She Made Her First Film at 65: Now, at 75, Melissa Davey’s Documentary “Climbing Into Life” is Winning Awards
Few of us would dare attempt to become a filmmaker at 65, but that is exactly what Melissa Davey did when she retired from corporate life. Her second documentary, "Climbing Into Life" profiles Dierdre Wolownick, the oldest woman to climb Yosemite’s El Capitan. Wolownick was guided through the climbing process by her son, Alex Honnold, famous for his free solo climb up El Capitan. Melissa recounts how she discovered Wolownick’s story, the process of producing and directing the film herself, and the challenges and successes of navigating the film festival circuit, where the movie has won multiple awards. She speaks about her growth as a filmmaker, her current projects, and offers advice and encouragement to other potential midlife creatives.
Topics Covered in the Podcast:
Her growing confidence as a filmmaker, as she produced and directed this film independently
How she applied and was accepted into 19 film festivals. She has won 10 awards, a surprising success in the competitive festival circuit.
How her new creative life keeps her energized, motivated and happy
Her advice to listeners interested in a midlife creative endeavor: just start and don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Interviewee Background:
Melissa Davey is a filmmaker who transitioned from the corporate world to a creative career later in life. At age 65, after a day on the set with a famous Director, she decided to take a risk and left her career to jump into the unknown. Pursuing her dream of becoming a filmmaker became a reality in late 2018 when Melissa completed her first film, Beyond Sixty, a feature length documentary about women over the age of sixty. During 2019 Melissa’s film was accepted by and screened at 8 film festivals throughout the United States and Canada, winning awards and confirming that it is never too late to learn something new.
Reousrces:
Listen to Melissa Davey's first interview with Betsy on The Latest Version podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dont-dismiss-your-dreams-melissa-davey-on-becoming/id1556317668?i=1000552662832
Watch the trailer for Climbing into Life on Melissa Davey's website: https://melissadavey.com/climbing-into-life/
Follow Melissa Davey's work on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/climbing_into_life/