'Scene-iors' Act Out Iconic Movies
Assisted living residents find joy by performing movie re-enactments
Ten years ago, Matthew Hoffman was an aspiring talk show host who went into a Los Angeles-area assisted living community for an audition tape he was working on. The visit inspired him to volunteer at the center and develop an acting troupe with its residents.
Together they started by reading and acting out iconic scenes from famous films. It grew from there. Hoffman started bringing in a green screen (used to superimpose a background location), costumes and props for his "Tuesdays With Matthew" movie re-enactments — and he began filming the actors' work.
The result? A delightful series of memorable scenes from films ranging from Titanic to Gone With the Wind to The Notebook, imbued with laughter, fun and an enhanced sense of community. Hoffman's work with the residents has, he says, "taken over his life," and he hopes that his experience inspires others to volunteer at their local assisted living residences.
Those who participate in Hoffman's program enjoy all the benefits that socialization and creativity have to offer. As one of the participants said, "Before I was just sitting home looking at the television. This gives me new life."
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