The Test was inspired by a Washington Post article in 2021 highlighting a citizenship program created by residents of a senior living community in Northern Virginia to support its staff members -- many of whom are immigrants – by funding the cost of applying for US citizenship, and providing volunteer tutoring for the citizenship exam.

As filmmakers, we were moved by the story’s unique perspective on the topics of immigration and eldercare in America. While we have different professional backgrounds (Claudia works primarily in fiction, Laura chiefly in documentary) we share a similar sensibility and sense of purpose. We want to tell stories that will have a social impact, often highlighting groups that are underrepresented in the mainstream media. Immigrants and the elderly are two often marginalized groups in our society. They want to feel valued and accepted, yet often feel overlooked and isolated. In this context, The Test celebrates a scenario where each group provides a sense of purpose, belonging, and connection to the other. Here the retirees give back to the employees who mean so much to them, and in return become part of an extended family they both deeply desire. Our hope is that The Test can provide a powerful counter-narrative to the prevailing cynicism about immigration and aging in America.

After reading the Washington Post article, we were inspired to contact the folks running the citizenship program at a senior living community in Alexandria, VA called Goodwin House. As film professors at American University in Washington, DC, we place a high value on making films within our own community. The documentary is an outgrowth of AU's Community Voice Lab, which promotes co-creative storytelling alongside community members who are often unseen and unheard. The film was developed in close collaboration with our non-profit partner as well as the film's lead participants, Eric Frimpong, as well as Jill and Carl Miller.

We knew early on that we wanted the film to explore the themes of loneliness and the power of finding a chosen family. As such, we planned shots that emphasized our protagonists’ sense of solitude prior to getting involved in the citizenship program. Once the journey of the citizenship test begins, however, the tone changes to reflect a higher-paced energy and increasing dramatic tension but also a growing sense of community.

Our hope is that viewers of The Test will come away with a renewed sense of optimism. The subjects portrayed in the film are some of the most genuine, kind, and generous people we have met. We hope the audience will feel the stakes of Eric’s journey, and become as emotionally invested in the outcome as we were.

Director of Photography

Amin El SiwiElsiwi

Editor

Kasey Kirby

Assistant Producer

Heather Brumley

Assistant Editor

Amin El Siwi

Additional Photography

Marwan Mounir

Carlmax Gbormittah

Sound Recordist

Heather Brumley

Production Assistants

L Cedeño Miller

McKenzie Yoakam

Original Music

Matt GK Wong

Sound Mix and Design

Cheryl Ottenritter

Color Correction

Robbie Carman