Young@Heart (2007) Young @ Heart (original title)

Directors:

Stephen Walker
Sally George

Release Date:

2 October 2008 (Germany)

Genre:

Documentary | Music

Tagline:

Rock 'n Roll Will Never Die

Plot:

A documentary on a chorus of senior citizens from Massachusetts who cover songs by Jimi Hendrix, Coldplay, Sonic Youth, and other unexpected musicians.

Plot Keywords:

Chorus | Massachusetts | Rock Music | Body Part In Title | Music Video

Awards:

10 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Joe Benoit	...	Himself - aged 83
Helen Boston	...	Herself - aged 76
Louise Canady	...	Herself - aged 77
Elaine Fligman	...	Herself - aged 83
Jean Florio	...	Herself - aged 83
Len Fontaine	...	Himself - aged 86
Stan Goldman	...	Himself - aged 76
Jeanne Hatch	...	Herself - aged 79
Eileen Hall	...	Herself - aged 92
Donald Jones	...	Himself - aged 76
Fred Knittle	...	Himself - aged 80
Norma Landry	...	Herself - aged 78
John Larareo	...	Himself - aged 74
Patricia Larese	...	Herself - aged 75
Miriam Leader	...	Herself - aged 87
Patsy Linderme	...	Herself - aged 75
Brock Lynch	...	Himself - aged 81
Steve Martin	...	Himself - aged 77
Joe Mitchell	...	Himself - aged 73
Dora B. Morrow	...	Herself - aged 83
Gloria Parker	...	Herself - aged 77
Liria Petrides	...	Herself - aged 80
Ed Rehor	...	Himself - aged 82
Janice St. Laurence	...	Herself - aged 77 (as Janice St Laurence)
Bob Salvini	...	Himself - aged 75
Jack Schnepp	...	Himself - aged 76
Bob Cilman	...	Himself - aged 53
Jim Armenti	...	Himself - The Young @ Heart Band
Billy Arnold	...	Himself - The Young @ Heart Band
Chris Haynes	...	Himself - The Young @ Heart Band
F. Alex Johnson	...	Himself - The Young @ Heart Band
Ed Wise	...	Himself - The Young @ Heart Band
Steve Sanderson	...	Himself - The Young @ Heart Band
Diane Porcella	...	Herself - Administrator
Sakina Ibrahim	...	Dancer
Michael Konderwicz	...	Dancer
Trevin Bond	...	Dancer
Nicole Konderwicz	...	Dancer
Chelsea Reyes	...	Dancer
Kashana Sharif	...	Dancer
Jo Meysha Woods	...	Dancer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Stephen Walker	...	Himself - Narrator / Interviewer (uncredited)

Directed by
Stephen Walker
Sally George		(music videos)

Produced by
Hannah Beckerman	....	executive producer
Sally George	....	producer
Jane Villiers	....	executive producer: feature film

Cinematography by
Ed Marritz		(director of photography) (as Eddie Marritz)

Film Editing by
Chris King

Production Management
Tracy Garrett	....	production manager
Steve Harrow	....	post-production supervisor

Art Department
James McDonald	....	designer: "Alive and Well" poster

Sound Department
John Cameron	....	second sound recordist
Danny Finn	....	dubbing mixer
Danny Freemantle	....	assistant sound editor
Glenn Freemantle	....	sound supervisor
Mark Mandler	....	sound recordist
Dan Richardson	....	performance sound
James Ridgway	....	assistant re-recording mixer
James Ridgway	....	narration recording engineer
Richard Straker	....	sound re-recording mixer
Chris Sturmer	....	engineer: Dolby
Andrew Wilkinson	....	supervising sound editor

Visual Effects by
Joseph Boyle	....	data operator: The Moving Picture Company
Matthew Bristowe	....	digital film recording supervisor: The Moving Picture Company
Alexis Haggar	....	visual effects supervisor: The Difference
Begoña Lopez	....	digital film recording supervisor: The Moving Picture Company (as Begona Lopez)

Camera and Electrical Department
Ellen Augarten	....	still photographer
Jason Ellis	....	second camera: music videos
Jason Ellis	....	still photographer
Mike Hodder	....	gaffer: music videos
Asia Kepka	....	still photographer
John Laprade	....	theatrical lighting
Richard Numeroff	....	third camera
Simon Poulter	....	director of photography: music videos
Stephen Walker	....	second camera

Editorial Department
Simon Astbury	....	colorist
Ben Cull	....	colorist editor
Peter Dale	....	commissioning editor: More4
James Doggett	....	avid assistant
Paul Dray	....	laboratory contact: Deluxe, London
Alec Gibson	....	grader: Deluxe, London
Chris Gray	....	on-line assistant
Steve Harrow	....	post-production consultant
Vid Price	....	editor: music videos
Miriam Rowe	....	avid assistant
Thomas Urbye	....	colorist: music videos

Music Department
Melina Alexandrou	....	music coordinator: Channel 4
Jim Armenti	....	musician: The Young @ Heart Band
Billy Arnold	....	musician: The Young @ Heart Band
Joe Benoit	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus
Helen Boston	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus
Louise Canady	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus
Bob Cilman	....	musical director: Young @ Heart Chorus
Elaine Fligman	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus
Jean Florio	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus
Len Fontaine	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus
Stan Goldman	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus
Eileen Hall	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus
Jeanne Hatch	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus
Chris Haynes	....	musician: The Young @ Heart Band
F. Alex Johnson	....	musician: The Young @ Heart Band
Donald Jones	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus
Jeremy Kimberlin	....	music advisor: Channel 4
Fred Knittle	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus
Norma Landry	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus
John Larareo	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus
Patricia Larese	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus
Miriam Leader	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus
Patsy Linderme	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus
Brock Lynch	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus
Steve Martin	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus
Joe Mitchell	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus
Dora B. Morrow	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus
Gloria Parker	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus
Liria Petrides	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus
Ed Rehor	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus
Bob Salvini	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus
Steve Sanderson	....	musician: The Young @ Heart Band
Jack Schnepp	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus
Janice St. Laurence	....	chorus member: Young @ Heart Chorus (as Janice St Laurence)
Ed Wise	....	musician: The Young @ Heart Band

Other crew
Matt Curtis	....	title design: main and end title
Jeff Derose	....	fixer: music videos, USA
Joel Dundorf	....	representative: I.A.T.S.E. Union #232
Craig A. Emanuel	....	legal services: Loeb and Loeb (as Craig Emanuel)
Linda Flanigan	....	business manager
Erik Hyman	....	legal services: Loeb and Loeb
Sakina Ibrahim	....	choreographer
David Jenkins	....	representative: The Academy of Music Theatre, Northampton
Eva Johnsson	....	production coordinator
Sarah Kohler	....	representative: I.A.T.S.E. Union #232
Michael Konderwicz	....	choreographer
Bob Mahnken	....	representative: I.A.T.S.E. Union #232
Duane Robinson	....	representative: The Academy of Music Theatre, Northampton
Rob Skelton	....	representative: I.A.T.S.E. Union #232
David Wiggall	....	representative: I.A.T.S.E. Union #232
Mickey Cottrell	....	publicist (uncredited)

Thanks
Joe Benoit	....	this film is dedicated to
Richard P. George	....	this film is dedicated to
Eileen Hall	....	in memory of: who passed away on July 9 2007, aged 93. And is now sitting on her rainbow.
The Harmonicats	....	special thanks
Rena Ronson	....	special thanks
Bob Salvini	....	this film is dedicated to
Anita Walker	....	special thanks
Jeffrey Walker	....	special thanks
Kitty Walker	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Fox Searchlight Pictures (presents)
• Walker George Films
• Channel 4 Television Corporation (in association with) (as Channel 4)

Distributors

• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (2008) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Cinemien (2009) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Fox Searchlight Pictures (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• Le Pacte (2008) (France) (theatrical)
• PiX (2008) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Rialto Entertainment (2008) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Senator Film (2008) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Yume Pictures (2008) (UK) (theatrical)
• Channel 4 Television Corporation (2006) (UK) (TV)
• Homescreen (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Senator Home Entertainment (2009) (Germany) (DVD)
• Shoval Film Production (2008) (Israel) (all media)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2008) (Canada) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Vendetta Films (2007) (New Zealand) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Difference, The (visual effects by) (as The Difference)

Other Companies

• Academy of Music, Northampton (MA)  with special thanks to (as The Academy Of Music Audience)
• Academy of Music, Northampton (MA)  with special thanks to (as The Academy Of Music Theatre)
• Anvil Post Production  sound re-recorded at (as Anvil Post Production, London)
• City of Northampton, MA  sponsor: Young @ Heart Chorus (as City of Northampton, Massachusetts)
• Clear Cut Pictures  post production: original documentary
• Daily Hampshire Gazette  still photography: © 2007
• Loeb & Loeb  legal services
• Look, The  digital intermediate post-production
• Media Insurance Brokers  insurance services
• Moving Picture Company (MPC)  digital film recording
• National Endowment for the Arts, The  sponsor: Young @ Heart Chorus
• Peter Pan Bus Lines  acknowledgment
• Pinewood Studios Group, The  optical sound transfer (as Pinewood Sound)
• Professional Negative Cutting  negative cutting (as Professional Neg Cutting)
• Rapid Pictures  post production: feature
• Sapex Scripts  continuity script
• Sound 24  sound post production
• Steeple Post Production Services  post-production management
• The Massachusetts Cultural Council  sponsor: Young @ Heart Chorus

Also Known As:

"Young @ Heart" - UK (original title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for some mild language and thematic elements

Runtime:

USA:107 min | Germany:109 min (European Film Market)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

USA:PG | Switzerland:0 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:0 (canton of Vaud) | Germany:6 (f) | Germany:6 | Ireland:G | New Zealand:PG | South Korea:All | Canada:PG (Canadian Home Video rating) | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Aerostat Promotions, Northampton, Massachusetts, USA

Company:

Fox Searchlight Pictures

Trivia:

Scenes in the "Golden Years" music video were filmed at two Massachusetts landmarks: the Holyoke Merry-Go-Round and Six Flags New England.

Quotes:

Stephen Walker:Just give me a second, yeah?
Eileen Hall:I'll give you whatever you want, dear.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Independent Lens: Young@Heart (#11.11)" (2010)

Soundtrack:

Close Range

A foot stomping, hand clapping kind of thing…Young@Heart

I am not one for documentaries or nonfiction as they usually don't allow me to escape inside the film to get a release from the life I'm living. I generally enjoy fiction because of the fantastical and its ability to bring me into a world that I wouldn't otherwise enter. With that said, I can't tell you how surprised I was at how much I enjoyed this chorus of old folks that are truly Young@Heart. Straight from the get-go, this choral troupe inspires, entertains, and just lives life to the fullest. Acting as though they are still in their twenties—taking shots at each other, flirting, and singing their hearts out—the Young at Heart chorus shows its audience what it means to grow old and enjoy every minute of it. Credit filmmaker Stephen Walker for keeping a somewhat unobtrusive eye on the proceedings, infusing himself into the group, joining the family. He says how he has gained 24 or so more grandparents through the process and I would also say they all gained one more grandchild. The comfortability with their documentarian is 100%, allowing this film to inspire us all for the future and show how pure the heart can be.

These elderly crooners are a blast to spend time with. When shown the new songs for an upcoming concert, all have a mixture of excitement and confusion. During the first run-through of Sonic Youth's "Schizophrenia" we see fingers going into ears, face-cringes, and what could be described as disgust. However, they all welcome a challenge and although they don't understand the song, nor have a clue at where it's going, they never give up. Credit music director Bob Cilman for having the patience and skill to mold these performers into an act of shear professionalism and entertainment. He knows his group and their abilities, placing certain solo responsibilities on some, duet partnerships on others, always knowing that they will give their all no matter what. At first you may think he is just a vessel for them to have fun, joking around and partaking in the laughs, but as the time gets closer and closer to the performance, Bob shows his taskmaster side. He wants the best show possible and is unafraid to let his singers know it, whether telling them what he needs or threatening to cut a song. The group never falters, though. They take the criticism and run with it. When challenged to come back after Easter with the words to Allen Toussaint's "Yes, We Can Can" fully learned, the Northampton, MA troupe show their mettle and eventually hit it out of the park.

The music is fantastic for sure, I think I may purchase their disc from CDBaby.com before the night is over, but it is really the people involved that shine on screen. Every member is an integral cog to the system and just brimming with life and energy. From Steve "Sexy Beast" Martin and his exuberance, to consummate professional Joe Benoit and his ability to memorize a song in one afternoon, to his best friend and confident driver Len Fontaine, to the flirtatious 92-year-old Eileen Hall, there is no one you won't you love afterwards. Their bond is unbreakable and they all help each other through the good and the bad times. Just to see them dance and move when listening to a new song, performing their dance steps at a prison gig, and unabashedly showing their emotions when tragedy strikes helps show how real they all are. These guys aren't hamming it up for the camera, they truly know how to have fun and aren't afraid to show it.

Despite only taking place during the course of a seven week rehearsal schedule, having a group of people averaging 80-years-old is ripe for life to rear its ugly head. All the good times—the reunions, the rejuvenation, the singing, dancing, and laughing—are countered by devastation. While the film's trailer shows an uproarious good time, and by God it is, don't be caught off-guard for the poignant moments of clarity and sadness. Unfortunately tragedy does strike, sometimes at the most inopportune moments, yet all march on for their fallen comrades, creating a touching portrait of humanity. These moments also bring some of the most powerful songs including a stirring rendition of Coldplay's "Fix You" by returning ex-member Fred Knittle with his Johnny Cash-like baritone.

In the end, though, Young@Heart is really an uplifting tale of perseverance and life at its most simple and pleasurable. This is an internationally traveling chorus, touring Europe each year to complement their US dates. Never afraid to have fun, we are given some snippets of music video style shoots interspersed throughout the film. "Stayin' Alive" is fantastic and during the performance for "Golden Years" one can't help but laugh to the point of tears for Stan Goldman. Go see this film while you can and don't be surprised to see it winning a best documentary Oscar at next year's show. I heard the rumblings that this was becoming quite the phenomenon and now I can say first hand that it is more than that. Young@Heart is something we can all relate with and a film we should see to attain hope for the future and a template for how to live out our retirements, not sulking at home, but out enjoying all the things we did the years past. Maybe life really begins at age 70.