For these weeks, that unfortunately didn’t get to happen as planned due to circumstances outside of our control, I had the planned roles of Editor for the British Realism task and Producer/Actor for our final film. We had already begun to plan both films before being told to skip to the final, and then ultimately the University closing.
Our British Realism concept was a look at racism, xenophobia and very current affairs with an encounter between a British person and an Italian where the British person assumes the Italian has Corona Virus and becomes fearful to be in their presence. With every member of our group being ‘foreign’ in a way we had a somewhat ‘outside looking in’ approach to the assignment. While looking at the hard gritty, reality of Britain and its influence on the rest of the world we entered a deep conversation about our experiences and observations. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to explore this any further as we were told to drop that assignment and go straight to the final film in an attempt to finish it before the University shut down for the Corona Virus.
After the Friday session we went straight into full on planning mode for the final film that we still hoped to film on the following Monday morning. We already had a script and our roles planned out. We each wanted to have another go at what had been our favourite so far. For me that was producing even though I enjoyed every other role very much as well especially editing which I look forward to practicing more over the coming months.
I had an idea for the final film and wrote the script with input from the rest of the group. With it being our final film, it was important that everyone liked the theme and story we were going to tell. This was not an easy compromise to try and work out especially with the time pressure and I ended up feeling like people just didn’t like my idea but we didn’t really have time to come up with a new one. We talked about it and it was more that everyone was feeling very stressed from the situation. Tayjib hadn’t had the chance to direct yet and everyone else had been able to direct their own idea. We decided to film the script we already had on Monday and Tayjib would work on his own idea for us to film later in the week or the following Monday as we still hoped at this point to have two more weeks to work on the final film(s).
Unfortunately, my daughter came down with viral conjunctivitis on Sunday and had to stay home from school on Monday, so I was unable to film. We rearranged to film on Thursday and booked the equipment to do so. However, each day, new developments in the Corona Virus epidemic was causing everyone’s anxiety to spiral. The University closed for lessons on Tuesday and by Thursday it became highly advisable for everyone to stay at home if possible. I still collected the camera equipment and extended it for a week hoping to work on something myself at home. However, my daughter kindly passed the conjunctivitis to me and I couldn’t film or drive to return the camera when the whole country was put on lockdown the following Tuesday overnight.
During the first few weeks of lockdown, while I was still motivatied, I set to work making a complilation video from the ammassed footage of our 5 films. I watched through all of the footage to find special moments, outtakes, bloopers but also the best moments to tell the story of our journey. I hit a snag with Avid and between Easter and working remotely I was only yesterday able to fix and finish it thanks to the help of Siencyn. I am happy to present to you – ‘ We’ve Learned Quite A Lot.’
Being able to finish that may have been just the thing to reegnite my motivation and I hope to put the camera I have to work, documenting and creating films from home for the remainder of the lock down.
I am very much looking forward to getting back to University and working together again.
Diet Coke Productions 