For Angie Frias, breaking the cycle of incarceration required more than a determination to change her life. It required stable housing, meaningful opportunities and a network of people willing to help her rebuild. In Episode 347 of the Everyday Injustice Podcast, Frias discusses her journey from incarceration to filmmaking and how her experiences inspired Rewritten, a documentary produced through Represent Justice that examines the importance of mentorship and support for justice-impacted youth.
Frias first experienced incarceration at 16 and later served three separate prison terms as an adult. She describes the challenges of reentering society with limited resources, a criminal record and few employment opportunities. After relocating to Los Angeles, she found critical support through organizations including the Anti-Recidivism Coalition, A New Way of Life and other community programs that provided housing, transportation, mentorship and career opportunities. Those experiences helped her establish stability and eventually pursue work supporting others affected by the criminal legal system.
Her documentary, Rewritten, focuses on the Bridge Academy Movement program at the Boyle Heights Arts Conservatory, where formerly incarcerated mentors help young people navigate challenges and build opportunities for their futures. The film follows Zachariah Lewis, a young participant who became a mentor himself, while exploring the importance of credible messengers and community-based intervention. During production, the documentary took an unexpected turn when police detained young people during a graduation event, an incident Frias says disrupted the celebration and became a significant part of the film.
In the conversation, Frias discusses the challenges of making her first documentary, the lessons she learned about collaboration and the importance of giving formerly incarcerated people opportunities to tell their own stories. She also explains her plans to use screenings of Rewritten to promote youth empowerment and education about legal rights during encounters with police. The film is available through Represent Justice, and Frias hopes it will encourage greater investment in mentorship, reentry services and alternatives to incarceration.
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