Youtube

I went to YouTube before posting the Q. I thought I found the whole movie, but it won’t play. Do you have a link?

I still don’t know how to post it from this phone.

^^What did you find? Can you click to share in an email or text and then copy the link?

Apparently you must log in or register on something called funmanager.com. There’s a link beneath the frame containing the van with the man standing beside the open side doors.

[Mod says] Moved to Social on request.

You probably have already tried this, but I would think contacting management of the community might yield some information, as they may know who to contact.

@canidmajor They have nothing to do with the production. Most likely it will play in one of our movie theaters eventually. The community puts out marketing videos of their own constantly.

Pick your topic https://www.thevillages.com/about-us/

I even receive their video mail. They send an email with the latest video. Here was the Christmas message from the founding/developer family. https://www.thevillages.com/life/december-vmail-a-holiday-message-from-the-morse-family/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=VE1912&utm_source=vmail

They probably had to OK the production (it being a closed community and all), and there might be communication about it that someone would be willing to share with you.

^^The community is not “closed.” All roads are public, anyone can drive through, anyone can walk around the shopping areas or go through the neighborhoods. It’s a huge city that crosses through three counties. It’s something like 16 miles by 7 miles at this time, and growing.

I don’t know if the film goes inside of any of the club activities that require a resident or guest pass, but you can go in any building, in the main lobby areas without any pass, they are basically public like how a restaurant is open to the public. I don’t know if they would need permission or not to film. It’s probably a good idea for CYA. In fact, since the producer of the film lives outside of the tri-county area he could easily achieve a guest pass and go to the various activities.

You know what? Then don’t. There are probably a boatload of people right there who know more about it than any of us on fluther, I would think it likely. Ignore the probable resource, too much trouble to make a couple of calls anyway, huh.

They have a Facebook page you can probably message.

@canidmajor Jellies are usually good at googling, so I tried here. I posted something on my Facebook also.

There are a few Villages Facebook groups I belong to, but they aren’t official groups, I was thinking of posting there, but those groups can be annoying.

You can call the main number and prove me wrong if you want. The customer service people are very nice. It’s not that urgent, I was just hoping for a link. When I’m back home (I’m in TN now) I’ll find out more.

How interesting. Do you think the documentary a propaganda sales piece to pimp more interest in the “community” from the well heeled? There is from the outside a creepy undercurrent regarding the trend such enclaves represent.

@stanleybmanly No. The developer of The Villages does that on their own, we have a very Stepford feeling in our community and in the videos produced to market the community. It seems artificial, but most residents really do love it there, they smile all the time and tell you they live in paradise. I provided links above to The Villages website and videos they make.

The documentary is totally Independent. Just some guy who decided to do a film.

Edit: Here’s an old video with a big overview of The Villages. More extensive information about the free golf, thousands of clubs and activities, and more shots of the area. Check it out. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IJoB5hiMm9I

Thanks. I’ve seen it before, and it made me uneasy even back then, because it represents the concentration of we successful boomers in stockades where we can afford to ignore the privations and stresses of those on the outside.

@stanleybmanly There are manufactured homes in the original section that aren’t expensive, and they were grandfathered in for an extremely low maintenance fee, but they participate in everything as equals. Having said that, yes, to some extent it is not everyone who has the opportunity to retire and enjoy playing all day, but typically you can live there for about $35K a year on a tight budget. A married couple receiving average social security and maybe if they want to work part time can live there. I spend $1800 a month not including food or car expenses. That includes my mortgage of $570 a month, plus taxes, maintenance fee, insurance, and utilities. My house is newer so it has an addition $2000 a year tax, but you can buy a house without that. I included the $2000 in my $1800 a month.

Even if you just make $12 an hour working full time, a married couple who both work can live there comfortably. That’s not rich.

No it isn’t. Do you think it is a working model that can be extended elsewhere? It seems to me that such deals should be extended to people with children.

@stanleybmanly Where I grew up it was a master planned community. We had walking and bicycle paths and several pools, rec centers, and playgrounds. The volunteer set up for all of these clubs wasn’t like The Villages though, not to that extreme.

All the retired people have all of that time to volunteer and play. Also, it can be built on cheap land, because the majority of the people don’t need to work, although at this point The Villages is so large it’s one of the biggest employers in the state, but wages are generally low. More and more jobs are being created with higher salaries though. My city had tunnels under the roads for kids walking to school and to the pools, it was very nice. I wish we had had dancing and live bands at the town center, that would have been great.

From what I understand there is a family community in Georgia that is a golf cart community/city, I don’t know the total population. I don’t know if they have a system set up for free classes and activities.

Part of the trick with the developer of The Villages is he builds out the shopping centers, pools and rec centers before the housing. He makes it desirable, while most developers wait for 100 houses to be sold for example before they spend money on structures that they don’t get immediate revenue from.

I agree with you the model could be copied for families and it would be great. It’s very much a mix of a socialized model with capitalism.

Well stated.