Documenting wisdom.

• Position: Finalentry - Carolyn Mayes - Interview

California CPA could not pass up a chance to get to know Carolyn Mayes a bit better after reading about her adventures as an award-winning, documentary filmmaker. Mayes, a CPA with 25 years of experience in public and private practice, told us about her film, what she learned and how the experience affected her personal and professional life.

What is Whiskey & Apple Pie, besides a delicious combination?

Whiskey & Apple Pie (www.whiskeyandapplepie.com) focuses on the wisdom of our older generation. We traveled across America to capture the wisdom and stories of men and women over the age of 75. We interviewed more than 100 people from various cultural economic and ethnic backgrounds. We asked them questions about what it's like to get older what's their message to younger generations arid what's the secret of happiness? Some of the famous people we interviewed were Mickey Rooney, Tippi Hedren and Dorothy I. Height.

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What inspired you to get involved with the film and the film and ICareVillage?

ICareVillage is an internet resource full of information about aging and caregiving to help the Baby Boomers care for aging parents--and themselves. I realized that people who have a lot of money can pay for care, and the people who have a strong support group of family and friends will get the care they need. But how about those who don't have a lot of money, don't have a strong support group or outlive their support group? The ideal behind Whiskey & Apple Pie was to ask our elders what they've learned during their years by highlighting some of the wisdom they have to offer so that the rest of us can use to it to improve our own quality of life.

What sort of things does a CPA bring to movie production?

Observation, critical thinking and a desire to discover what makes people happy later in life. Not everyone over 70 has, or will have, a lot or money to help them through the rest of their lives. And, money doesn't solve all problems. One of the then in the film tap dances over bridges to create awareness about the importance of health. He talks about how it is such a shame that some people work hard their whole lives to create a nest egg for themselves, and when they retire, their health gives out and they can't enjoy the fruits of their labor.

What was your most memorable moment during production?

Getting the chance to meet and film Dorothy I. Height. She was such a powerful and insightful woman. She played a huge part in our...