Joshua Seftel has been creating award-winning films and documentaries for more than two decades, but his latest work with his mother has attracted an entirely new set of fans. The director and his 77-year-old mother, Pat, are collaborators on the web series "My Mom on Movies," in which Pat reviews new movies she has seen and offers her opinions about celebrities.
Pat and Josh's show is more than just an outlet for the pair to dish about Hollywood gossip. It's an opportunity for them to connect, despite living thousands of miles apart. According to an article on the AARP blog, when Josh's father died, he and his sisters worried that Pat would suffer from social isolation. Mom lives in a retirement community in Florida, while her kids live in New York.
In order to ensure Pat was engaged with her family, Josh traveled down to the Sunshine State to present his mother with a tablet computer. Although Pat had difficulties learning how to use a desktop in the past, she took to the tablet very quickly.
"It's a wonderful thing […]," Pat told AARP. "It's easier for an older person to use than a computer. And it makes you feel really good, like you're living in the moment."
The Seftels engage in video chats regularly and use the best parts for their web program. Josh told the source that creating the series has been fun, but more importantly it has enriched his relationship with his mother. The chats about movies have often led to meaningful conversations and information that he never knew about her.
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