Television documentary tells end-of-life story
Hospice produces film to educate community
(Editor's note: This is the second of a two-part series that looks at different ways to reach and involve the community to increase awareness of hospice care. Last month, we learned about a community event that invites the entire community to a butterfly release. This month, we learn how a television documentary about hospice care raised awareness in one community.)
A highly engaged hospice foundation board, a true commitment to a project that took more than two years to complete, and enough flexibility to change plans when necessary were the ingredients required for a successful documentary on end-of-life care produced by the Hospice of Michigan.
The documentary aired on the local public broadcasting station and has been shown in theatres across the state as part of fundraising events for the hospice, says Marcie Hillary, vice president of resource development for the Detroit-based hospice.
Even though the film has been used in fundraising events, it is a true documentary, not a promotional film about the hospice, explains Hillary. "The idea came from members of our foundation board who wanted to do something to change the way people think of end-of-life care," she says. "They all agreed that hospice is easy to explain if your audience has had personal experience with hospice, but it is a difficult concept to grasp if there's never been any personal experience."
A documentary titled Except for Six, that traced the journey of three hospice patients, was the final result of the 2½-year project. "I don't know that I would recommend undertaking this project to everyone," admits Hillary. Not only did the project require fundraising efforts to come up with the $225,000 needed to produce the film, but volunteers who oversaw the project met weekly to manage details and to watch film once the filmmaker began filming. "We hired a young filmmaker who seemed to have the personality and the commitment to making this film," she says. The filmmaker had previously handled several small projects for the hospice so he was familiar with hospice, she adds.
The personnel you hire for this project is critical to the film's success, points out Hillary. "We expected push-back from employees who wanted to protect the privacy of their patients and families, but the crew spent hours visiting with the hospice patients before they turned on a camera," she says. The time they spent getting to know the patients and the employees created a sense of teamwork that enabled the filmmaker to get very moving, emotional footage, she explains.
The filmmaker was so happy with the footage he got, he reached a point in the editing process that he did not want to edit the film, even though it was too long to air on television, says Hillary. "Luckily, one of our board members, an advertising agency executive, stepped in and contacted an editor who worked on Ken Burns' documentaries," she says. The editor was not enthusiastic about the project at first, especially with the budget that the hospice had available for editing, but once he started on it, he became committed, Hillary recalls. "He ended up doing far more work than we were able to pay, and just donated that time," she says. "At the end of the project, he told us to let him know anytime we needed his help again."
Although the idea was always to air the documentary on public television, the film was not shown to television station executives until it was about 95% edited, says Hillary.
"We wanted to make sure the film kept the focus we initially set, so we didn't want to show it too soon," she explains. "Once the television station people saw the film, they suggested one small edit, then agreed to air it."
The television station received so many positive phone calls about the documentary that they asked permission to air it again, says Hillary. "We are now working with the station to sell exclusive rights to air the show in different regions," she says. "We also receive calls from teachers, churches, and other health care organizations to get a copy of the program,"
Hillary does point out that in addition to the $225,000 raised from corporate and individual donors to produce the film, much more was given in in-kind donations. "Musicians donated their time, and everyone who worked on it gave more time than they received payment," she says.
This is not a project to be undertaken lightly but it can be very rewarding, Hillary points out. "I loved the big idea and the volunteers' commitment to the project," she says. Although good planning is necessary, don't be inflexible, she suggests. "Don't plan every detail down to the last minute. It works best if you let it take its course, then adjust as needed."
This is the second of a two-part series that looks at different ways to reach and involve the community to increase awareness of hospice care.You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
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