PRISON CHOIR NOMINATED FOR GOLD ROUTE

‘The Prison Choir’ is a TV reality series from Oslo Prison produced by Nordic Film and broadcasted on the TV Norge channel last Autumn. The series failed to achieve expected viewing audiences, but this nomination is a positive acknowledgement of a series which had deserved many more viewers. We have spoken with Roger who has been chosen to represent the choir at the award ceremony in Bergen on 10. May.  

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Text og photo: Knut-Erik Rønningen, published 02.05.08.

- I’m pretty certain we’ll win, comments Roger who hopes he gets the chance to travel to Bergen to collect the prize for best reality series. He will not be released from prison, but has applied for leave to be able to be present in the famous Grieg Hall in Bergen when the winner is announced.

A realistic picture
The series was well-received by both employees and inmates in Oslo prison, most of whom were of the opinion that the series gave a realistic picture of everyday life at the prison. ‘The Prison Choir’ series has been placed in the category for reality programs, but a considerable portion of the contents is formed more as a documentary. As commented by the Norwegian national newspaper ’Dagsavisen’ when evaluating the series: "The Prison Choir is perhaps the most serious program TV Norge has ever sent".

New hope
Roger doesn’t exactly feel that he has become a star after the series, although the program has indeed meant that he has come into contact with many more persons.
-I have only had positive experiences as a result of participating in ’The Prison Choir’, he comments. We were also treated very well by Nordic Film and never felt exploited in any way.  On the contrary, they have inspired me to get a good grip of myself and be critical to the life I have led. Cooperating with the team from Nordic Film has given me new hope, said Roger, whose closing words were: “It’s almost like getting a new family”.

During Spring 2007, Lars Helge Myklebust from the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation’s radio channel NRK P2, produced a radio documentary about Roger. You may listen to it here.

Added 12.05.08:
The choir didn't win any prize and Rogers leave were refused...

Roger hopes for leave from the prison.

Opera singer, Charlotte Fongen, also energetic conductor
of ‘The Prison Choir’, will also be in the audience during
the ‘Gold Route Show’.