Grit

Directed & Produced by: Johannes Kroemer

Stage:
- Development
Location:
- New York, United States
Updated: April 2, 2026
Project Type:
- Feature
Project Style:
- Observational,
- Personal
Theme Subject:

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Logline

A film about people who keep going.

Clips

Trailer
14 minute-short. Password is:Grit24

Background

Our views of old age are outdated.

Older people live healthier, longer lives.

Some of them start businesses. Some of them put younger people to shame in the gym.

And many just keep going because stopping is not an option for them.

We started this project by filming and interviewing three seniors, aged 73 to 91.

We accompanied them in their daily lives and saw how differently they were dealing with aging.

What we saw and heard was refreshing and inspiring.

Step one for this

...

Our views of old age are outdated.

Older people live healthier, longer lives.

Some of them start businesses. Some of them put younger people to shame in the gym.

And many just keep going because stopping is not an option for them.

We started this project by filming and interviewing three seniors, aged 73 to 91.

We accompanied them in their daily lives and saw how differently they were dealing with aging.

What we saw and heard was refreshing and inspiring.

Step one for this project was a short film (14 minutes) that has been a selection of film festivals across the US in 2025, including DOC NYC and AmDocs.

Turning this film into a longer documentary is the next step. We have already lined up additional protagonists.

Seniors are not a minority and yet we don’t see them.

We want this to change and this film to be part of a broader conversation about how we look at old age.

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Participants

Susan Holland

Protagonist

Participant

Susan Holland

Protagonist

Susan, 79, is a New York native,
pursued art education
before launching a successful
catering and design company
that served many illustrious clients,
the high point being the state dinners
for the Obama White House.
After relocating to Miami,
she founded Pluck, a textile co-op comprised of older
women and which reflects her passion for color,
texture, and collaboration.

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Cleveland Manley

Protagonist

Participant

Cleveland Manley

Protagonist

Cleveland grew up in Harlem. When he was 16 he started
roaming the streets and ended up selling Heroin.
After serving time in prison he decided to turn
his life around.
Cleveland's involvement in his community earned
him the nickname "Mayor of Harlem".
He is also the oldest member of Bar-Tendaz.,
a group of fitness enthusiasts who promote a healthy
lifestyle through calisthenics.

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Dr. Walter Palmer

Protagonist

Participant

Dr. Walter Palmer

Protagonist

Dr. Palmer born in Atlantic City,
overcame a challenging childhood
to become a prominent figure in Philadelphia.
He pursued multiple degrees
including a Juris Doctorate,
worked in various fields,
and made significant contributions
to community organizing and education.
He is a Professor at the University of Pennsylvania.

Close
Queen Mother Deloise Blakely

Protagonist in development

Participant

Queen Mother Deloise Blakely

Protagonist in development

Queen Mother Delois Blakely (83) spent ten years as a Catholic nun in Harlem and is now a pan-Africanist, spiritual community leader and humanitarian.
She is at home both on 125th street in Harlem and at the United Nations.

Close
Johnny "Roast Beef" Williams

Protagonist in development

Participant

Johnny "Roast Beef" Williams

Protagonist in development

Johnny Roast Beef (76) got his name because he had a Deli in East Harlem, NY.
His local hang out spot was the now legendary Italian restaurant RAO’s.
That’s where Martin Scorsese discovered and cast him for “Goodfellas”.
He was the guy who shouldn’t have bought the pink Cadillac.
Johnny now lives in Los Angeles where he still works as an actor.
He is currently writing his memoir.
And then he is at the door of RAO’s L.A. to bring a little New York attitude to California.

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Team

Johannes Kroemer

Director & Producer

Team

Johannes Kroemer

Director & Producer

Johannes Kroemer was born in Suhl in East Germany, surrounded by seven mountains and the Iron Curtain. "Suhl" refers to the mud bath wild boars take. He fled the country two months before the wall came down. (He didn't regret it.) Johannes studied Photography in Berlin and New York City where he lives now. He worked as a documentary photographer for publications in the US and Europe before turning to filmmaking. In 2013, together with his wife Vanina Feldsztein he founded Ninetynine Films, a production company that focuses on doc-style marketing videos. "Di Sarno", an Oscar- qualifying short produced in 2023, is his first documentary showing at film festivals.

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Vanina Feldsztein

Co-Director

Team

Vanina Feldsztein

Co-Director

Vanina was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
She moved to New York City where she worked in the camera department in commercial film production.
In 2013 they founded Ninetynine Films, a production company that focuses on doc-style marketing videos.
Vanina and co-director Johannes work very closely together, often sharing tasks such as directing and producing
since their sets are small and intimate.
Their short documentary, "Di Sarno", was a selection at 20 film festivals around the world.
It won Best Documentary Short at the 2024 St. Louis International Film Festival, qualifying the project for Oscar consideration.

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Budget

This section includes information about this project.

Screenplay narrative project producer project impact doc journey independent project camera visual. Journey story festival screenplay visual award doc team award impact production.

Stills

Our Ask

As went through the casting process we discovered that there are so many more older people who live truly inspiring lives.

We would love to continue this project by transforming it into a longer documentary.
It would add 4 additional protagonists to feature 7 total and be 50 minutes long.

Approximate cost: $108,000.

Completing it would take about 6-7 months.

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Grit

Logline

Clips

Participants

Susan Holland

Susan Holland

Cleveland Manley

Cleveland Manley

Dr. Walter Palmer

Dr. Walter Palmer

Queen Mother Deloise Blakely

Queen Mother Deloise Blakely

Johnny "Roast Beef" Williams

Johnny "Roast Beef" Williams

Team

Johannes Kroemer

Johannes Kroemer

Vanina Feldsztein

Vanina Feldsztein

Budget

Stills

Our Ask