Below Surface, which has been screened to enthusiastic audiences at film festivals throughout the country, explores the extraordinary power of community through a YMCA Aquafit class. The film gathers numerous moving stories of a multicultural and multigenerational Aquafit class to demonstrate how kindness and caring for others, combined with exercise, can be an antidote for grief, stress, and physical illness. The heartwarming honesty of the participants is a reminder of the power we all have to support one another.
A conversation immediately following the screening will delve into several of the core themes of Below Surface including what progress has been made against ageism, whether there is an authentic representation of aging in media, and what we can do to change the narrative of getting older to reshape societal perceptions of aging. Included in the discussion are the film’s executive producer, Mary Lake Polan, director Lukas Hauser, Linda P. Fried, Dean of Columbia University’s Mailman’s School of Public Health, and moderator Leslie Jane Seymour, Founder, CoveyClub; Former Editor-in-Chief of Redbook, Marie Claire and More.
“Below Surface is a beautifully moving and thought-provoking film that shows age is truly just a number,” said the Paley Center’s President & CEO Maureen J. Reidy. “We are honored to host what promises to be a deeply thoughtful conversation on how media can help reshape society’s perceptions around aging.”
Tickets for this program are now on sale to Paley Center President’s Circle, Patron Circle, and Partner Members; to Paley Individual, Family, and Supporting Members on Thursday, February 1 at noon ET; and to the general public on Friday, February 2 at noon ET. For more information and to learn more about the benefits of Paley Center Membership including ticket presale and discounts please visit paleycenter.org/membership.
