Tag Archives: County

Documentary Blog #37 – Wandering around DC

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I will be short in this post but I want to bring up some points or thoughts I had while walking around DC.  This was my second time in DC and the first time I had some time on my hands to walk around, take in the sights and see the splendor of our nation’s capitol.  My first time in DC I was working almost every minute of the day and only had time to eat, sleep and work.  I did take in an art museum but that was all I had time for while in DC nearly 12 years earlier.

On this trip I had set aside some time for Kaleb and me to walk around DC, get B-Roll of all the monuments and people.  We rode the tour busses, walked around the monuments, took photos and interviewed people on the streets.  While walking around the Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, FDR and other monuments and memorials I started wondering what the people who founded this country would think about the state of our union.  Essentially we have become a country that is better served by the interests of corporations than the people.  We have corporations running and making everything in this country.  The family farm no longer exists, our food is processed in massive plants, hell, we all drink water made and bottled by corporations!

I really do wonder what Jefferson would say about America today?

Don’t get me wrong, I think capitalism is great and I believe competition brings out the best in everyone (and sometimes the worst) and still believe in a country where hard work, innovation and determination leads to great things.  I am a big fan of the “individual” in this country and I think our founding fathers had those same beliefs.  But they also though about a country that took care of its people.  After all, we are supposed to have a government that is “of the people, by the people and for the people.”  I think Abraham Lincoln was right in his Gettysburg address when he made the previous statement but something has changed and somewhere along the lines we have lost that perspective.  Hopefully this film can open some eyes and help remind people that we live in a great country that allows us great freedoms.  Perhaps our government can get back to thinking about its people rather than the corporations.  After all, it’s the people of this country – the workers, teachers, artists, entrepreneurs, laborers, farmers, volunteers and the civic-minded – who make America truly the great country that it has become.

As long as this monumnet exists, I will always have hope for America.

The Washington Monument at midday.

Documentary Blog #32 – Official Name and Website

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http://www.leftoversmovie.com – TELL EVERYONE AND SHARE WITH FRIENDS! :)

Well if you’re here then you already know about the name of the project. After many hours of deliberations and conversations, the executive producers and I agreed upon a name for this film. As you know, the film is called “Leftovers.” Initially, the film was entitled “Stick a Fork In It,” but that name didn’t completely encompass the overall themes or thoughts about this project. In a situation like this it’s better to wait for all the information to come together and then name the project than to have to edit to a specific title. It’s more organic that way and is much less confining or constraining to a specific theme or title.

While traveling around the country we were just out to shoot and learn about what’s happening to our seniors and how big the issue of senior hunger is in America. But during that process we encountered some other themes like ageism and poverty and lack of opportunities that really shaped the direction of this film. Therefore, we decided upon the title of “Leftovers” to summarize the FOOD element of this plight and to highlight the way America treats its seniors – as people who are forgotten, set aside, left in the background or just completely thrown away.

Being honest, as I always am, I was not completely in love with this title from the very beginning but it has grown on me and I have come to love and appreciate this title. After all, it’s a title that says everything we have experienced and that’s more important in telling the story for all of America to see and experience. What’s happening to our seniors is frightening and should be a warning to what could be in store if nothing is remedied. So the website is now complete and you can see and learn all about our progress through the blogs, watch some videos, look at photos and connect with the great organizations who have helped to be a part of this journey.

Documentary Blog #31 – New website coming

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There have been a lot of things taking place over the last couple of months in regard to the documentary.  Yes, I have been playing a massive waiting game with people in Washington, DC and my calls and emails to anyone at the USDA have fallen on deaf ears and I cannot get a response from that organization.  However, I have been in talks with Meals on Wheels Association of America, the Administration on Aging and the National Council on Aging and have some interviews lined up here.  So, I will be traveling to DC in a matter of weeks.  In the meantime, I have kept myself busy with working on and organizing my clips so that I can tell the story when the time comes.  Also, I have been sending out email after email and making phone call after phone to set up interviews and garner additional funding for the project.  All my “behind the scenes” work is paying off and so much is starting to happen.

Now, there’s a lot i CANNOT share with you right now because I don’t want some information to get out but I can tell you that I am writing this blog post as an EXTREMELY happy man right now.  Something huge came in the mail today for me that will allow me to finish this project.  I am so happy that I want to shout it from the rooftops but am restrained to do so out of respect and admiration of the people involved.  But, I can tell you this and share this with you… We are working on a site solely dedicated to the film so you don’t have to read anymore posts here on my photography site.  We are in the works of building a “Stick A Fork In It” website that will solely devoted to the film, photographs, stories, people and organizations we have encountered along the way as well as links for you to personally get involved in the lives of seniors.  It will have a new, completely overhauled logo and everything.  This is getting exciting and more and more professional every minute.  I think this is all coming together nicely.

Look here for more details coming soon and thanks for all your support.  I love you all!

Seth

 

Documentary Blog #27 – Good-bye Booneville, Hello Orlando

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Well, it’s time to say good-bye to my friends in Booneville, KY.  I had a great time getting to know some wonderful people and had some experiences I will never forget.  More importantly, I was able to capture some incredible footage and interviews for the documentary.  I was somewhat reluctant to come to Booneville initially but my fears quickly dissipated when Kaleb and I started to immerse ourselves into this culture. I am really going to miss the people here but have vowed to return within the year for the documentary premiere or just to help deliver meals.  The only thing that will be different from this trip is I am bringing my wife with me.  She has heard all of the stories about this place and wants to experience for herself and she will make the trip with me whenever I return.

In the center of town is the Owsley County Court House. I can tell you stories about what goes on around this building that will have your mouth agape (a-gape and not a-ga-pay).

I did fail to mention that Kaleb and I had ZERO internet connectivity and extremely limited cell phone reception while in the area.  When we returned to our house/hotel and walked into the front door we would immediately lose reception of any kind.  We had to stand on the front porch most of the time to talk with our significant others.  Most nights were rainy, windy and cold so it didn’t make it any easier trying to talk with someone on the phone.  One night we got locked inside the house/hotel when the handle on the door was stuck and the door wouldn’t open.  Neither Kaleb or I couldn’t get cell service to call Linda and have her come and save us.  We couldn’t escape through the back door because it was completely boarded up. We were trapped.  Finally I put my phone as close to my bedroom window as I could and was able to get ONE bar.  I used that good fortune to call Linda and have her come and free us from our time in purgatory.  Kaleb and I have several little stories and experiences like this one that will gladly share over drinks with any of you reading this some day.  As we drove away from Booneville I was somewhat sad in knowing that a part of me will always be in this city and these people but I have to move on because I have four interesting, personable and caring women waiting for me in Orlando  at Seniors First.

This is one of the last pictures I made before leaving Booneville. Here Kaleb is posing on the highway and some random guy rides by on a four-wheeler... SCORE!

While working in Booneville I used my phone to check my email whenever I had a signal.  During that time I was alerted that I was given permission to film the Ms. Florida Senior America pageant while in Orlando and can use it in my documentary.  Not only does Seniors First kick some serious ass they also we helpful in lining up this opportunity to share a story with American most people don’t get the chance to see.  So now it’s off to Orlando!

Miss Senior Florida 2010. If you think she's HOT it's because she is! We can only hope to look at good and be that nimble when we're seniors.

By the way, I finally got 3G service on my iPhone about an hour after leaving Booneville.  Praise Tom Cruise! :)

Documentary Blog #26 – Senior Center and The Hollan Family

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It’s been almost a week since we’ve arrived in Booneville, Ky and considering it’s such a small town we have started to become locals.  People are no longer curious about us and just accept that we are running around all over town shooting video and taking pictures.  We have spent time gathering B-Roll and interviews and people getting food.  All in all, it’s been an incredible experience and I don’t regret choosing to come here and meet with these amazing people; but we’re not done yet.  We were scheduled to make our way to the Senior Citizen Center to share a meal with a lot of seniors in the area who use this center for camaraderie, socialization and lunch.  We had stopped in early in the week to meet with the seniors here but they told us we needed to come back at the end of the week because they were serving a special meal and all the seniors in the area would be in attendance so we obliged them and agreed to come back at the end of the week.  The senior center is a great community center and while we were filming they were in the process of constructing a new gathering area so all the seniors were in a smaller area of the center.  Even though it was a smaller space it was still full of great, jovial seniors who, like the rest of the people I have met, were just as friendly and welcoming as most everyone I had met in Booneville.

Owsley County Senior Center where great people get together everyday for food, fun and socialization.

One couple in particular, Henrietta and Clyde, was so much fun to be around and just had me laughing.  Clyde is 86 and Henrietta is 81.  We first met Henrietta on Saturday night when we went to Dooley’s Diner to listen to Bluegrass music and go Clogging with the townsfolk.  Yes, I just used the word townsfolk. :)   And, we met Clyde at the “Table of Truth and Knowledge” earlier in the week at Dooley’s Diner.  I hope I am as active, sharp and spunky at 81 as Henrietta is; she’s someone I really enjoyed getting to know and talking with whenever I saw her.  She is, as I have heard people say before, a “firecracker.”  I hope I get back to Booneville soon enough just to spend time with her and Clyde.

Some seniors enjoying lunch and Easter flowers at the Owsley County Senior Center.

We spent time with the seniors while they had lunch and they were gracious enough to allow Kaleb and me join them for a great meal.  Prior to the meal they wanted me to call Bingo so I, once again, obliged them and called several Bingo games (which has become a recurring theme whenever I would travel to a senior center) and I had more fun than I expected I would calling Bingo.  I attribute that to the company of people more than the act of calling Bingo.  The people made it so much more enjoyable for me and truly enjoyed making them laugh and, at time, entertaining them.

Henrietta. She looks great for 81 and the smile you see here is how I will always remember her.

I was feeling very benevolent that day.  I don’t know what it was or why but the people of Booneville had affected me in a way that I had never experienced.  So, I wanted to do something nice for some of the people we had met.  Whether is was buying lunch, dinner or dessert I wanted to spend my own money and give back to the people who have given Kaleb and me so much.  One family in particular, the Hollan family, really resonated with me.  I don’t know if it was my first meeting with Stormy who is originally from San Diego but now lives with her husband Simon Hollan in Booneville (Simon is originally from Booneville and they moved back to help take care of the family), or the first time I met the matriarch of the family Nannie Hollan or just talking with all of the members of the family that made me really like and connect with these people but something happened and I hold a special place in heart for them.  So I wanted to do something nice for them and I wanted to take their photo.  Since I was going to their home to ask to take their photo I had the manners enough to go there with something in return.  Kaleb and I went to the local Dollar General Store (there are two in Booneville – The Family Dollar and The Dollar General Store) and I bought two gallons of milk and I bought Nannie some “comfy” clothes.  When I first met Nannie she was wearing some fleece-type pants and a matching shirt. I don’t know if it was her pajamas or her “lounging-around” clothes but they were bright, colorful and looked really comfortable.

Kaleb and Nannie. As always, Nannie is in her comfy clothes. I wish I could walk around every day in my comfy clothes. You go, Nannie!

After stopping at the dollar store we made our way to their house and went up to say hi.  When we approached the house, I noticed the front door open but couldn’t see inside so I just started calling out for Stormy or Nannie or Simon to come out.  When I did I saw more of the Hollan family than I had met so far.  Not only was there Nannie, Simon and Stormy but they all paraded out of the house and onto the porch.  Here I met Stormy and Simon’s two children, Patrick who is Simon’s other child and Simon’s Sister Better who is dating Shawn (pictured with the buzz cut – I had met Shawn a couple of times before this photo was taken).  I was expecting to see a few people but now there were eight.  We presented them with their goodies and they were, as I expected, thankful and grateful for their gifts and I asked if I could take their photo.  They agreed and we took a few pictures.  Some are good and others are not so good.  That last statement has nothing to do with the Hollan family but the fact I was only traveling with my camera and a couple of speed lights and no light modifiers or softboxes.  Could I have taken better photos if I had my studio equipment?  Well, um, YES!  But I made the most with what I had and tried to take really nice snapshots and not award-winning photos.

My friends, the Hollan Family of Booneville Kentucky.

We chatted for a while and went on our way.  I think of the Hollan family as my friends and hope to see them again someday.  Once again, they are a prime example of people who may not have a lot in terms of money or fancy, designer clothes or a house full of frivolous items but they make the most of what they do have.  “Keeping up with the Joneses” is not a way of life for most people in Booneville and that’s OK with them.  They are happy to have their lives and try to make the most of what they do have while living in one of the most beautiful areas of the country.

The Hollan Family in Black and White.

Tomorrow we say good-bye to Booneville and start to make our way to Orlando.

See you then,
Seth