Daniel Alexander is a West Midlands filmmaker and runs the BACK IN film programme in Birmingham. here, Daniel explains how the impact of the pandemic hit his plans immediately.

"When Covid-19 first hit, I think like everyone else it was a brand new landscape with uncertainties on how to continue or even if it was possible to continue at all. What it taught me was the importance of re-visiting exactly what I do and how I do it. It’s easy to get comfortable, doing things the way you always have and slowly replacing innovation with repetition. I was forced to expand my own creativity beyond what you see on the screen and extend it to HOW it would be seen on the screen".

Daniel continues to elaborate, "Through some tricky times of navigating this new landscape, I’ve actually found myself being busier than I ever have. Providing people with the confidence that it’s still safe to film, and with government guidelines allowing it to happen legally, it’s been an opportunity a lot of my usual clients have jumped on to make sure their own businesses and artistry continues through having visual representation in a time where physical representation is limited".

"More people are leaning towards videos now to be used in place of physical interactions, so from a video production company point of view, this has had a massive impact and increase in business", says Daniel.

"Creatively, I have seen more narrative projects taking off, and I believe it’s been a reminder to many of us just how much we love our art and in some cases, the only true expression we have to put our voices out into the world. Covid has been a terrible shadow cast over the entire planet, but it has re-ignited a fire in many of us to pursue what we love and remember that tomorrow is not promised. So many great and touching stories are surfacing, and I’m currently making the time in a schedule I once thought was too busy to actually re-visit narrative projects of my own and tell my own stories more frequently".

Tenisha White is a professional actress and filmmaker who is part of the BAFTA Crew x BFI Network 2021. Tenisha tells us how she and her productions had to adapt quickly to the problems as they arose.

"It’s been heart-breaking to watch so many creatives be effected by Covid-19. It’s been a sobering reminder, just how fragile the balance of our industries are and the importance of taking this as a valid learning experience to better protect ourselves in the future", says Tenisha.

She adds how her resilience became a key skill to share with others. "As an independent film producer, I’ve had to quickly adapt to the changing landscape and find new ways at securing work and practical ways of still managing cast and crews safely within the guidelines. I think what’s worked well for me is remembering that at the heart of this, we are all creatives, and that has to now expand over into the creative ways we can still make a production take place".

"In a time where no one really has the answers, I’ve found that it’s been key for me to move forward confidently and install confidence in those around me that we can still produce work and and a living and hopefully do my small part to demonstrating the resilience of our art form and the importance of this industry staying alive".

"With the pandemic putting such a halt on the usual run of productions, I have witnessed the birth of new and creative ways of story telling and it has allowed me to explore and partake in new and interesting ways in delivering my own productions", says Tenisha. "And by having a direct response to what would otherwise be a hindrance, it has instead reminded me that filmmaking is more than just telling stories on screen, it’s also about the stories each and everyone of us bring to the table to make the whole thing possible. Its important to always stay positive and focused as we are the Creative's and not even Covid-19 can stop us creating magic".

Christopher Bevan is a director/producer working in fiction and documentary filmmaking. He is the creative director of Derby-based production company YSP Media, and was also recently selected for BFI NETWORK x BAFTA Crew 2021.

"When the first lockdown was announced, any new directing or producing work completely dropped off or was cancelled as I know it was for many of us. I was fortunate enough in the Spring to have a few edits backed up to work on for documentary and promotional work, so this absolutely gave me some focus in those early months", says Chris. "I’ve been able to work remotely on projects for my production company YSP Media, editing together new content for arts organisations and small businesses and charities, but I’ve not been able to step foot on a set or run any of my workshop sessions since March. I’ve got the utmost respect for anyone out there who is continuing production in any role throughout this".

Chris goes on to explain how his projects are continuing to move forward. "We’ve managed to continue work as best we can on our short thriller The Other which has been going through post-production. It’s been tough at times for all of the team including myself to push through. Working from home, increased caring commitments due to the extended lockdown, worries about a lack of new work and struggles with health, both physical and mental, are just some of the difficulties we’ve all had to face, and I’m so thankful for everyone who has given their time and talent to getting this project closer to completion. Hopefully we will have a finished film at the start of next year ready to submit to festivals".

"Over the last few months we had an online premiere on the sci-fi platform DUST for a short I produced called ‘Connective Tissue’ and also a couple of festival screenings for a documentary we produced ‘Women of Impact: Defying the Odds’. The British Urban Film Festival, Derby Film Festival and Big Picture Festival have all selected and have either streamed or plan to stream the film for their audiences which has been great, and they’ve all been amazing it adapting plans and promotion", adds Chris.

"I think the hybrid model of physical screenings with a paid for streaming element is going to be something that stays coming out of all of this. Accessibility has always been an issue for filmmakers here in the Midlands I feel, particularly when it comes to larger scale industry events. Not all of us can afford to travel, stay over, finish late etc. The increase of online Zoom seminars, industry Q&A’s and festival screenings has been something that I think was long overdue, and I’m hopeful it’ll continue no matter what the future holds. I am looking forward to getting back to some events in person though".

"A short documentary I produced for arts organisation Junction Arts premiered online at the end of November too, created remotely from the contributions of the residents of Bolsover. The project was developed to celebrate ‘Lighting the Way’, a socially distanced community event to replace the traditional annual Bolsover Lantern Parade. Bringing people together, collecting content from schools, residents and care homes to edit together was a really positive experience, and the response to the film has been terrific".

For further info and guidance please check out these important Covid guidance links from the BFI and the British Film Commission

https://www.bfi.org.uk/coronavirus-covid-19/working-screen-industry-during-covid-19

http://britishfilmcommission.org.uk/guidance/regarding-covid-19-coronavirus