Film Trailer

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

East Coast Visit

After the film finished it’s run in LA on March 27, I took it to the Media Festival for the Joint Conference for The American Society on Aging and The National Council on Aging in Washington D.C. on March 29. The film played to a good audience that was extremely involved and interactive after the screening. We were in front of our core audience that understood the film on many levels and was able to give me specific input about distribution and marketing that we’re beginning to implement. The entire spirit of the convention was so upbeat and full of life. I was proud to be included in their company and see the movie be embraced by this audience


After having some meetings in the D.C area in regards to planning future screening events in the area, I went up to NYC to begin to look for distribution in the city and discuss doing a benefit for a wonderful caregiving model organization called Share the Care

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

The Los Angeles Premiere

The premiere of dying to Live on March 13 was a success raising $6000 for The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation and the Los Angeles Caregivers Resource Center. The film got very emotional and positive responses from the sold out hose. There were over 250 people in attendance. Bob Landau, my editor, was quite moving at the post screening Q&A in saying that “usually you go into making a movie with a friend and by the time you finish you’re barely speaking”. In this case he said “he came out of the film with a new friend” and by this time he was crying. I feel the same about him and this reflects on how the entire experience of the movie is playing out. I am surprised by the continuous authentic expression of emotion the movie generates. It is humbling and inspiring.


My sister, brother-in-law, nephews and niece and several friends flew across the country to be there. My niece Eva made a special point in a card she wrote thanking me for the legacy I was leaving the family. The entire evening and days leading up to it are special in my memory. My team pulled together to make it all come together ad we rode a bit of an emotional rollercoaster until the screening was fully realized.


We played at the Laemmle Music Hall for two weeks. The film received very good reviews and articles that were positive, insightful and constructive for both the audience and me. Though the movie didn’t connect with everyone, which was to be expected. I had to remind myself of the old actor’s adage “If you believe the good reviews, you have to believe the bad one’s” For me. I made the best film I could make of a story I had to tell. I’d gone pretty far out on a limb both in content and style. Thankfully for promotion sake our press was really good.


Most importantly for me the film began to find it’s true audience. I conducted Q&A’s after every 7:30 showing for the entire run and found the comments to be strong and open. So many people related personally to the circumstances of story and the issues it raises around mortality and death. Over time I’ve learned more about how to position the film so that it can have the greatest exposure and reach the broadest demographics.


A caregiver who has been taking care of several members of her family was sobbing after one of the showings and immediately said to me “Now I know why I do what I do”. I believe this is my feeling too in about making the film. I believe I’m working and living as authentically as I can and I’m now able to have some perspective on the entire process of getting the film opened and digesting the reactions. One woman saw the film as universally healing and insightful in helping her to deal with her aging mother. Another guy was looking for strength to help his brother as they prepared to confront their parents ultimate needs. People continued to relate their own stories and I heard a woman tearfully & breathlessly tell of her 70 year old brother just having had a double lung transplant. I related specifically to her weeks of being on constant call for him and acting his sole advocate with his doctors. It is rare to have a lung transplant past 60. It was because she advocated for him them the doctors relented. Everyone needs an advocate at times of serious illness or near the end of their life.


The stories went on. A woman admitting she was in a constant battle with her brother over whether to keep a feeding tube in their father when he was unable to make that decision for himself and another family revealing they had lost their 30 year old son to a heart attack while he was playing basketball. I’ve kept saying that my life was no different than anyone else’s. I just happened to have a camera turned on. The audiences were glad to have a place to vent heir own stories and relieve the feelings they were continuing to keep inside. These events affect everyone.


The catalyst I’d hoped the film to be to provoke audiences was happening. Someone who had seen the film twice told me he was finally taking the healthcare system into his own hands and seeking out the proper medical care he long avoided because he’d realized the importance of keeping himself healthy for the sake of his family.


There were discussions about relationships, faith, family, traditions, the healthcare system, end of life issues and bereavement. Intense and engaging 40 minute sessions that continued into the lobby when the next screening began.


Sometimes the audiences were large and sometimes small but they were always engaged with the content of the film