Free Premiere Set Of Documentary On 'Denying Gravity' Playwright

PINELLAS PARK, FL — Clearwater resident Linda Goldman had already retired twice from a career in finance when she decided at the age of 70 to try her hand at becoming a playwright.

She had volunteered for eight years with senior adults at Temple B'nai Israel in Clearwater and began jotting down the fascinating stories they shared with her.

Those stories became the basis for her first play, "Denying Gravity," and the impetus for forming the Senior Actors Guild and Education Services (SAGES) an all-senior theater company in 2016.

Serving as the president of SAGES, Goldman has taken a backstage role while her unexpectedly popular play has been performed at packed houses throughout Pinellas County during the past two years.

Now she will take center stage in a documentary produced by Ames Productions. The film, "Saving Claire - The Story of Denying Gravity," tells the story of the playwright, the play and how the community came together to embrace both.

Residents will have their first chance to see the documentary when the Pinellas Park Fire Department hosts the film premiere Sunday, Sept. 15 at the Pinellas Park Performing Arts Center, 4951 78th Ave. N., Pinellas Park.

Doors open at 1:30 p.m. and the free premiere starts at 2 p.m. There is no reserved seating and seating capacity is limited. The premiere screening will include a photo booth, free food and giveaways and live demonstrations.

The film is opening in Pinellas County before rolling out to cities nationwide as part of Ames Productions' Thriving In Place Project.

Using humor and drama to highlight a public health crisis for older Americans, Goldman's play tells the story of an independent woman, Claire, who is injured in a fall, and the dramatic effect that moment has on her life.

Since it was first presented two years ago, the play has been credited with helping to save the lives of senior citizens by preventing falls. According to the Thriving In Place Project, 30 million older Americans fall every year, one every second of every day. Falls injure seven million and kill 27,000 people in the United States every year. Injuries from falls cost Medicare more than $31 billion a year.

Pinellas County first-responders previously received more than 25,000 calls a year requesting help for a senior who has fallen. Since hosting performances of "Denying Gravity," which discusses the dangers of falls and how they can be prevented, fire departments have reported a decrease in calls.

The play is endorsed by the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas Inc. and the Pinellas County Better Living for Seniors Consortium's Fall Prevention Coalition.

Goldman admits that she's been a bit overwhelmed by the response to her first stab at becoming a playwright.

“When SAGES was founded in 2016, we weren’t sure there would be any response since Pinellas County has great community theaters, but I guess we are filling a missing element for its seniors,” Goldman said. “The response has been phenomenal."

Goldman's efforts caught the attention of Fort Lauderdale-based Ames Productions founded by former journalist Rainie Ames. The production company has produced more than 20 shows and documentaries for PBS including “The Next 1000 Days," “Oil Shockwave," "The Man Energy and Environment" series on sustainable communities and “Treasures of the Library of Congress."

Those who miss Sunday's screening of the documentary will have other opportunities to view it. It will be shown Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. at Miller Auditorium in Eckerd College. Thriving in Place is also arranging viewings in Dunedin, East Lake, South Pasadena, Gulfport, St. Petersburg and Largo to be announced.

Ames Productions also plans to present the documentary at venues in Pasco and Hillborough counties before taking it nationwide.