By Kathy Laurenhue, MA, CHP
“Now more than ever we need to talk to each other, to listen to each other and understand how we see the world, and cinema is the best medium for doing this.”
~ Martin Scorsese
Movies are more than entertainment in senior living communities. They spark memories, encourage social connection, inspire meaningful conversations, and create opportunities for reminiscence. With a little planning, a simple movie screening can become a memorable life enrichment experience.
“You’re gonna need a bigger boat.”
That line, spoken by Chief Martin Brody in the 1975 Steven Spielberg movie Jaws, is one of cinema’s all-time most famous quotes. In the movie, Brody, played by Roy Scheider, is reacting to seeing the huge great white shark for the first time, much too close.
But here’s the other side of that story: In 1975, movie special effects were far more limited than they are today. The “bigger boat” line was not originally in the script, but was what movie crew members said about the space needed for all the equipment to fix the mechanical shark.
That back story is an example of what you can add to enhance engagement when watching movies with your participants.
Let’s Start with the Basics
Small details before, during, and after the movie can turn passive viewing into an interactive social experience. Here are two ways to create intrigue and build participants’ curiosity before announcing the movie title.
- Make the movie title a mystery: Post clues about the movie on the bulletin board on the days leading up to its showing, or keep the title hidden behind a theater-style curtain on the bulletin board.
- Tie it to a theme or holiday: Perhaps show romantic comedies in February, Irish-themed movies in March, or movies about dads in June. Or choose a theme of your own, such as movies set in New York City (a lot to choose from), Hitchcock mysteries during his August birth month, or a movie musical month. (The 1960s have lots of choices, and you could combine it with a sing-along.)
You can also encourage engagement by setting a standard of expectation by consistently serving nostalgia snacks. When appropriate for participants’ dietary and swallowing needs, consider nostalgic concession favorites such as popcorn, Junior Mints, Milk Duds, Good & Plenty, Twizzlers, or M&M’s.
Another simple way to encourage participation is to consistently host brief discussions before and after each movie.
Use Discussions to Deepen Engagement
Discussions can begin with basic questions about the movie participants have just seen. Here are four examples:
- Did you like this movie? Why or why not?
- In your opinion, what makes a movie memorable, great, or worth seeing again?
- Was this a story worth telling? Did you learn anything from it?
- Who was your favorite character and why?
You can also ask questions related to the genre of the movie. For romantic comedies, for example, you might begin with:
- If you like romantic comedies, did this one fit your expectations? Why or why not?
- If you don’t generally like romantic comedies, did this one surprise you because you enjoyed it?
For comedies, you might ask:
- What makes a movie funny for you? The script? The situation? The setting?
Activity Connection’s Making Movie-Watching Engaging CEU course provides many additional discussion prompts related to other genres, including dramas, Broadway musicals, mysteries and thrillers, and epic movies, as well as questions related to time periods and locations. The course also explores surprising filming locations, such as the fact that Oklahoma! was filmed in Arizona and the supposedly Russian setting of Dr. Zhivago was actually filmed in Finland and Spain.
Actors provide another broad area for discussions, with more sample questions in the course. Plus, the exercises that accompany the course list some of the most famous actors from the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s.
Other sample discussion questions cover movie mistakes and bloopers, philosophical questions raised by movie plots, and changes in mores that have allowed more explicit depictions of sex and violence. Among the philosophical questions, for example, is how the movie depiction of legendary historical figures shapes our view of them. The 1963 movie Cleopatra is undeniably epic, but a little biographical research (perhaps done by a participant) is likely to reveal a far different story than the one showing us the Egyptian queen (Elizabeth Taylor) being romanced by Julius Caesar (Rex Harrison) and Mark Antony (Richard Burton).
While discussions are a great way to engage participants, those living with dementia may benefit from adaptations based on their individual strengths, interests, and support needs. One change, for example, might be to show a specific scene of perhaps no more than 15 minutes and discuss that, simplifying the questions as needed. It might also be wise to concentrate on lighthearted and humorous movie scenes.
Another good idea for any audience is to include stretch breaks. Sitting for extended periods can become uncomfortable, so offer opportunities to stand, stretch, or participate in seated movement.
Go Beyond the Screen
Activity Connection highlights different movies and actors each month and frequently provides movie bingo cards, word searches, trivia, and other movie-related resources. Beyond that, the variety of content is quite comprehensive.
Activity Connection’s feature on the 1978 film Superman, starring Christopher Reeve, notes:
“Marlon Brando played Jor-El, Superman’s biological father. (He worked 12 days, appears on film for just 10 minutes, and ultimately earned about $14 million.) He was well-known for preferring to read his lines that were pinned to other actors’ chests rather than memorize them. In the scene where he puts his infant son into the pod bound for Earth, Brando is reading his lines from the baby’s diaper.”
Another interesting movie discussion topic is alternative actors in key roles. According to the Activity Connection information about Superman, 200 men were considered for the role. These included Sylvester Stallone, Robert Redford, Clint Eastwood, Dustin Hoffman, Caitlyn Jenner, Nick Nolte, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Muhammad Ali, James Caan, Neil Diamond, and Elton John.
The activity supplements that accompany the course include a trivia quiz on actors who were considered for various roles, and participants are then asked to speculate what the movie might be like if an alternative actor had been chosen for the role. If Arnold Schwarzenegger had won the role of Superman, for example, how would the movie have been different?
Looking for even more ways to elevate your movie programs? Making Movie-Watching Engaging, Activity Connection’s new CEU course, uses examples from more than 100 popular movies and includes
- Practical strategies for making movie-watching more engaging
- Creative ideas for enhancing individual films
- Discussion prompts for a variety of movie genres
- Fun bloopers and “watch for” activities
- Synopses of popular films from the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s
- Additional resources and participant handouts
The course is supplemented with more than 15 participant exercises, including movie star lists, trivia quizzes, and imaginative activities.
Final Thoughts
Movie programs can be so much more than pressing play and dimming the lights. With thoughtful preparation, engaging discussions, and opportunities for reminiscence, movies can become powerful tools for connection, conversation, and cognitive stimulation.
Whether you’re planning a classic movie afternoon, a themed film series, or a discussion group around favorite actors, a little creativity can transform movie-watching into a meaningful life enrichment experience.
Ready to transform movie afternoons into meaningful engagement experiences while earning CEUs? The Making Movie-Watching Engaging CEU course is packed with practical strategies, discussion guides, movie recommendations, participant activities, and creative ideas to help transform movie-watching into a more interactive experience.
As a thank you for reading, use code MOVIE20 to save 20% on the course for a limited time.
The creator of WiserNow.com, Kathy Laurenhue, M.A., CHP, is a prolific, award-winning writer and publisher. Her contributions to Activity Connection include many of our online courses, along with activity slideshows, art appreciation programs, Bible studies, and “What’s Your Verdict?” discussion exercises.
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