Lights, Camera, Action!

Kathleen Anderson

In the late 80’s I was running a west coast pilot program for the Area Agency on Aging, called the Home Maker Registry. The purpose was to provide in-home non-medical help for frail home-bound elders, to prolong their independent living. This program was also rolled out in the mid-west and on the east coast. At the end of the year, it was judged a success and is still going on today nationwide.

A big part of this program required me to make in-home visits to introduce social service programs that could help them achieve their independent living goal.

Two things struck me at every home I visited: firstly, it was so hot I could barely breathe and secondly, the television was always on. The television, for many of these seniors, was their only connection with the outside world.

As those in the social service arena know, the best services in the world are useless unless people are aware they exist. Outreach to this special population was always a challenge. They rarely were able to attend health fairs or senior centers. Transportation in those days was another challenge and emails didn’t yet exist.

After a few visits it hit me that perhaps the best way to reach these folks might be through their television. Clearly, a visit to our local cable company was in order. While there, I was informed local programming opportunities were available to everyone in their service area, and training on their equipment was available – and at that time, free.

I placed an ad in the newspaper asking for seniors over 60 who would be interested in learning a new hobby – television production. At the appointed time and place 76 seniors showed up. Thirty-five of those seniors went through the training, which covered editing, directing, control-booth operations, cameras and lights.

Several alternating seniors volunteered to be hosts and hostesses and Pier One ‘loaned’ us some lovely wicker furniture and artificial plants for our sets. As the show’s producer, I arranged the show into three segments and every episode included a service provider, a geriatric physician and senior entertainers. I also set up the storyboard and arranged for the guests.

Not many (if any) seniors had computers back then, so my assistant producer was our communicator. She made phone calls to the rest of the crew to inform them of dates, locations and anything else they needed to know. The show was taped every two weeks and as time went on, we became more adventurous, doing remote shoots of local festivals and holiday events.

For several years running, we won an award from the Bay Area Cable Awards (BACE) and we were the first show in the Bay Area to do a live call-in show. When you don’t know you can’t, you do.

After the first year, I wrote and received a grant that enabled various members of the production to attend video production classes at UC Santa Cruz, where we shared what we learned at production meetings.

We all learned new things, made new friends, met a variety of interesting, and sometimes amazing people.  And we laughed – long and often.

The senior entertainers turned out to be my personal favorites. We had 80-year-old tap dancers, who arrived on the set with their 92-year-old teacher – inspirations to us all.

Another senior that stands out in my mind was the woman who played the violin. She had been second ‘violinist’ all her life and this was her first shot at being first. To make it even better, her family was coming to visit and would be able to see her debut on television.

Spoon and washtub bands were also very popular, but my all-time favorite was the senior choir group.

The singing done by this group was delightful but the real story was the conductor’s wife. She was the pianist and a very good one. She also had full-blown Alzheimer’s.

She played beautifully, but only began when she felt the spirit move her. No amount of coaxing could get her fingers moving on those keys until she was ready.

So, the choir watched the conductor, who watched his wife, and although we had a few false starts before everyone was on the same page, when it came together, it was magical. And I loved that the conductor included his wife in these ongoing concerts. You truly could feel his devotion.

So, what brought all these memories back into focus? With the lifting of some of the COVID-19 restrictions Many of us are looking to the future again and new, as well as old, experiences.

If television production is something you have always wanted to explore, but didn’t know how to get started, this could be your chance. If you have a subject you are passionate about and want to learn how to use video and editing equipment, classes are available through Thurston Community Media.

Due to the COVID-19 issues, classes are now being offered via ZOOM online but once the restrictions have been lifted, studios and in-house classes will again be available.

Anyone living in or out of Thurston County is eligible for the training and once completed, can check out equipment or use their studios. There are reasonable fees for the classes.

Thurston Community Media is currently celebrating their 35^th Anniversary. Their talented and dedicated staff is ready and willing to help you get started. For more information contact Deborah Vinsel at 360-956-3100 ext.101.

Kathleen Anderson writes this column each week.  Contact her at  kathleen@theJOLTnews.com or post your comment below.