Gerascophobia
This film has been created as a response to peoples fears that were submitted to my website. After advertising the idea that people's fears anonymous or not were needed, on social networking sites and forums, I had an array of different fears coming from all ages and parts of the country (and possibly the world).
The thing people were most afraid of, it was noted after more people entered it into my website than anything else, was old age or the idea of growing old and alone.
The idea that ageing was the most feared aspect of peoples lives, even though it is something were are all inevitably to experience, seems quite a surreal and even senseless idea. Not many people admitted to being afraid of death however ageing was thought to be worse and one of the most feared aspect of many peoples lives.
Gerascophobia is the fear of old age or growing old. The film in itself is quite intruding and almost voyeuristic as the viewer intrudes on an old lady sitting alone in what looks like her own living room. The narration over the top is her reading a list of people's fears that were submitted to me. As we watch her sitting there, her voice seems to speak almost in nonsensical terms as non linear sentences and random words are spoken. This gives the viewer an awkward idea of age, and possibly an idea they already have themselves of what growing old is - sitting alone and speaking and thinking in confused ways.
The view of the clock splits up the views of the old lady in order to give the viewer a break from what could be an uncomfortable silent sitting with this person. Are you sitting alone with this lady or are you looking in without her knowledge? Either way, the feeling of awkwardness is intended, in order for the viewer to make some sort of connection, albeit maybe not a friendly comfortable one.
This film is intended purely to take a chunk out of one person's daily life and put it on display. It is for viewing purposes only so the audience can watch and take from it what they will and leave. This person is living the life of many other people's fears. The confusion of the narration complicates it for the viewers to ask questions about not only this 'top' fear, but their own fears and the lives of others.
