A sensitive look into the life & death of Shar Jones, a transgender person living with early onset Alzheimer's Disease, and the difficult choice he and his wife Cynthia faced. At its core it's a love story, but one with profound implications for increasing awareness about choice in living and dying.
A sensitive look into the life & death of Shar Jones, a transgender person living with early onset Alzheimer's Disease, and the difficult choice he and his wife Cynthia faced. At its core it's a love story, but one with profound implications for increasing awareness about choice in living and dying.
in partnership with
-
Story
Mission Statement
This documentary film is an evocative, contemplative work directed at educating and humanizing what it means to be transgender and what it's like living with Alzheimer's Disease. The film also brings death into view, helping us to confront our own fears and biases regarding these cultural taboos.About The Project
Why this film, why now?
This is such an important project for our time! The Alzheimer's Foundation of America estimates that as many as 5.1 million Americans may have Alzheimer's Disease, and that number is rising in line with the aging population. Even with these staggering numbers, the general population doesn't really understand the disease. In addition, current research from the National Institute on Aging indicates that the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease doubles every five years beyond age 65. As our population ages, the disease impacts a greater percentage of Americans. This film is a view into a story of living and dying from Alzheimer's Disease and documents its far reaching implications.
Talking about death is often seen as a taboo in our culture and can elicit fear and many misconceptions. As Craig Bowron, hospital-based internist in Minneapolis, wrote in a Washington Post Article, "This denial of death can distance people from the real, moment-to-moment experience of being vibrantly mortal - of really feeling things, really loving others and showing it, really seeing the world around us and really speaking our minds with courage and acting on our core beliefs." Shar and Cynthia's life together demonstrates their love and how they lived their core beliefs, and inspires us to transcend our fear of death and really show up in life, in love and in relationships in a deeply meaningful way.
One fact that is ever present in the film is that Shar was a transgender person. This film humanizes the experience of being transgender and challenges many misconceptions and biases. It is important to know that discrimination and violence against transgender people is higher than in any other population. A recent report by the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) reported that, the majority of the victims of hate violence homicides in 2013 were transgender women - 72%! Transgender people were also more likely to experience police violence and physical violence from law enforcement, and transgender women were more likely to experience sexual violence.
How you can help!
Please contribute today! Your contribution is fully tax deductible through our fiscal sponsor, From The Heart Productions. Then, help us get the word out about this important film. You can post it to your Facebook page and any other social media that you frequent, and even send it to your email contacts. Thanks for your financial contribution, support and care!
Incentives
$5
Psychic High Five
Feel the gratitude vibes!
$10
Big Bear Hug
Feel the sqeeze!
$25
Shar's Music Playlist
Get to know Shar through his music! Receive Shar's music playlist, the one he created for his end-of-life journey.
$50
Music Playlist and Postcard
Add a postcard with still images from the film to the playlist!
$100
Digital Download
When the film is released you'll get your very own virtual copy. Watch the film any time! And receive all the above perks.
$250
Voicemail Message
Filmmaker Adam Sekuler will record a personal greeting on your voicemail and you will also receive all of the above.
$500
You're a Producer
You'll be listed as a associate producer in Tomorrow Never Knows credits and you'll receive all the above.
$1,000
Featured Role
You and your work will be featured in the final documentary OR on its accompanying website. Get noticed and receive all the above.
$2,500
Lunch on Us
Meet with FilmmakerAdam Sekuler and Producer Darci Meyers while visiting Boulder, CO. We'll take you out to lunch! (You provide your own transportation and accommodations) You will also receive all the above perks.
$5,000
Private Screening
Invite 10 of your friends to watch the final cut of the film and receive all the above perks. You'll be the talk of the town!
$10,000
Executive Producer
Receive an Executive Producer credit on the film and all of the above perks! And, lots of gratitude and good karma!
-
Wishlist
Use the WishList to pledge cash and loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an incentive directly.
$5
Psychic High Five
Feel the gratitude vibes!
$10
Big Bear Hug
Feel the sqeeze!
$25
Shar's Music Playlist
Get to know Shar through his music! Receive Shar's music playlist, the one he created for his end-of-life journey.
$50
Music Playlist and Postcard
Add a postcard with still images from the film to the playlist!
$100
Digital Download
When the film is released you'll get your very own virtual copy. Watch the film any time! And receive all the above perks.
$250
Voicemail Message
Filmmaker Adam Sekuler will record a personal greeting on your voicemail and you will also receive all of the above.
$500
You're a Producer
You'll be listed as a associate producer in Tomorrow Never Knows credits and you'll receive all the above.
$1,000
Featured Role
You and your work will be featured in the final documentary OR on its accompanying website. Get noticed and receive all the above.
$2,500
Lunch on Us
Meet with FilmmakerAdam Sekuler and Producer Darci Meyers while visiting Boulder, CO. We'll take you out to lunch! (You provide your own transportation and accommodations) You will also receive all the above perks.
$5,000
Private Screening
Invite 10 of your friends to watch the final cut of the film and receive all the above perks. You'll be the talk of the town!
$10,000
Executive Producer
Receive an Executive Producer credit on the film and all of the above perks! And, lots of gratitude and good karma!
- Updates
-
Current Team
About This Team
Who We Are
My name is Darci Meyers and I am the founder of WisdomLife Productions and a first time film producer. I had the great pleasure of supporting Shar Jones and Cynthia Vitale through Shar's end-of-life journey as a Buddhist chaplain and psychotherapist. The more I got to know Shar and Cynthia and their story, the more inspired I felt and the more I knew that their story must be told. But, I didn't know how! Through a series of serendipitous connections I met filmmaker Adam Sekuler and invited him into the project. Adam's films have screened at festivals from Rotterdam to Portland, museums including the Walker Art Center, and art houses across the globe. He also has 15 years' experience working in the film exhibition community. He immediately grasped the scope of the project, connected with Shar and Cynthia and we were off! We filmed for over a year before Shar's death, allowing us to get to know each other and Cynthia and Shar very well and deepen into their lives. We will be forever grateful for this opportunity to share in their journey and are deeply inspired by their courage and love. We hope you will be, too!
What We Need
Your contribution will help us to complete post-production and begin to get the film out into the world. We plan to submit the film to local, national and international film festivals, and well as offering the film for educational purposes. Our first educational screening will be to the Denver Alzheimer's Support Group, a group that Cynthia and Shar attended. Although this is my first production, I have the support Adam's network to help us navigate these final stages of post-production and release, and an incredibly supportive community.
-
Media
Videos
Images
-
Community
Supporters
Followers
