Orillia film director creates heartwarming documentary on seniors film-making workshop

Seniors are shown in Silver Screamers documentary. (CTV News)

An Orillia director turned a film funding rejection letter into a ‘heck yes’ from a group of seniors.

Film director and writer Sean Cisterna said his idea for creating a short film and then a follow-up documentary on the making of that film, came following constant rejection letters when he applied for funding to make movies.

Fortunately, another opportunity came in the mail from his local Member of Parliament asking community members to apply for the New Horizons for Seniors program, a grant that encourages older adults to get off their couches and do something unique in the community.

That’s when he turned his failed horror film pitch into a film-making workshop for seniors.

The 12-minute short, horror film, based on a novel by Canadian author Edo van Belkom, is called The Rug. It centres on Canadian actress and comedian Jayne Eastwood discovers a discarded throw rug that sucks up anything put underneath it.

The cast and crew are all seniors throughout the Greater Toronto Area.

Silver Screamers is a documentary on the making of this very film. It shows the seniors navigating the challenges of movie-making without a big budget and forming meaningful connections in the process.

“This is a documentary celebrating senior creativity,” said Cisterna. “The message is that creativity doesn’t expire and imagination doesn’t retire.”

Cisterna said he found the seniors by going to several retirement communities and senior active living centres, church groups and Odd Fellow meetings.

It wasn’t easy getting the seniors on board. When he pitched the idea and they heard the words ‘blood’ and ‘gore,’ nobody wanted to participate.

But when a woman named Audrey, 96 years old, said she was interested, it was like a snowball effect.

“When groups of older adults don’t necessarily know each other in the community, if they can form together, it’s just the impossible can happen and you just have to be open to the opportunities as they arise,” said Cisterna.

The film is being screened around the world and next, he’s headed to the Brussels Film Festival, but not before a stop in Orillia.

Both The Rug, Silver Screamers and a Q and A will be taking place as a part of the Mariposa Arts Theatre Film nights at the Galaxy Cinemas in Orillia for two shows on Wednesday at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.