Adapting as Creatives in the Midst of Corona
As creatives, we have massively been hit by COVID-19: the films and T.V series that we planned to shoot this Summer have ground to a halt; auditions have stopped and theatre shows have been postponed.
I’ve seen a lot of frantic online posts from musicians and producers alike advertising the ways that they could do their services online, in the hope that they can still do exactly the kind of work they would usually do remotely. Actors are suddenly trying to see how they can use their social media platforms to gain followers and send self- tapes to casting directors so that they can still ‘be seen’ even though auditions and showcases have been cancelled.
These were all my original thoughts too if I’m being honest. How many projects could I still offer pre production services for from home? Can I use this time as an opportunity to get my work out there when everyone will be watching films more than usual anyway? Can I use this time of isolation to really work on those scripts? And that’s before the complete panic I had about my loss of income.
However, I realised it’s not just about simply seeing how I can carry on my usual work online. Perhaps this isn’t the time to worry about my career and whether I can still keep momentum so it’s not harmed in this crisis. The thing I need to remember is that it is in fact a global crisis and that it will take a united effort to get through.
It’s not actually about me.
As a creative you always have to be good at adapting. My family often calls me a Fox because foxes can work the ground and adapt to live in the city or the countryside. They've seen me similarly adapting to my ever changing environment and situation in my line of work.
I remember, when I first started out, I had lots of side jobs -from working in a call centre to supply teaching- so I could keep the money flowing while I established myself.
More recently I’ve been fortunate in that I have been able to work full time in my chosen field ,but of course, that has changed dramatically in the last two weeks.
Perhaps the question to be asking isn’t whether I can carry on with my career plan through COVID-19. Perhaps the question to be asking is: Where is the greatest need right now and can any of my skills be used to help? A lot of work has stopped, yes. I am certainly not undermining the anxiety of losing income and the unavoidable situation a lot of us find ourselves in. But there are also sectors that have massive gaps.
As I mentioned, I used to teach. That means that I am familiar with the two main exam boards and know the curriculum for English KS3-5 inside out. I have also tutored a lot of 11+ students. I took a pause and realised that all of the schools have closed. There is a great level of need here. Parents are suddenly desperate for extra online lessons or at least some guidance on how to support their child’s learning at home. I realised I could make myself available as a tutor again and support concerned families.
Sometimes it’s humbling to earn money through a job that you don’t necessarily want to do as a first choice or the job that you wouldn’t want to define you. However, seeing the relief on parent’s faces this week as I appeared on their screens to engage their children for an hour and bring some much needed routine has been worth it. Equally, I’ve seen my students’ anxieties lifted and their faces light up, and I’ve been there to support worried GCSE students through their cancelled exams.
There are so many sectors right now that need help, with more demand than ever. There are so many areas of the NHS that are overwhelmed (or at least soon will be) and have a need for more staff.
I have loved seeing what freelancers are doing in response to this. I recently read the open letter from freelancers to the NHS. This is a group of individuals who realised the need and saw how their current skill lset could fill it.
I also saw an advert from NHS West London looking for project managers, logistics staff & administrative staff. People who work in Television or Film production would be exceptional in those roles.
I have always found our need to box people in an industry full of people that are incredibly adaptive, very counter intuitive. As a producer, I have been frustrated at the separation within the creative industries. People are quickly boxed into screen or theatre. Actors are typecast. Or (if you work in T.V) entertainment, and scripted drama are thought of as completely different beasts. They are in some ways, but, as someone who has worked across disciplines, I can also see how transferrable a lot the skills are. I take great joy in giving people new opportunities and seeing how they thrive. Perhaps our industry would be a lot richer if we all realised that. Not everyone can get into scripted drama or film right away. If they have worked elsewhere first, perhaps we should still give them a chance.
Maybe one positive of this whole thing will be that it will shake us all up a bit and help us to realise that people are skilled at lots of things. Perhaps it will help employers in the creative industry to see people with their full array of skills and potential.
The lot does seem unequally weighted against us in many ways right now, but if there is something that we can do, then perhaps we should. For now, let’s just get through this next chapter together, whatever that may look like.