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Film Image: D bench 2.png

Dee at 82 during her Afro-Brazilian Dance Class

Length: 60 min.

Filmmaker: Filmmaker Photo: BW_1459.JPG Claire Panke

Official Web Site
coming soon. Check out photos from the film at http://web.mac.com/clairemp


Funder(s):
New York State Council on the Arts
http://www.nysca.org

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No Brief Candle

Image: AnitaUN.JPG

celebrating the joy of creativity at any age

Film Description

No Brief Candle (formerly Rhythm of the Heart), a one-hour documentary directed by award-winning filmmaker Claire Marie Panke, will profile creative elders whose passions and personalities have not turned gray with their hair. With wisdom and humor, the film will reveal many of our misconceptions about aging, and celebrate how the joy of creativity at any age enriches the art of living.

By the year 2030, the over-65 population will nearly double in size, welcoming into its ranks over 77 million baby boomers (about 27% of the US population).

Our later years can be a time of great vitality and rewards, of both contemplation and animation, of continued discovery. Contrary to stereotypes, most older adults are active, engaged, and passionate about contributing to their communities.

In fact, creativity can flourish with time as our personal stories take on a depth they might not have had in youth. Artists, who are able to pour the experiences of a long life into their creative endeavors, can reveal a fresh perspective on the aging process.

Combining celebratory spirit and intimate revelations, No Brief Candle will interweave the characters' stories with dynamic sequences that reveal their passions and talents, giving rise to a canvas that celebrates the creative spark within each one of us.

With its upbeat tone, lively characters and universal themes, No Brief Candle will appeal to a wide audience, and is intended for television broadcast. Festival screenings will increase visibility and publicity, and an extensive outreach campaign will reach targeted audiences such as schools and universities, senior centers and arts communities, ensuring a long life for the film, and sharing its revelation of continued meaning, renewal and joy.

Biographies

After graduating from Georgetown University, where she was nominated for a Rhodes Scholarship, Claire Marie Panke held several positions as a writer, editor, and photographer. She then earned a second degree in Nursing and specializes in newborn intensive care, working on a per diem basis along with her film and photography work.

Claire studied film at New York University, including documentary directing and producing, earning a Certificate in Film. She has worked on several independent productions, and has also produced and directed two short documentaries. Her first feature documentary, A Chance to Grow (listed on this site) followed three families in a newborn intensive care unit, and was broadcast on The Discovery Channel, National Geographic Television, and other international venues, and was awarded a CINE Golden Eagle.