Meet Me at the Movies and Make Memories Interactive Film Program

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Meet Me at the Movies…and Make Memories™ Interactive Film Program

By Peggy Cahill; John Zeisel, PhD; and Sean Caulfield
Photographs by Daniel Colucci

‘Meet Me at the Movies…and Make Memories’ (MMATM) is a replicable film‐based treatment
program for people living with Alzheimer’s and related
dementia. The therapeutic aim is to reduce symptoms through
reminiscence, group discussion, and image recognition. MMATM
is an ARTZ created program, but is done in collaboration with
film institute’s and theatres. Since the program’s inception, ARTZ
has primarily worked with the Tribeca Film Institute in New York
City (www.TribecaFilmInstitute.org) and the Coolidge Corner
Theatre in Brookline, Massachusetts (www.Coolidge.org). Both
of these institutions are not‐for‐profit/charity organizations.

In June of 2006, MMATM held its first public showing at the
Tribeca Film Institute (TFI). Since then, ARTZ and the TFI hold an
annual spring program. In 2009, ARTZ began a quarterly MMATM
program with the Coolidge Corner Theatre. This quarterly
program serves more than one thousand people living with
dementia per year.

This free program gives those living with memory loss an expressive outlet and forum for dialogue
by viewing pre‐selected film scenes, immediately followed by group discussion. Volunteers from
ARTZ work with audience members to engage in reminiscence and to highlight themes, such as
family, love, the Great Depression, World War II, and Old Hollywood. Focusing in depth on icons
from Hollywood’s Golden Age, the program includes performances by legendary stars Jimmy
Stewart, Humphrey Bogart, Judy Garland, and Lucille ball among others. During the film programs
people seem to thrive and achieve a greater sense of selfhood, and their partners experience this
as well.

With my colleague and ARTZ co‐founder
John Zeisel, we developed this program by
conducting focus group interviews with
potential participants to determine which
films would most resonate with the
audience. Volunteers acting as ushers and
greeters are given special training to learn
about dementia and to develop specific
approaches to bring about engagement.

In addition to Tribeca and the Coolidge, the program has been performed successfully for
                                   over four years at care homes, senior centers,
                                   theatres, universities, adult day programs, and
                                   assisted living residences. Before and after each of ten
                                   4‐minute film clips projected during the performance,
                                   two "guides" on stage gently coax memories, opinions,
                                   and feelings from the audience, leading to increased
                                   focus of attention and participation.

                                Evaluation of the program has employed two main
                                methods: Focus groups of participants with
                                Alzheimer’s at Alzheimer’s adult day and assisted
                                living programs in New York City and Massachusetts,
and post‐performance group interviews with program staff. These methods have
demonstrated the effectiveness of each film clip and helped to fine‐tune and shape
subsequent performances.

Purpose of Program
ARTZ movie events are specially designed for people living with memory loss and their
care partners. Some of these people with memory loss may have Alzheimer’s disease,
and others may have other diseases that cause dementia. Dementia is the umbrella term
for a cluster of symptoms that include memory loss, intellectual loss, difficulty with
language, and problems interpreting the environment. People progress in dementia at
different rates, and at all stages of dementia there are remaining abilities for
communication and creativity. ARTZ designs this program to capitalize on those
remaining abilities. For example, because many people with dementia can exhibit a
shorter attention span, ARTZ shows only a clip from a movie instead of the entire movie.
The audience therefore does not have to follow the thread of the entire plot or
remember characters from one scene to the next. Also, the chosen clips are famous or
iconic. Many people remember these famous scenes, which are embedded in their long‐
term memories, and so they naturally become engaged in the process.

Goals of Program

    •    Stimulate and engage individuals experiencing memory loss, enhancing emotional
         health by reducing symptoms associated with the disease while improving focus

  “Meet Me at the Movies...and Make Memories’ Program, Copyright 2011‐2012, ARTZ: Artists for Alzheimer’s®   2

of attention, mood, emotional connectedness, memory access, and future
orientation.
• Promote more meaningful interaction and a deeper understanding between
those diagnosed, their care partners and family members.
• Demonstrate through research the effectiveness of film to capitalize on remaining
abilities of those living with dementia, increasing the health and well being of
participants.
• Strengthen community partnerships.
• Effectively evaluate and replicate the program.

Meet Me at the Movies Facilitator Guide
by Lauren Volkmer, Program Coordinator, ARTZ New York City

This is a general guide for facilitators of ARTZ movie events. Every
facilitator will have a different style and personality; what is most
important is the communication between co‐facilitators,
awareness of the audience, and the ability to flow and adapt in
the moment. What follows is information about the facilitating
structure, improvisation, and the special needs of audience
members with dementia, as well as a brief example of what a
script might entail.

Congratulations on being a co‐creator of an experience that will
be magical, memorable, and fun for all!

The Facilitating Structure
There can be either two or three facilitators. More than three
facilitators are not recommended because the audience will have to work harder to focus
on who is speaking and may lose focus entirely. One facilitator could potentially work in a
pinch, but we recommend at least two because the interplay between facilitators is an
integral part of how the audience is engaged.

Whether there are two or three facilitators, each person should know what their “role” is
in the facilitating structure. Since the script is largely improvisational, it is very helpful for
each person to know what is expected of them and to be able to get back on track if the
event starts to veer off course.

Think of the old comedy teams when one person was the “straight man” and the other
was the “funny man,” really zany and off the wall. The
straight man sets up the jokes, or “feeds” them, to the
funny man. It’s like a volleyball team—one person gets the
ball up in the air, and the second one hits it over the net.
Both roles are crucial to the game.

In our case, let’s call the two facilitator types the “director”
and the “actor.” If you have three facilitators, then two of
them can be actors. The director is responsible for ensuring
the flow of one clip to the next, introducing each film clip,
and cueing the projectionist to start the clip by saying, “Roll ‘em!” The actor is
responsible for leading the post‐clip discussion with the audience. Both roles have
scripted and improvisational elements and both are interactive with the audience and
with each other. During the clip introduction, the director takes the lead and the actor
offers support. During the post‐clip discussion, the actor takes the lead and the actor
offers support. If the co‐facilitators are comfortable with the “straight man/funny man”
comedy dynamic, this offers an extra level of humor and entertainment for the audience.

Improvisation or “Being in the Moment”

The degree to which the event is scripted depends on the facilitators’ level of performing
or public speaking experience and comfort with the material. The more the facilitator is
able to look up from their script and adapt to what is going on in the moment, the more
engaged the audience will be. However, beware of going off on tangents too often.
Remember that the audience members with dementia may have difficulty following you if
you stray too much from the topic.

A central part of improvisation is going along with what your facilitating partner presents
to you. Many teachers of improvisation call this “yes, and...” Be prepared to accept your
partner’s ideas and add to them appropriately. Before you begin the actual event, it may
be helpful to meet with your co‐facilitator(s) and practice this a few times. Remember
the volleyball analogy—if someone hits the ball up in the air for you, it doesn’t do any
good for the game to let it fall back down to the ground or hit it off in a different

direction. Think in terms of teamwork and flexibility for the common goal of making the
movie event an enjoyable and stimulating experience for the
audience.

Being in the moment also requires a certain level of energy.
It is always good to have a lot of energy devoted to listening,
both to your co‐facilitator(s) and to the audience. Visual cues
should be paid attention to as well. As with any performance
situation, you should infuse your words and actions with
energy. However, remember that you are sharing the
spotlight with both your co‐facilitator(s) and with the
audience. They need to have the chance to shine as well.
Therefore, we advise you not to try to fill up the whole room
with your energy. You should leave room for the other people to experience the event
and add their own energy to it. You are a co‐creator of the event, along with your fellow
facilitators and the participants in the audience. Each event will be unique and special
because of this.

The Audience
ARTZ movie events are specially designed for people living with memory loss and their
care partners. Some of these people with
memory loss may have Alzheimer’s disease,
and others may have another form of
dementia. Dementia is the umbrella term for a
cluster of symptoms that include memory loss,
intellectual loss, difficulty with language, and
problems interpreting the environment.
People progress in dementia at different rates,
and at all stages of dementia there are remaining abilities for communication and
creativity. ARTZ designs this program to capitalize on those remaining abilities. For
example, because many people with dementia have a diminished attention span, we
show only a clip from a movie instead of the entire movie. The audience therefore does
not have to follow the thread of the plot or remember characters from one scene to the
next. Also, the clips we choose are usually famous or iconic, such as the final scene in
‘Casablanca.’ Many people remember these famous scenes, which are embedded in their
long‐term memories, and so they naturally become engaged in what is going on.

The specialized nature of the event is not just in the selection of the film and TV clips.
The presentation of the facilitators should
also take into account the specialized needs
and abilities of the audience members.
This is why scripts generally do not include
a great deal of trivia—recalling things like
specific dates or number of Academy
Awards are not as engaging as provoking
memories of the way a movie makes us
feel. When in doubt, especially during the
post‐clip discussion, focus on the emotion
of the clip rather than the small details.
This doesn’t mean that you can’t also go along with an audience that wants to talk about
the details. Each group will be unique, and you may be surprised at the memories and
ideas stimulated by the clips.

In terms of the logistics of the event, you should have a microphone and good speaker
system if possible. Speak clearly and distinctly. Remember that many audience members
may have trouble with their hearing, so if someone responds to your question from the
audience and they are not speaking into the microphone, always repeat what they said in
the microphone so that everyone can hear. In fact, it is a good idea to get in the habit of
repeating what someone says because that repetition will help people with dementia
understand and retain the information better. Resist any temptation to correct
someone’s answer or syntax. Repeat it just as they said it so that their voice will be
heard. If an answer is “wrong,” simply say yes, and does anyone else have an idea? Make
room for everyone to be correct in that
moment.

Depending on your level of experience in
relating to people with dementia, you may
be unsure of how to best communicate with
them. In this section we have discussed
many of the limitations that people with
dementia may be experiencing. The person,
however, is far more than their deficits. The audience will be individuals with histories,

families, and unique personalities. Above all, it is vital to convey respect for your
audience through your tone and your words. Although co‐facilitators must be energetic
for these events, be careful not to patronize your audience. They are not children and
must not be treated as such. If the audience members are not respected, they will not be
engaged. If the audience is respected and included in the sense of fun and playfulness,
they will rise to meet your expectations and beyond.

  “Meet Me at the Movies...and Make Memories’ Program, Copyright 2011‐2012, ARTZ: Artists for Alzheimer’s®   7