Scene-iors on Stage

Acting program touches lives

By Cutright Elizabeth on May 9, 2016 in News

Lights! Camera! Action! Outfitted with props, green screens, dazzling (homemade) costumes and what Matthew Hoffman calls “A lot of DIY ridiculousness,” elder thespians eagerly mug in front of the camera, inhabiting famous characters and recreating legendary movie scenes. It’s all part of Matthew Hoffman’s “Tuesdays with Matthew,” a wildly popular program that’s been praised for its chutzpah and brought a newfound sense of purpose to everyone involved.

“The goal is to make their Tuesday afternoons feel like the best Friday night of their lives,” says Matthew in the group’s Titanic video.

From Script to Screen

It all started when Matthew, a television host and celebrity correspondent by day, stopped by a Los Angeles senior center looking for video material for his portfolio. He asked to work with some of the center’s residents, and soon discovered he could tap into his group’s creativity and spirit by directing short sketches based on scenes from famous films.

“When I first started my own group, we just read scenes from movies,” he tells People magazine. “But after a couple of months, I thought, ‘If they’re so excited about just reading these scenes, what would happen if we literally made our own movies and gave them something to really look forward to?’”

“That is when my life changed, and I got really, really into this.”

Back to Life

For almost a decade Matthew, with the help of donations and spurred by the energy and enthusiasm of his performers, has been able to transform his weekly meetings into something dazzlingly different.

“Tuesdays come to life,” Matthew says in an introductory video about the program, “and once we yell ‘action,’ the magic begins.”

“I was sitting home watching TV,” explains another scene-ior, “I had nothing else to do. It’s given me a new life.”

“I would not get out of bed if it wasn’t for Matthew’s program,” declares another.

Matthew admits that statement, in particular, touched him deeply.

“I just started bawling,” he admits. “That was the quote that changed my life and made me realize how much bigger this is than just me.”

The Power of Performance

It’s clear Mathew’s vision is working. Not only do residents clamor for a chance to contribute, over the years, Matthew’s Scene-iors have recreated action sequences, suspenseful moments and love scenes from such iconic films as Casablanca, The Color Purple, The Notebook and more.

“When we make our videos, the seniors completely forget they are in a center,” explains Matthew. “With the help of a greenscreen, I can transport them to places they never thought possible.”

“I forgot all my pain,” says one participant in the video. “That’s what happens when you get involved.”

The videos are filmed entirely in a classroom at the senior center, with everyone pitching in to make costumes and props. Matthew’s enthusiasm is apparent as he rallies his troops and celebrates each new milestone, whether it be a crop of hairdryers to recreate Marilyn Monroe’s famous subway grate moment, or announcing the week’s newest film.

A Call to Arms

Tuesdays with Matthew shines as an example of how senior citizens can continue to grow and thrive well into retirement. Moreover, programs like Tuesdays with Matthew demonstrate the benefits of volunteerism and promoting community connections.

“Thank you for giving me such a wonder new life in my old age,” one of Matthew’s cast members tells him during a red carpet premiere featuring all the videos created so far… “I feel new again.”

Mathew initially posted the videos hoping to motivate viewers to find their own ways to volunteer locally, but he’s continually surprised at just how many people he’s moved.

“I get all these crazy emails,” he explains to People,” telling me that this has inspired others to volunteer, and that was really the whole point of putting it out there.”

“My goal is to help prove old is the new young,” he says, “and sometimes the last act can be the best.”

You can learn more about Tuesdays with Matthew (and watch all the videos) on the program’s YouTube channel. One-hundred percent of the proceeds from the channel go to sustain Matthew’s program and to Meals on Wheels.