Red Carpet Event For “His Neighbor Phil” Was Massive Hit!

His Neighbor Phil Was Massive Hit

At The Red Carpet Event August 29th, 2015

What a beautiful evening at the Music Box Theater this past Saturday in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  HealthStar Home Health hosted the premiere of the new dementia film “His Neighbor Phil,” for the collation formed to get this film out to public.

Two Hollywood Stars Graced The Red Carpet

along with several local actors from Zumbrota where the film was shot.

Daniel Roebuck, well known for his roles in Matlock, Glee, Lost and the movie The Fugitive played Harvey, a loving husband doing the best he can to care for his wife Mary diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, played by Stephanie Zimbalist.  Their daughter, Isabel, is played by new comer Kristi Knudson, who delivers a powerful performance.   Isabel, helps for care her mother, but struggles not only with her own grief and loss, but the frustration of others in denial of Mary’s disease.Ellen Dolan, who played Margo in As the World Turns, plays the role of Charlie; a loving sister of Mary’s in search of alternative methods to support Mary.  While Mary’s mother played by Sally Kellerman, (Hot Lips on MASH) has to face the fact her daughter has dementia.

Greta Herbert (Lindsay), Scott Thompson (Director), Daniel Roebuck (Harvey), Kristi Knudson (Isabel),

Ellen Dolan (Charlie), Bob Bird (Phil) and Tim Balderramos (Lyle)

Additional Local Actors, Musicians And Crew Also Joined The Fun.

Zumbrota Ladies:

Pam Potter Langley, Kristi Knudson, Lauren Jenkins (makeup artist) and Ronda Anderson

The audience laughed and cried together as this realistic and emotional film touched hearts showing how one person with living dementia impacts a whole community.  Here is what Gerontologist & Dementia Behavior Specialist, Eilon Caspi, had to say about this film:

“A rare, authentic, intimate, and attentive depiction into what it means for each individual in an ordinary family and to the family as a whole when a loved one develops Young-onset Alzheimer’s Disease (also called Early-onset Alzheimer’s or Working Age Alzheimer’s). The film represents a major contribution to raising awareness to this relatively unrecognized, often misunderstood, and grossly underserved subgroup of people living with this form of dementia (i.e. relative to the common form of Alzheimer’s disease which develops later in life).

Moving and powerful moments in the film capture beautifully some of the tremendous daily challenges, struggles, frustrations, and tensions caused by the disease. As importantly, it offers inspiring and uplifting portrayal of creative and effective approaches with which it is possible to alleviate the emotional pains experienced by people with this condition and bring them comfort, joy, and hope. These include the frequent engagement in personally tailored and enjoyable live music, active listening, and the…eventual…realization of the critical need to genuinely “tune into” the person’s subjective experience and inner world…no matter how illogical it may seem to family care partners.

Terrific way to start an open heart-to-heart conversation in every community about the personal, familial, community, and societal implications of living with Young-onset Alzheimer’s disease and the ways to support and preserve the dignity and personhood of these individuals and their family members.

Phenomenal acting! it was hard to believe after watching it that it was the first film of two of the main characters! ”

Here what people are saying about the His Neighbor Phil.

After the film Actors: Daniel Roebuck, Ellen Dolan, Kristi Knudson and Bob Bird took to the stage along with Director Scott Thompson for a Q and A with the audience.

The audience loved hearing how the script came to be and why the Actors decided to get involved with this project.   There were a few behind the scenes stories shared and people wanted to know how the film will get out to others.

Director Scott Thompson and Actor Daniel Roebuck explained they are working on distribution deals.  Lori Bey of Alzheimer’s Speaks who Emceed the event along with Brian McDonald of Synergy HomeCare explained the sponsor collation which has rights to show the film.  The marketing plan is to have sponsors host viewings, which will also have talk back sessions after the film to engage the audience and connect them to resources and local support services.

Watch a Short Teaser For

His Neighbor Phil

Click Below

The Sponsors Are:

Platinum Sponsors

HealthStar Home Health

Alzheimer’s Speaks

Synergy HomeCare

Gold Sponsors:

The Lutheran Home Association

Saint Therese Senior Living Communities

Bronze Sponsors:

Avinity Senior Communities

KeyStone Senior Living

Country Meadows Retirement Community

Leading Age Georgia

Senior Care Authority

A Big Thank You To Our Photographers Who

Volunteered Their Time To  Cover Our Event.

Nancy Chakrin & Linda Passon- Mcnally

and Laurie Ellis Young

For More Information on Dementia and Alzheimer’s

Click Below

Join the Purple Angel Project 

Click Below

Join an Alzheimer’s Disease Clinical Trial Today.

Click Below

No Insurance Is Needed To Participate.

Read Full Post »

New Alzheimer’s and Dementia Film, “His Neighbor Phil,” Announces Release

    New Alzheimer’s and Dementia Film,

“His Neighbor Phil,” Announces Release

Realistic and Heartwarming Storyline

Touching Families Far and Wide

 A new film spotlighting the effects of Alzheimer’s disease is set to make its debut on August 29^th in Minneapolis.

His Neighbor Phil, produced by My Town Pictures, tells the story of Harvey and his wife Mary, who suffers from early onset Alzheimer’s disease. Mary’s memory loss and seeming obsession with their neighbor makes Harvey question his marriage. Through a touching twist, Harvey discovers the secret to bringing his beloved Mary back into the present.

The moving film stars several well-known actors, including Stephanie Zimbalist (“Remington Steele”), Daniel Roebuck (“The Fugitive”, “Lost”, “Glee”), Ellen Dolan (“As the World Turns”) and Oscar nominee Sally Kellerman (“M*A*S*H”).

Click Above For More Information

Written and directed by Scott Thompson, His Neighbor Phil also highlights the impact Alzheimer’s disease has on the family as a whole, not just the primary caregiver. His Neighbor Phil will debut Saturday, August 29th at a private screening at the Music Box Theatre in Minneapolis.

The film not only was produced in the small town of Zumbrota, Minnesota, but citizens of Zumbrota banded together to fund the majority of the film, provide meals and lodging to the cast and crew, and even had local actors take significant roles in the movie itself.

Click Above To Watch The Trailer

The production also was funded significantly by a coalition of Alzheimer’s, dementia and memory care related agencies including principal sponsor SYNERGY HomeCare, a national non-medical in-home care franchise organization. Additional funding and enormous support came from HealthStar Home Health and Alzheimer’s Speaks, where the idea to form a coalition of sponsors began. The Lutheran Home Association and Saint Therese senior care and communities were also key parts of the coalition dedicated to bringing this movie and its important message to the public. Additional sponsors are: Avinity Senior Living, Country Meadows Retirement Communities, KeyStone Senior Living, LeadingAge GA and Senior Care Authority.  Additional organizations are already expressing interest in joining the collaboration.

Healthcare experts weigh in on His Neighbor Phil:

“I LOVED this film…there were so many relatable, funny, poignant, humorous, heartbreaking and hopeful moments all captured within the fabric of a single family trying to stay connected to each other and their community through the power of music and love. You will recognize your loved one, your family, your friends and yourself somewhere in this film. I laughed, cried, cringed and cheered. It’s a must-see!”

Mara Botonis, Author of When Caring Takes Courage and the recipient of the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Award

“This moving film shows the need for family and friends to rally together to help each other deal with Alzheimer’s disease, motivates our researchers to continue to develop promising treatments and methods of prevention and emphasizes the necessity to support research at centers such as ours.” – William H. Frey II, Ph.D., Alzheimer’s Research Director, HealthPartners Center for Memory & Aging

““His Neighbor Phil” is a love story wrapped up in the complexity of a disease that shows no mercy. It’s real. It’s raw and yet through all of the trials and tribulations, it provides hope.” – Josie Di Chiara, Senior Vice President, Alzheimer’s Foundation of America

“Alzheimer’s doesn’t just impact the affected; the disease takes a devastating toll on caregivers and the family as a whole. “His Neighbor Phil” accurately depicts that impact. It may provide some validation for Alzheimer’s patients and families and help them realize they’re not alone.” – Peter Tourian, Founder and CEO of SYNERGY HomeCare

““His Neighbor Phil” is indeed a great film and right on the money for accuracy in typical ‘key players’ and behaviors, reactions, approaches, beliefs, and common concerns regarding dementia. I am sure ‘first timers’ as well as those who have made their journey will resonate with the film allowing new conversations to happen, awareness to grow, and belief that we can CHOOSE to make a positive difference in how people living with dementia are able to live their lives.” – Teepa Snow, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA Dementia Care & Training Specialist

“And also as someone who was diagnosed with dementia myself 7 years ago aged just 50 it resonated and touched me so much. It’s so refreshing to see such a positive ending at the end when many of these films are not. It’s a film not only for carers, but also for those with early to mid-stage dementia to enjoy. It’s also a story of hope and important family values, through thick and thin times, thoroughly enjoyable.”

Norrms Mc Namara, Diagnosed with dementia (at age 50) seven years ago and STILL FIGHTING IT! Founder of the Global Purple Angel dementia awareness campaign

His Neighbor Phil Website  

His Neighbor Phil Facebook Page

About My Town Pictures

In 2004, My Town Pictures began producing original feature-length films in communities of any size and anywhere, as an opportunity for those communities to experience the creative excitement of making a movie in their own hometown. More than fifty films later, My Town Pictures remains dedicated to that mission. For more information, please visit www.mytownpictures.com

For Information On Dementia and Caregiving

Click Below

Join the Cause – Share The New Global Symbol

Click Below

Join an Alzheimer’s disease clinical trial today.

No insurance is needed to participate.

Read Full Post »

Alzheimer’s Speaks Radio – Interviews Cast and Crew of “His Neighbor Phil” A New Powerful Film On Life With Dementia

Alzheimer’s Speaks Radio

“As soon as I saw the film, His Neighbor Phil, I knew it had the unique ability to take the world by storm to change perceptions of dementia and help people and organizations create dementia-friendly families, communities and businesses.”  

Lori La Bey, Founder of Alzheimer’s Speaks

Click Above to Watch this Teaser

Don’t miss the fascinating conversation about the new film soon to be launched which will play a significant role in shifting our dementia care culture.

For more details on the film, contact Lori La Bey.

For Additional Resources on Dementia and Caregiving

Click Below

Join a Clinical Trial

Click Below

Join the Cause – Click Below

Save

Read Full Post »