The funding landscape for independent cinema is scarier than most horror movies these days but Diane Ament, 82, and Bari-Lynne, 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 (82) 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 that’s a sign – I’m 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 it’s horror?” It’s about getting out there.
Bari-Lynne: I didn’t learn until post-production that every single senior’s least favorite genre is horror. I never would purposefully pick to go to a horror movie.
Diane: However, when you’re in a production, like a pantomime, and you’re playing the witch, it’s so much more fun. Also, it’s 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 don’t 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: It’s something I’ve 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.
Here’s 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, it’s about positivity. I can, rather than I can’t.
Pam Hugi is Senior Planet’s Community and Advocacy Manager. Based in Brooklyn, she is a contributing writer for this site.
Photos credit: Mythic Productions Inc.
