The funding landscape for independent cinema is scarier than most horror movies these days but Diane Ament, 83, and Bari-Lynn, 79, helped make movie magic as crew members for a horror flick.Funding challenges led director Sean Cisterna to tap into funding from a Canadian government program to assemble a team of seniors as the crew of a scary short film entitled The Rug.He documented the production and turned it into a forthcoming, full length documentary entitled Silver Screamers.Senior Planet spoke with two crew members, Diane Ament (83) and Bari-Lynne Butters (79), about the experience of making the horror short and documentary.
From learning how to plan a production schedule to faking blood splatters, these retired teachers had the time of their lives making movie magic.How did you get involved with making The Rug?Bari-Lynne: My daughter forwarded me the email from Sean and I thought, Who is this guy? I thought he was some crackpot.And what a concept, you know, for seniors to do this.I had worked for a video production company, so I knew how hard these people worked and how interesting it was.
My daughter said, Do this, mom, you need it.And I said, Sure, why not?Diane: The day my husband passed, the email came from Sean about doing the movie.And I thought thats a sign Im going to do it, because he would have liked me to do it.
Makeup is something I like to do for theater, and I know that doing it for movies would be different, but I jumped in with both feet.Want a peek at The Rug?Were you interested in horror before working on this movie?Diane: No, but I thought, What does it matter that its horror? Its about getting out there.Bari-Lynne: I didnt learn until post-production that every single seniors least favorite genre is horror.I never would purposefully pick to go to a horror movie.Diane: However, when youre in a production, like a pantomime, and youre playing the witch, its so much more fun.Also, its such a better vehicle for makeup and special effects.Did making a horror movie make you like them more?Diane: Yes, now, when a horror movie is on, I dont just turn it off.
I leave it on, and I watch the makeup to observe what the makeup artist has done.It makes me realize how good they were to be able to achieve that kind of effect.Bari-Lynne: Its something Ive changed my mind about as well.I no longer look at it with fear, I look at it with more tongue and cheek.
Newfound appreciation is what I have.Heres a peek at Silver Screamers the documentary about the making of The Rug with a crew of older adults.What does Aging with Attitude mean to you?Diane: Be positive.Positivity is the key.Not only with yourself, but with other people as well.Bari-Lynne: Very similar to Diane, its about positivity.
I can, rather than I cant.Pam Hugi is Senior Planets Community and Advocacy Manager.Based in Brooklyn, she is a contributing writer for this site.Photos credit: Mythic Productions Inc.
Publisher: Senior Planet ( Read More )
