Rising Stars: Meet Brent Roberts of North Hollywood

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brent Roberts.

Hi Brent, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
As of today, I have 102,769 photos and 11,192 videos on my phone. One could easily label me a memory hoarder. I savor the moments that I’ve lived and I cannot fathom losing them from my phone…or from my own brain completely. Alzheimer’s disease had no proximity to my family or friends, until I met Luke. When a 45yr old, ruggedly handsome (self-proclaimed), wild, playful, caring, and adventurous guy was diagnosed with such a painful disease, it stopped me in my tracks. He doesn’t look like dementia. How could someone this young be losing their life to this “old people” disease? And yet living with such a positive outlook with motto’s like, “Here for a good time and not a long time,” and “Kick Alzheimer’s in the Balzheimer’s,” I was compelled to tell his story in a documentary called, “Forgetting To Remember.” Luke’s lens into all this is of levity, but also brutal transparency into how this affects so many people. His mother died of this disease and his sister, at 57, is currently in hospice care. His family has cared for them both, and now they are caring for him. Luke wants to live out the rest of his days as the best of his days raising awareness and elevating the conversation around caregiving and end of life options for those with dementia and Alzheimer’s. He doesn’t wish to die along the slow and painful route this disease offers, but rather have his choice of death with dignity in his own time. How will he know when it is time? But a more pressing question, is what if he forgets to remember? I don’t know how Luke’s story will end, but I know it will make a difference for those who experience this journey with us.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As mental challenges come into play, daily tasks become taxing. Conversations with Luke can go into a loop, and while he laughs at the same jokes I tell on repeat, it can become very frustrating to address this effectively. He is no longer allowed to drive. He hasn’t worked for some time now and holding down any job responsibilities would be nearly impossible. Air tags are everywhere – wallet, phone, his pocket – to keep track of the same things he loses multiple times a day. Living alone has become risky when the oven burners do not get turned off and other potential hazards arise. He recently made the tough move away from his 4yr old and 6yr old daughters in Texas, to live with his brother’s family in Iowa. They are his daily caretakers as his memory continues to fade. While he brings playfulness into all of this, it is unavoidable to feel the frustration of your own mind betraying you. As for his family, they have been caregivers before and the toll this takes is vast. In this film I also aim to highlight what an immense struggle it is for caregivers who are told by medical professionals that the Alzheimer’s patient is over 60% more likely to outlive them.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
The New Road Productions is a newly founded production company that builds creative tables where we can talk about issues that matter in a way that reminds us we are not alone. For so many who go through the trials of Alzheimer’s and dementia, there is shame associated with losing one’s mind, memories, functionality, and identity. When we all acknowledge what we are living through in authentic storytelling so many of us see ourselves in each other’s stories and we feel a little less alone. I have a background in ministry and as cheesy as it is, the name of my traveling drama troupe was, “The Road Ministries.” I fell out of ministry when I came out into my own identity as a gay man. And all these years later, I have resurrected the name to be inclusive of the fullness of who I am with no hiding. And that is how I will tell story in film, television, documentary, and live production. When we show our most vulnerable parts of life, strength will inevitably flow into our narrative. My production company will always work to weave in a voice of the unheard and unspoken that needs a camera aimed in that direction. We have all been so grateful when we find a story or a character that resonates with us in an honest telling, and my projects will tap into that same “I see you” type vibe with fun flavor.

What matters most to you? Why?
It matters that we laugh in life as hard as we cry. And when audiences feel Luke’s story, they will undoubtedly double over laughing in his antics. And they will trust him to take them to some of the dark places that Alzheimer’s unfortunately must go. We will be open to collectively grieving just as boldly as we celebrate together. He wants people to get active in engagement with local Alzheimer’s chapters to and to pre-act in keeping brain health as this affects younger and younger generations. So much surrounding all of this that we will unpack is not simply black and white. There is a lot of grey we all live in and Luke’s colors will come into display as he reminds us that how we live is far more important than how we die. As we actively fund this film to be able to complete it, my immediate goal is to be able to watch Luke’s documentary next to him in a theater before he forgets we did it. All are welcome to join in this journey with us at ForgettingToRemember.com

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ForgettingToRemember.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forgettingtoremember/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ForgettingToRemember/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheNewRoadProductions
• Other: https://www.bonfire.com/store/kick-alzheimers-in-the-balzheimers/

Image Credits
HFC Pride Night step and repeat image, Photo Credit: Jill Petracek for Hilarity For Charity