Tag Archives: Meals on Wheels

Documentary Blog #39 – Happy Birthday, Leftovers!

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As some of you have noticed, I have been going back and adding blogs from my several months of travel.  While traveling and then logging and capturing footage I fell behind on my blogs and am having to put them in as close to the time they occurred as possible.  You will notice my last blog was in September but I actually wrote it two days ago and wanted to create a nice timeline of the the story.  Don’t ask me why I did it this way; I thought it made sense but now seems a bit weird considering what I am about to write.

I just wanted to note that exactly ONE YEAR AGO TODAY I agreed to take on the daunting task of making this documentary.  It was on January the 5th that I told the executive producers I would take on this documentary and bring to light the issue of senior hunger.  Initially this was supposed to be a 20 minute film and I was to shoot it in LA and San Francisco only.  However, this film has grown, new information was discovered (along with some great and colorful people) and the money allowed us to find the story instead of just trying to tell a story.

I will admit that the last year has been a difficult one for me considering I set most of my business aside to make this project but have been slowly growing my photography business during our breaks, I secured studio space and had several shoots with lots of wonderful new clients.  I am just ready for this film to be released so we can all see what has transpired over the last year and bring this issue to the American public.  Also, I believe all of us involved are ready for this project to conclude so we can all move forward with it and let it be seen.

But I don’t complain about things like the amount of time this has taken or the pressure and challenges I have faced.  Instead, I reflect on all I have learned and seen, the people I have met and the stories they have told.  Their stories need to be seen and heard and I can’t wait for that to happen.  Tremendous organizations deserve tremendous recognition for their selfless and passionate works.

But until this film is completed I can at least say, “Happy Birthday, Leftovers!”

Documentary Blog #38 – Recap of the D.C. Trip & Organizations

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My four days in Washington, D.C. have come to an end and I am walking away (well, actually flying away) from here with so much great information.  First off, the people at Meals on Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) and the National Council on Aging (NCOA) are some of the best people I have met who are working their asses off to make certain someone is looking out for the seniors of America.    Secondly, if it weren’t for these organizations I often wonder what would be happening to current and future seniors and who would be fighting for them.  Keep in mind, people working for the not-for-profits are often some of the hardest working people in the country because their work is a passion… it’s personal.

Enid sharing her passion during our interview

I should explain what these organizations are all about and how important it is for this documentary to have two amazing organizations such as these.  Actually, I am flattered to have MOWAA, NCOA and AARP as part of this piece.  Without these groups I don’t know where this documentary would have become.  It not only adds credibility but it allows people who are this passionate to talk about what it is they are doing, the progress they are making and the future prognosis of the “Senior Hunger” (as well as other senior) issues.

Jim Firman of NCOA during our interview

The reason I chose MOWAA to be a part of this film is fairly obvious.  We’re doing a piece on senior hunger and the two largest organizations feeding people in the U.S. are Meals on Wheels and Feeding America.  As I already stated in a previous post, you know Feeding America (the national organization and not the local level) never called me back or wanted to be a part of this movie.  Meals on Wheels is an old, old organization serving millions of meals every year to seniors and other people who require the basic necessity of food.  I wanted them to be a part of this film long before they ever gave money to my project.  While interviewing Enid from MOWAA I learned some amazing things about her organization, what’s happening in America and how they battle every day with Congress to get more and more assistance to help people in this country.  My question is… why is it a battle?  That’s another film for another filmmaker.

Please look up this "One Away" program from the NCOA

With regard to NCOA, I can’t express enough how great it was to have them on board too.  Jim Firman was great and amenable to helping me get out the story and share how they are a part of the lives of many seniors.  In case you aren’t familiar with NCOA then you definitely need to look them up.  Basically, they are a group that strives to improve the lives of older adults, especially those who are vulnerable and disadvantaged.  In fact, you have to check out one of their great programs that inspired me to want to interview them and have them be a part of this film.  That program is called “One Away” and it’s a series of stories of people who are/were one paycheck, health issue, emergency or other issue away from finding themselves in major crisis.  It’s really worth checking out and seeing what’s happening.

I think that many people don’t realize how real hunger is in the U.S. and this campaign brings it to life.  Also, my relationship with NCOA opened the door for my personal redemption in this film but that’s a later post for a later date.  Heck, I may never even mention it because I don’t want to give away too much about this film.  All in all, my trip to D.C. was well worth the time and money to get some much needed credibility to my film and I am so thankful for their time and commitment to helping me tell this story.

Check out their websites on my LINKS page.

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 #36 – Are you part of the problem?

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One day one of my time in Washington, DC I had scheduled time with the incomparable Enid Borden.  She is the president of Meals on Wheels Association of America and one of the most passionate people I have met.  She graciously allowed us to have a couple hours of her time to interview her and we took every minute of that time and then some.  Let me describe Enid as detailed and as affectionately as possible…

When I first met Enid I was surprised by how small and petite this woman is.  Then again, I am 6’ 3” so a lot of people are small and petite to me.  But she is about 5’ 3” tall and weighs about 110 lbs. wet.  But don’t let her petite size fool you.  This woman has a huge heart and an even bigger presence.  It’s almost intimidating.  Although I am not intimidated by many people, she was a little scary when first meeting her but once you get her talking you realize her fierceness comes from her passion to do the right thing and make a difference in this world for seniors or anyone going hungry.

Enid Borden of Meals on Wheels Association of America

We talked for about three hours and got some really great information regarding what is going on with Meals on Wheels, the challenges she faces and the hope for the future.  My biggest fear in interviewing someone like Enid (or anyone working for an organization) is that she wouldn’t speak openly.  Many times people in power positions like Enid tend to talk in “corporate speak” where all of their answers are taken from a press release or something that is said in their many, many brochures.  In a film like this I have to get people to open up, speak honestly and tell the real story about what’s happening in America.  There were a couple of times it appeared as if Enid was using “corporate speak” with some lines here and there but once we were about 15 minutes into the conversation all “corporate speak” seemed to disappear and we were rolling.

During that conversation there were many points made that had me thinking but there were two points that are still resonating with me.  One is in regard to aging in America and how we all live in a world of denial and don’t want to think about getting old.  She told me that may people are afraid to think about getting old or helping seniors so much so that they won’t go and knock on their doors.  Many people are afraid of what’s on the other side of that door because what they’ll see is their future.  When she made that point it resonated so deeply with me because that speaks volumes to my attitude toward seniors.  Perhaps that’s why I never thought about or wanted to get involved with seniors because of the fear of what’s on the other side of the door.

The second point she talked that still has me thinking is in regard to being part of the solution and helping to create a future where something like this (senior hunger) no longer exists.  We all have the choice to either be a part of the problem or be a part of the solution.  But since I have been thinking about that statement from Enid I have been pondering what to do about the solution.  And, it was this point from her that prompted me to wonder about a solution to senior hunger and how we can make a difference in this country.

Also while in DC we met with Jim Firman the president of the National Council on Aging.  During his interview he used a lot of corporate speak and we only had 45 minutes with him but his last 15 minutes we just as passionate as anything I heard from Enid.  Some people are more comfortable on camera than others and it takes some time to warm up before they open up and speak their minds instead of talking like some buttoned-up, shiny-haired Public Relations clone who speaks like someone pulled a drawstring from the back of his or her neck.

The one thing Jim said that has also stayed with me was in regard to fixing the senior hunger problem in 2-3 years.  However, like Enid, there were no real solutions provided.  To their defense, I don’t know if a solution could have been reached in the short amount of time we spent together.  But what those conversations did for me was to provide further interest in trying to understand, seek or possibly find a solution.  And, that fueled me to want to learn more and see what else I can bring to the overall production of this film.

Documentary Blog #35 – The nation’s capitol & major disappointment

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With our new money in hand, I set up our travel and trip to Washington, DC to interview people, conduct street interviews and start to get some answers.  I knew I had wanted to get to DC for quite some time.  There are a couple of reasons why I believed DC was essential to our overall story.  One, most national organizations like Meals on Wheels and Feeding America are headquartered in the area and, two, federal organizations like the USDA and the AoA (Administration on Aging) are located here.  I had hoped to interview as many organizations as I could while in town and had been working with the USDA and AoA for more than three months at this point to set up interviews.  I answered whatever questions they had, jumped through hoops and tried working with them as best as I could to get someone on camera to talk about this.  After all, a group like the AoA is working at the highest level in this country to help seniors.  I don’t see why they won’t want to be a part of this project.  So, I loaded up the gear and boarded my cross-continental flight from LA to DC and met my videographer there.

I landed in DC and took a taxi to my hotel, which was located in the heart of DC.  Once I checked into my hotel I went straight up to my room, took out my computer and decided to check my email to make certain nothing changed with my interviews and schedules.  15 minutes into checking my email I received a message from my contact at the AoA telling me they would not be able to meet with me!

I was floored, angry, disappointed and completely shocked.

Why would an organization working at the highest level for our seniors decline to go on camera?  What are they hiding from?  They new I am not making a “Michael Moore” type film (you would not believe how many people asked if that was my style when setting up interviews) and was trying to find answers.  What makes me angrier is that our current Obama Administration wanted to be known as the most open and transparent administration to date.  This didn’t seem very open or transparent to me!  Again, what are you hiding from?  What could make you NOT want to let America know about the problems facing seniors and how you are working to help or alleviate those matters?  I knew the USDA wouldn’t go on camera with us and Feeding America never returned any of our calls – those two were not on my list already.  I went to DC knowing I was going to interview Meals on Wheels, the National Council on Aging and the AoA but now one of the key components of my story decided not to go on camera.  That makes me mad, check that, really pissed off!

After about 20 minutes of fuming I started to calm down and remembered that this story is about the seniors and this is another one of those “Crossroads” you encounter while working on a project like this.  I decided to make lemonade out of lemons and would use that opportunity to explore more of DC, get as much B-Roll as possible and spend more time on my interviews with the NCOA and Meals on Wheels.  And, I am glad I decided to move forward once faced with the fork in the road because of the douche bag move from the AoA (OK, maybe I still not over it).  Because of their cancellation I was able to spend more time walking and wandering DC and was able to make more phone calls and set up additional interviews.  Because of this additional free time I was able to secure an interview with the AARP Foundation and their president, Jo Ann Jenkins as well as walk around DC looking at and shooting many of the monuments.

In fact, while walking through the FDR Memorial I stumbled upon the great quote (seen below) that has become the driving thought/quote/idea behind this documentary.  So, I think it’s important to take the lemons life gives you and try to make lemonade.  There’s something to be said about perseverance, optimism and fortitude.

This is the quote that I stumbled upon while walking around the memorial. This quote has become our driving motivation for this film.