From “Trouble” Prisoner to “Sing Sing” Star

Clarence Maclin: I was down at the chapel to take care of some business that I had to take care of while I was in prison, and the yard was closed because of a big storm, so we were all forced to go down to the chapel to meet. And they were putting on a play. I had heard about the RTA program, and there were these wonderful men involved in it. When I went down to see a play, I saw these men on stage creating this art. I expected everyone on stage to be ordinary people, just coming here for entertainment — like this was a zoo or something. But I saw these brothers there, and they were creating art. And they were doing something beautiful. They were respectful, they were respected. And I wanted to be a part of that.

But it took a year without any violations or trouble in prison. [before you can join RTA]. And it was very difficult for me at that time, because I was prone to getting into trouble. I was always in trouble. But I got through it. I went through the year without getting into any trouble, and I got into the program.

I can’t imagine what it’s like to be out of prison for a while, and then they ask you to come back into the world—to be the person you were years ago. Did you have to think about that before you agreed?

Of course there is anxiety about going back into lockdown, just to voluntarily go back to hell. But the purpose of why we are doing this trumps any anxiety. The message that we have in this film really needs to be conveyed. It really needs to resonate with individuals who are locked up, individuals who are not locked up, individuals who are locked up in ideologies that keep society stagnant. Sometimes people need to be shown how to release their emotions. Maybe that’s why the stage was created.

What did you learn about acting from working with Colman Domingo?

I learned the difference [between] screen and stage. I was in a prison that had terrible acoustics and a bad sound system, so I had to learn how to make sure that everyone in the room could hear every announcement and know that I was saying the right punctuation instead of just running through my period. Even if I was whispering, it had to be loud enough for people to hear. And he taught me how to put that on that eight-inch screen. You don’t need a big, fancy space—pull it in, and boom, pull it in and pull more out.

How does it feel to see yourself in a movie?

I never really liked seeing myself as an actor because I saw the mistakes. I saw the flaws. But now I’m learning to appreciate the result. It came out the way it came out, and it’s beautiful.

What do your family and friends think?