Eccentricity documentary 'A Different Drummer' celebrates quirks
"A Different Drummer" is a new documentary that follows people, often misunderstood, who march through life to the beat of a different drum. And they're not just entertaining characters... research shows they may live longer, and are healthier, too.
"Come on, live! You only get one stab at life. It's not video, you can't press the replay button ... So as I once said famously, I'm trying to cram as much silliness in as I possibly can. And it's working for me."- John Ward, British Inventor
John Ward gets many smiles as he scoots around town on one of his own inventions, billed as the world's only 3-wheeled fire engine. And it's just one of his many, many inventions to date... Such as the musical frying pan, the safety net for yo-yos and the bra warmer. It's an eccentric collection, which he's happy to admit. Eccentricity is something's he's more than happy to embrace.
John Ward, the British investor is just one of the cast of eccentric characters featured in a new documentary film titled, A Different Drummer: Celebrating Eccentrics. It's screening this Sunday as part of the Hot Docs Festival in Toronto.
- John Zaritsky is the writer and director of the film. He joined us from Vancouver.
- David Weeks is a Consultant Clinical neuropsychologist. And it was his work, the first major study of eccentrics, that inspired this film. He was in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Do you consider yourself an eccentric? Or do you know someone who is? How has eccentricity affected your life?
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Wondering how eccentric you are? There's a way to find out. Here's a short quiz.
This segment was produced by The Current's Liz Hoath.