ROUNDTABLE
JO: Extending your network is becoming more and more important, so I’ve been working on this. Long-term, I think the future is extremely uncertain. The main focus for me is short to medium and getting work in now, trying to catch up with the last couple of months. DP: I guess I’ve already done this from the previous year, but to try not to buy everything that comes out, camera gear-wise. Invest more in myself, not gear – not in a weird selfish way, but only own what you need to make films, not what you think clients will like and book you for. Live in the moment, but don’t get caught up in the good pay and trips abroad while shooting. SS: We developed the habit of asking “do we really need this?” For example, when it comes to meetings, we used to spend a lot of time stuck in rooms full of people, but also travelling to and from them, and they were not all that productive. Over the past months, we learned that activity can go on without such frequent get-togethers. These can be useful, however, to move things along when they get stuck, as we noticed recently during one meeting for a film we’re working on. It is much easier to solve some of the issues, just because you could look someone in the eye and read their body language, which is something that’s not really possible virtually. We do need human interaction, but not for the sake of having a routine. MM: I have to decide whether I want to continue writing and earning good, regular money, or return to the more peripatetic and unpredictable life of a filmmaker. I need to weigh up good money for easy writing work, especially if there’s a second wave of Covid-19, versus the more satisfying work of filmmaking.
What has been the most difficult thing you have faced during the pandemic? What about your family or close friends? MM: It was a shock when my daughter, a health care assistant at the hospital, caught the virus. She had a mild case and we all stayed in the same house during her illness. We probably shared towels and we certainly didn’t disinfect everything she touched but, as far as we know, nobody else in the family got it. My wife is a nurse at the same hospital and all her tests came back negative. DP: It was hard on my mind not seeing my parents over lockdown as my dad isn’t well, so you never know what might happen. It’s difficult, because you know there are people a lot worse off. No matter how hard it gets, I just try to think some people have it much worse than me, so just keep going. PD: I think it’s upsetting seeing people’s worry and desperation go through the roof. Friends and family’s wellbeing has been impacted and there are a lot of people out there who are really struggling with this. We have to acknowledge the balance – we’re so lucky to do what we do and our jobs are such fun most of the time. So when we’ve had our head in our hands crying about a commercial not confirming, we need to think hard about what others are going through right now. JO: I had a client refusing to pay several invoices, although they did eventually pay. It caused a lot of issues. Not wanting to contribute to the situation, we really did keep ourselves to ourselves and did miss those fun afternoons drinking tea, eating cake and talking with friends.
DP: Not really, just makes you realise, ‘stop messing around’. Do what you can when you can, because times like this can come and take it all away. But my creation or ideas haven’t changed – I’m trying not to write or create about the situation. selfishway, but only ownwhat you need to make films” PD: I think it’s increased. I think constantly working can stunt your reasons for doing what you do. We can get swept along with schedules, shooting and delivering, and it becomes so hectic that we’re just on autopilot. It’s about just getting through each shoot. It’s invaluable that we have time to breathe and really think about our approach and why we do what we do. JO: I did a couple of personal projects to keep creativity up and avoided the TV as much as possible. The one caveat was that I could watch The Sweeney , but I had to do the ironing while it was on. MM: Yes, I’ve got used to working alone and I like it. It will come as a surprise to many who know me that I’m not as confident as I would have people believe. After four months of relative isolation, it has become hard to make myself get out and work with people again. I do it, of course, but I’m having to steel myself all over again. After a few weeks, it will be OK, but at the moment it’s very tempting to just carry on working alone. “Investmore inmyself, not gear –not in a weird
Has your creative drive or ideas been changed as a result of the situation?
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