Reflect the Light

The world could use a bit more light these days... that’s why we’re excited to share a new project with you, many months in the making: Corey Moranis and a collective of female filmmakers from NYC teamed up with one of New York's most original characters, the flamboyant fashionista Jane Marx, to create a short film celebrating Jane's personal motto, "Reflect the Light". The film launched on S/Magazine, and was directed and produced by the Brooklyn-based filmmaking duo Caroline Macfarlane and Catharina Schürenberg with a soundtrack by Toronto music producer Ciel.

Jane defies traditional concepts of aging. At 75, she’s launching a new career as an "early elderly model" and wearing her joy at being alive on her sleeve—literally: her personal style stops people on the street. Jane’s exuberant energy, off-the-cuff sense of humour, and vibrant colour palette make her a dream CM model, and we’re so lucky to have been able to work with her! (She’s also a tour guide in NYC, so we can all look forward to meeting her IRL when we can travel again.) Our film is a joyful counterpoint to the fashion and beauty industries' obsession with youth, embracing individual style at any age and aiming to inspire others to express themselves in whatever way feels authentic to them.

Here’s an excerpt from S/Magazine’s interview with Jane + the filmmakers:

S/Magazine: As a multi-faceted female creative, how do you maintain your curiosity about life as well as your joie de vivre?

Jane Marx: We’re born with curiosity. It’s in our hardwiring. Early on I repeatedly asked, “Why?” Energy, too, is inherited. I walked fast. I talked fast. I thought fast. My challenge: how to monitor my speedometer. After decades of trying, I mastered it. The “me” inside of me is free, which is why I dress-up.

S/Magazine: What steps did you take to highlight Jane’s idiosyncrasy whilst showing how she complements the brand’s particular mission statement?

Caroline Macfarlane: The process was really organic. Catharina and I had a number of brainstorming sessions and explored the city together looking for inspiration and locations we could use. Because we had worked with Jane on previous projects, we were already very close. We wanted our film to embrace Jane’s authentic style and her sense of humour. Jane is also an incredible improviser. None of her lines in the film were scripted—they all came to her on the spot.  Catharina and I would ask Jane questions that would provoke a rant or a monologue or in some cases even a dance. Jane’s off the cuff humour and sage wisdom makes the film. She is a natural performer. Catharina brought her years of experience as a costume designer to the project and distilled Jane’s energy and style sense into the outfits selected. It was really collaborative. Jane was part of the process every step of the way. Mainstream visual culture has brainwashed women into feeling shame around their bodies as they age. We are supposed to get less loud, less sexy and therefore less visible in the clothes we wear as we get older. We are told to conceal our wrinkles and our cellulite. We wanted this film to throw the “invisible woman syndrome” out the window.

Read the rest of the conversation here!