About this project

Overview

Writer/Director and “budding filmmaker,” Elizabeth Crow, had an idea for a documentary that was inspired by the many happy, healthy, and creative folks in their 60’s, 70’s and 80’s here on Maui, who are breaking the American cultural paradigm of aging.

She was introduced to Keith Ranney and immediately felt a synergy of common values and complimentary skills from which they forged a new creative partnership. Six principal interviews celebrate “sage perspectives on aging” – the subtitle of Grow! - a one hour documentary.

Grow! Sage Perspectives on Aging, will be an intimate and lively look at the inspired lives of “6 over 60” Maui residents with anecdotal comments from numerous other “characters” and a “recorded live” soundtrack featuring some of Maui’s amazing senior musicians. Audiences will enjoy the humor, poignancy and sage perspectives in the interviews. The engaging close-ups and informal encounters are further enhanced with Maui as a spectacular backdrop.

Elizabeth’s impassioned pitch to Keith described her daily interaction with amazing people at an age where most people’s physical and/or mental health is in decline. The subjects in the film all have extraordinary gifts. The documentary brings to light the possibility of being truly healthy and wise very late in life.

Potentially, as we Grow! in wisdom over the years,  our lives will get better and better.

Secondary Premise

A key element to the joys of aging, and life in general, is our relationship with nature, and it's ever abundant, creative genius that is woven into the fabric of all life, and that includes us.

Example: Oaks begin their reproductive cycle fairly late in life (by human standards) and in most cases will not likely start to fruit (produce acorns) until they’ve stood for eighty years. We as humans can find and experience the same fruitfulness as nature sometimes does, much later in life. In fact, according to a report from the University of Tennessee Extension service “Peak production (for oaks) occurs from about 50 to 80 years.”

Even with health challenges, our aging population can express an enthusiasm for life and create a balance that is both comforting and enlivening.

Production Style

The Hi-Definition video will give the sense that you are behind the scenes; in the private lives of very special people. As co-producer and director, Elizabeth is on camera briefly in a way that reveals her personal affinity to the subjects - giving it a warm informal feel. The subjects share their story while our cameras document relevant aspects of their daily lives.

Music

The musical score is being directed by Keith and draws from his 40 years of experience as a musician and his longtime friendships with Maui’s musical family. The musicians will share camera time as well, so you'll see the performances which make up the live musical soundtrack, adding another level of engagement, energy and a “poetic structure” that is woven throughout the project (as demonstrated in the video above).

Budget Breakdown

The budget will cover production management, field production, equipment rental, media supply, post production (including audio mix/mastering, CGI/graphics and color grading), output/distribution, administration and accounting.

The Production Team

Keith Ranney & Elizabeth Crow

Elizabeth Crow, Co-producer, writer & director.

Elizabeth Crow moved to Maui in 1999 from Santa Cruz, California. Her residence in Santa Cruz was filled with artistic ventures as well as training as a massage therapist.

Through the practice of massage therapy, she became very sensitive about how the body reflects the person. She experienced the voices, stories, passions and struggles of her clients. Working with bodies has given her “insider information” as to what makes people tick.

At the same time, she was refining her poetry and writing skills. Attendance at “open mics,” poetry readings and Slams, brought her poetry to public acclaim. Perhaps more importantly, the witnessing of others honing their skills in music, theater and poetry, expanded her vision of human nature and her ability to articulate it.

Additional studies in Process Oriented Psychology and hypnotherapy as well as experience as a relationship coach also gave her the drive and ability to dig deeper into the human consciousness and bring out the true story below the surface. She developed the ability to ask the hard questions with compassion, and experiencing them with an eye for the poetic nature of the human spirit. 

With that same unwavering vision, in 2008 she borrowed a camera and made a short film called “60 is the new 40” She then went on to make an environmental PSA that was aired on the local TV stations. At that point she bought professional equipment, using it to continue learning the trade as producer, cameraperson and editor. This resulted in documenting a series of films supporting local Maui elementary schools in building and gaining recognition for their school gardens.

Her recent entrance into feature length filmmaking is taking her combined skills to an even higher level, which she says is both daunting and exciting.

Keith Ranney, co-producer, director of photography, music direction and post production.

Keith has been a Maui resident since 1998, completed a degree in film production from Southern Methodist University in 1977. Equally important to his college studies were his extracurricular activities; frisbee, guitar, springboard & 10 meter platform diving – all stimulators of whole brain function. His education provided practical avenues of growth in most communication media, from photography –to- multimedia, sound engineering –to- 16mm film production.

Ranney’s professional career began in 1989 with the birth of his Southern Oregon firm, Image Grafx production agency. It was the beginning of the desktop video revolution. By 1992 his firm grew to support financing of the first Avid Media Composer editing system in the region. As co-owner, creative director and videographer, Keith provided expert video production services to many artists, individuals and businesses on the west coast mainland. Distinguished achievements include; directing the blue screen shoot for the extremely successful pioneering 3D interactive CD-ROM game, 7th Guest” by Virgin Games - that went on to gross US$75 Million.

Keith’s journey to Maui in 1998 began as a Kauai sabbatical and followed 2.5 years participation in the start-up of Sharebuilder.com (which went on to be purchased by ING Groep (bank) for US$220M). The move to Hawaii was the next step in a healing journey that led to certification as a somatic educator. As an avocation and personal awareness path, Keith is very interested in somatic awareness and how aging bodies maintain balance and easeful grace in movement.

From 16mm film in the ‘70’s, to betacam, 3/4SP and SVHS in the ‘90’s and now HD, Keith has worked through many technology transitions. In 2005, Keith worked with GMO-Free Maui to capture a live expert panel event and then create a 50 minute documentary called Pandora’s Seed.

Since moving into the HD video world in 2008, Keith provided his personalized production services on a series of 12 “MAPA Moments” for the Maui Academy of Performing Arts along with dozens of web movies for local businesses. He now has over 20 years experience with the Avid editing interface, is embracing the Final Cut Pro world as well, and has a deep love for the music driven production style of the “1 Giant Leap” production team.