrigues, Marcos Shepherd

Spark: Amy Dyduch

Production Designer: Jay Roberts

Art Director: Eva Jean Wright

Art Department Assistant: Alina By

Sound Recordist: Drew Sewell

Sound Assistant: Tayne McIntosh-Barrett

Composer: Joseph Lawrenson

Sound Designer: Jack Baxter

‘Reasonable Reaction’ Original Song: Jasmine Kennedy

Editor: Peter Schmid

Colourist: Marietta Farfarova

Poster Design: Tabby Thompson

Hair & Make-up Artist: Sophie White

Extras: Dalton, Neil, Ray

Lived Experience Experts: Andrew, Carl, David, Neil, Dale, Phil, Dalton, Ray

Support Worker: Sarah Oldknow

 

BEHIND THE SCENES 

 

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