It has been an amazing few years working on the movie CUT BACK: facing ageism. Meeting all the wonderful people who participated in the documentary was very fascinating, enlightening and emotional. It was a project that was very personal for me as ageism was something that I experienced first hand, and something that greatly affected my father.

I want to thank all who made this possible and those, like you, who have shown an interest in my work. I wish you all the best success in your pursuits.

Moving on from this project, I am making a short series of documentaries about modern immigration called "Rights of Passage", beginning with a wonderful story of a woman, Renate Hess, who left East Germany before the fall of the Berlin Wall. I am also working on other art projects and collaborations and have just completed an artist's book called In the Trenches with Mary C. Leto, a friend, paper maker and book artist from South Carolina. This book tells the story of the forgotten babies buried on Hart Island, NY. You can read more about these and other projects on my artist blog Studio PS.

If you would like any further information about CUT BACK: facing ageism feel free to contact me, I would love to hear from you.

Heard on Fresh Air yesterday: Interview by Terry Gross with Ann Marie Baldonado about Toronto Film Festival.

A new movie from Jason Reitman, starring George Clooney, called Up In the Air is interspersed with interviews of real people who have been downsized from jobs in middle America. No interviews in the trailer... so curious, will have to go see this one.

HR Observations, a blog by Michael D. Haberman which he describes as such: This is a forum for my observations relating to human resources topics and to discuss and question current human resources practices.

It is his Tuesday, Sept. 15th post called ISM Number Four: FATISM that I am responding to. He posts a very informative article about the issue of weight and how it affects hiring and perception. It is informative and important and inspired me to make a comment on his blog. Here is what I said:

I read your article with great interest. This again is another form of discrimination. Fatism has been around for a long time. When I was in college (20 years ago) I did a major paper for my psychology class on just this issue. Some people in my class thought it was funny. It was not meant to be. I have recently made a movie about age discrimination, when you add weight in as a factor on someone's chances of getting a job the percentage of not finding employment rises. This is a serious issue. In the NY Times an article about taxing the obese stated, after indicating that a Cleveland clinic instituted a wellness initiative and will not hire smokers:

"Which is why it is so striking to talk to Delos M. Cosgrove, the heart surgeon who is the clinic’s chief executive, about the initiative. Cosgrove says that if it were up to him, if there weren’t legal issues, he would not only stop hiring smokers. He would also stop hiring obese people. When he mentioned this to me during a recent phone conversation, I told him that I thought many people might consider it unfair. He was unapologetic." Fat Tax, August 12, 2009

This frightens me. Where will we draw the line, how perfect will we have to be in order to be employed and by whose standards will we be judged?

In these times it seems there is more hate than acceptance, race, age, sex, religion or lack of religion, weight and more, all playing a factor in how we are perceived. As an artist, I was compelled to create a series of pieces called "People say we're fat" it is my way of trying to bring attention to the hurt that is cause by being discriminated against because of weight.

Growing up in the 60s made me have (some consider it naive) an idealistic hope that we, as a culture, could get beyond our differences and work together towards a more humane and cooperative society. I still have my hope, but it's dwindling.

"Long Island Breakfast Club (LIBC) announces an Italian Heritage Event entitled 'An Evening in Tuscany' to be held on Thursday, October 29th, 2009!  The LIBC is proud to salute the 2009 Honorees who have significantly distinguished themselves in the Italian Community, and continue to inspire and impact individuals by paying it forward on Long Island: Michéal Castaldo, Carol Donato, Rocco Iannarelli, Lisa Siano, Esq."

"The event will be held at The Westbury Manor, Jericho, NY from 6:00 to 11:00 pm. 'An Evening in Tuscany' will be a spectacular event and will include a reception, dancing, silent auction and much more! Information on ticket sales, corporate sponsorships, journal advertisements, prize donations and auction donations can be obtained by visiting the website."

When I first decided to do the movie CUT BACK: facing ageism I did a lot of research about what other people were doing in the field of aging. In 2006 the movie Andrew Jenks, Room 335 was at the Phoenix Film Festival and I was fortunate enough to get the chance to see it. I loved what Andrew did with his movie, documenting moving in and residing in a senior/assisted living facility in Florida and getting to know the residents and the connections that they made with each other, it gave us outsiders some insight into what it is like in senior/assisted living and made the viewer feel more sympathetic to the issues and choices (or sometimes lack of choices) that older adults have to face in their lives.

At the beginning of 2009 Steve Gurney decided to also move into a senior living facility. Steve "is the founder and publisher of Guide to Retirement Living SourceBook, a comprehensive resource he founded 20 years ago. He speaks regularly on a variety of topics andhas assisted hundreds of senior-serving organizations in reaching solutions to their challenges. Steve is a graduate of the innovative Masters of Management in Aging Services Program at University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)."

Because Steve helps counsel people making transitions he felt he needed to experience first hand what it is really like to live in one of these communities. He spent the early part of this year (leaving his family at home) documenting this trial.

Now at 43 years old, Steve Gurney, is "preparing to make another move to a different community. This time, however, his 6-year-old son, Asa, will be joining him."

"On August 19th, the duo will take up temporary residence at The Residences of Thomas Circle, a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) located in the heart of downtown Washington, D.C."

"While Gurney has been regarded as an expert in the field of senior housing and eldercare, he came to the realization that he had not experienced the transition that he has advised thousands of people to take in his 20-year career. He states, 'This has been the most enlightening and thought-provoking experience that I have been engaged in throughout my career. I am at amazed at the perspective I have gained, and how much it has reinvigorated my passion for innovative solutions.'”

"Gurney has been documenting his experiences through a blog that has served as a vehicle for discussion and creative thoughts on aging and eldercare."

Bravo, Steve.

This past week has been full of activity for me and my husband, Jake. We went to New York to participate in the Long Island International Film Expo (LIIFE). CUT BACK: facing ageism was shown on Friday, July 10th along with a short documentary: Hicksville, 11801 – a student film by Jennifer Uihlein. Jennifer used archival film, personal family stories and images to show a sense of connection and community to the Long Island town. It was nice to meet her on stage for the Q&A after our films were shown.

in the lobby of the Bellmore Movies

It was very exciting to be part of the LIIFE. A special thanks to all my friends and family who came to support the film and me. Also thanks to the people who were in the film who came to see it. Vicki Ellner, President and Chair at Senior Umbrella Network of Brooklyn was there. Vicki has extensive experience in marketing, community outreach and business development in the healthcare, homecare and elder law arenas. We spoke of using the film as a teaching tool and possibly getting some exposure in Brooklyn and the other boroughs.

Elisabeth Zamarelli, affected by ageism when she was turned down for a promotion in 2006, was there. She made me feel great when she gave me updates of her success since the film was shot. She has won a beauty pageant, has gotten acting and modeling parts in several ad spots, is still teaching, and took on a part time job as an auxiliary police woman. There is no holding her back. Congratulations.

The Long Island Breakfast Club (whose 4 original members participated in the movie) sponsored the wine and cheese opening night party. Tina Janek and Stephanie Carlino with the assistance of Elise worked really hard to make the party a success. Their support is greatly appreciated. They have recently been covered by News 12 and CNN for the work they do "providing advocacy, support, career and employment counseling, referrals and good old-fashioned laughter to prepare mature individuals for productive employment."

I also met a very interesting woman, Siroon P. Shahinian, Ph.D., from the office of the Global Action on Aging (GAA), a United Nations accredited NGO (non-governmental organization) located at the Church Center for the United Nations. She expressed an interest in the film to possibly do a screening for her organization. It was wonderful to make contacts and share information.

Received some press coverage from Gloria Schramm, of the 405 Club, who did a great article on the film which was very sensitive to the participants called TOO YOUNG TO RETIRE BUT NOT TOO OLD TO WORK. She wrote: "Very often, those over 50, feel the loss of a job mostly keenly because they fear not being able to obtain a new one. These sentiments in the film are usually held by those who are still in the grief mode after job loss, before their own personal inner recovery and planning a strategy or game plan as to what they will aim for next."

Patricia Kitchen of Newsday also wrote a piece, Life to film: ageism in the workplace, about me, the film and the LIIFE, there is no online article but this is a link to the printed version.

I can now officially use the laurel leaves.

The balance of my week was spent enjoying some great events with Jake and my family in New York City and Long Island. I highly recommend the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Annex featuring John Lennon: the New York City Years and MoCCA, the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art featuring Sounds and Pauses, The Comics of David Mazzucchelli.

Long Island was as beautiful as could be after almost a month of rain. The foliage was lush and green as we drove out to the Hamptons on Sunday to relax and eat at one of our favorite restaurants, Babette's, in East Hampton. On Monday it was a great day taking the ferry over to Cherry Grove, Fire Island and enjoyed a drink on the Bay.

Now I am back in Phoenix, inspired to work on a new series of short films.

To celebrate being part of the Long Island International Film Expo the portraits of ageism series will be on sale for over 50 percent off until July 19th, originally $165 now $80. Decorate your home or office with a portrait of the people affected by ageism that shared their story in the movie CUT BACK: facing ageism. Part of the proceeds are being used to enter the film into festivals to help raise awareness of age discrimination in the work force. During the festival ten percent will be donated to the Long Island Breakfast Club, "an organization providing advocacy, support, career and employment counseling, referrals and good old fashioned laughter to prepare mature individuals and people with special needs for productive employment." So shop on etsy for the special half off prices or attend the film on Friday July 10 at 3:30 pm in Bellmore, Long Island and buy a portrait on site and save the shipping and handling. Thanks for your support.

Exciting news: CUT BACK: facing ageism has been accepted in the Long Island International Film Expo to be shown on July 10, 3:30 pm at the Bellmore Movies, 222 Pettit Avenue, Bellmore, NY 11710.

Watch for an article in Newsday by Patricia Kitchen to be coming out soon. She called me after speaking to Tina Janek of the Long Island Breakfast Club. There are 13 people in the film from Long Island, from Brooklyn to Stony Brook, from experts to those affected by ageism. Thanks again to all who have participated.

Watch CUT BACK: facing ageism in its entirety on YouTube. I hope you enjoy watching the segments and that you will pass on the information to others that might be interested. Don't forget to watch the end credits to hear "Covered in Grey" a wonderful song, written and performed by my daughter, Megan Kelley.

April 27, 2009. Counseling Special Populations: Foundations for Multicultural Counseling is run by Dr. Chinwe Williams at the University of Central Florida.

Ari Kollangi, a grad student of Dr. Williams, wrote to ask if he could use the film CUT BACK: facing ageism in his course presentation. "I would like to share this film with my class as I have been assigned to share aspects of ageism and other age related disparities for seniors; an often neglected human demographic. I am sure that the power and clarity of the documentary will be able to express a message that my class will be able to appreciate and add to their competence and concern as we all progress toward mental health licensure" said Mr. Kollangi. Of course, I wanted to help.

Part of the course description is as follows:

This course will emphasize: (1) the development of competency in the three areas with a major emphasis on the self-awareness component while increasing the students' knowledge of and skills addressing prejudice, racism, and oppression as it pertains to working with persons from diverse backgrounds. Self-awareness, knowledge, and skill development needed to counsel members of racially and ethnically diverse populations (1) developing levels of personal awareness about stereotypes, and learning how feelings and attitudes about these may impact counseling with individuals from diverse populations, (2) reviewing knowledge and research in the area of multicultural counseling, (3) developing and/or enhancing skills useful in counseling individuals from differing populations.

After the presentation, Mr. Kollangi wrote me a very nice email about how the film was received:

"The film was a perfect addition and the students felt both a clearer connection toward awareness of their own age biases, as well as a deep appreciation for the individuals in the film who bravely participated in your work . . . Also, as a student and future mental health counselor I was touched by your use of personal reflection and candor in the film. Please know that your message of awareness for the unfortunate effects of ageism were well received and inspired other students to critically evaluate their own biases during a closing conversation after my report."

I am very happy that this film was useful in Mr. Kollangi's course work and that I could help get the message to his students in Central Florida.