Joy Frank-Collins and her husband, Ethan, had planned their next chapter. Once they became empty nesters, they would focus on their careers and enjoy more time together. But those plans were shattered when Ethan was diagnosed with leukemia and passed away just 10 months later.
Suddenly facing a future she never anticipated, Collins found herself navigating life alone without the emotional, social and financial support of her partner. In the face of grief and loneliness, she confronts her new reality with resilience and courage.
This video offers an intimate first-person account of a life-altering experience that many people encounter. Through Collins' story, we explore coping with loss, adapting to unexpected change, and finding the strength to persevere in the face of tragedy and new challenges.
Our goal was to let Collin’s tell her story authentically. Emotion is relayed through her posture and her words as she speaks to the camera and, consequently, directly to the audience. We used photographs to capture important elements of her past that supported the story, and filmed new footage of her in her home and out in public, navigating her new life.
The video was promoted in AARP the Magazine, which reaches over 38 Million homes, adding value to a written story about the challenges of aging alone. The social version engaged a community of people who admired her bravery, some with a similar experience:
