Existe un lugar en Seatle donde los ancianos y los niños conviven
y comparten horas de compañía, juegos, risas y aprendizaje. El centro en cuestión es un proyecto hasta ahora poco conocido, que llamó la atención de la cineasta Evan Briggs para elaborar un documental sobre la extraordinaria y productiva relación de convivencia entre niños y ancianos que existe en este lugar.
With neither past nor future in common, what do relationships that exist entirely in the present look like?
Present Perfect
explores the very real experience of aging in America- both growing up,
and growing old. It was filmed in a preschool housed completely within a
retirement home, powerfully capturing the subtleties and complexities
of the young children's interactions with the elderly residents, while
challenging us to consider what we're doing- and what we’re not- to
prepare future generations for what’s to come. What value does a
person have to others throughout their life? Are we asking for the right
contributions from each other? How do we measure and define a
successful life? While this film doesn't shy away from confronting
some difficult realities, it is ultimately a life-affirming story of
hope and human connection.
MORE ABOUT THIS FILM
The inspiration for Present Perfect
stemmed from a longstanding desire to explore the experience of aging
in America. As a filmmaker, I’m drawn to simple, subtle stories that
provide a framework for much bigger ideas, stories that promote
reflection, revealing new layers of complexity that ultimately expand
our way of thinking about a particular topic and even, perhaps, our
entire world view. I love films that really make you think- and not just
in the moment, but for days, weeks, even months following. After spending a few days observing the residents and kids at The Mount, I knew this was one of those stories.
Stepping
into most any nursing home, it’s hard to ignore the sense of isolation
one feels on behalf of the residents living there, and even harder to
reconcile that with the fact that old age will inevitably come for us
all. In our fast-paced, youth-obsessed culture, we don't want to be reminded of our own mortality. It’s easier to look away.
When
I heard about the Mount and its Intergenerational Learning Center, I
was struck by the simple perfection of the concept. I was further
intrigued by the idea that with neither past nor future in common, the
relationships between the children and the residents exist entirely in
the present. Despite the difference in their years, their entire sense
of time seems more closely aligned. As busy, frazzled, perpetually multi-tasking adults, we are always admonished to live ‘in the moment’. But
what does that mean? And with the endless distractions provided by our
smart phones and numerous other devices, how can we? I was curious to
observe these two groups, occupying opposite ends of the life spectrum,
to see firsthand what it meant for them to simply be present with each
other.
Shooting this film and embedding myself in the nursing home environment also allowed me to see with new eyes just how generationally segregated we’ve become as a society.
And getting to know so many of the amazing residents of the Mount
really highlighted the tremendous loss this is- for us all. Over the
course of the months I was filming at the Mount, I observed many
incredible exchanges between residents and kids. Some were sweet, some
awkward, some funny- all of them poignant and heartbreakingly real. One
experience in particular occurred during a morning visit between the
toddler classroom and several residents who had gathered to sing songs
together. Everyone had just finished a rendition of “You Are My
Sunshine” when one of the residents began to share a memory he had of
singing that very same song late at night on a bus full of soldiers
while serving overseas during World War II.
The clarity with
which this gentleman recalled this era of his life so many years ago was
breathtaking- the memory seeming to appear before his eyes as he spoke.
And though the kids were too young to understand his words, the fact
that their presence provided a catalyst for his recollection just seemed
to fit in a ‘circle of life’ kind of way. I’ve reflected on that moment
many times since- it was beautiful and profound, and I was grateful to
have been there to witness it. Those small, quiet moments are often the
ones that contain the most meaning, and sadly are also the ones that
most of us are too busy and distracted in our day-to-day lives to
notice.
This is a film about the very young and the very old,
yes. But it’s also about something bigger, something harder to pin down,
but so essential in every way. In the words of Susan Bosak, founder of
the Legacy Project, “It’s the experience of life in a
multigenerational, interdependent, richly complex community that, more
than anything else, teaches us how to be human.”
PROJECT STATUS AND GOALS
We are currently running a Kickstarter campaign to raise enough money to finish the film! It ends on July 2, 2015! Please visit us there and help spread the word!
Present Perfect
was filmed at the Providence Mount Saint Vincent retirement home in
West Seattle, WA, also home to to the Intergenerational Learning Center,
over the course of the 2012-2013 school year. Up until now, this entire
project has been a labor of love, funded entirely out of my own pocket.
I invested in new camera and audio equipment so that I could function
as a one-woman crew, I paid babysitters to watch my kids so that I could
shoot three times a week for the entire school year, and I've spent
countless hours applying for grants and pitching this film to as many
people as possible. I've gladly taken all of this on because of how
strongly I believe in the power of this story and its potential impact.
And while I will continue to work uncompensated hours on this project, I
do need funding to pay the professionals who can help me take it to the
next level.
All
of the feedback I have received from industry professionals as well as
regular folks has been extremely positive! The project was even awarded a
grant in 2013 by Artist Trust, an organization that supports Washington
State artists. People are intrigued and want to see more. This is where
the funds come in. I need to bring on an experienced documentary
editor to provide a fresh perspective and help to shape the story from
the amazing footage I have to work with. Finishing a film is not cheap!
Editing, color correction, sound mix, music rights, publicity,
outreach-- it adds up quickly. I have high hopes for this film and am
committed to seeing it reach its full potential. With your help, it can
happen!
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario
Danos tu opinión, Escribe tu comentario, AQUÍ