These are strange days indeed. And we’re all having to experience them in our own isolated bubbles. So, in an attempt to forge a virtual connection with friends and colleagues, we thought you might appreciate hearing from some of your fellow Field & Post members, as they answer the question:
What’s been your main discovery/takeaway, either professional or personal, from the COVID-19 lockdown?
Catherine De Paula – Editor: My takeaway from the Covid-19 was to pay more attention to the news. My husband, my daughter and I went to Bellingham, Washington, to pick up something up on February 29, when we weren’t keeping up to date with the very latest news. We wondered why the lineup at the border was quieter than normal! While we were in the lineup to come back into Canada, I read that they had declared a state of emergency in Washington. I then heard the next Monday that there had been an outbreak in Bellingham over that weekend. Two days later we got sick with symptoms of a cold. Five days after that we developed a fever, weakness and a constant dry cough that lasted for six weeks. I couldn’t get through to 811 at all. My doctor’s surgery told me to go to an Urgent Care Centre, who then told me that I didn’t fit into their narrow range of people who could get tested, and I was to go home and isolate for two weeks.
BUT I was the primary editor and post supervisor on a show! So all my colleagues cleared out of the office while I procured external drives and copied off the whole project over two days while I was feeling decidedly unwell. I got everything up and running at home and carried on working despite the world going seemingly crazy. There was about a week delay due to all of my family deteriorating several times and spending several further days in bed. It was a very trying time but we had deadlines to be met. But luckily we never got very sick, though it was quite different from other flus I have experienced before, and somehow we made our immediate network deadlines and deliveries. Now I watch the news every evening so I can keep myself up to date and not make any further health missteps. And I wait to get called by the BC Centre for Disease Control for that blood test!
Stephanie Rosloski – Story Editor/Director: COVID-19 reminded me how vulnerable we are as contract workers – with rarely an option for benefits. Hopefully the federal initiative for paid sick days will go through because if (or when) the second wave hits, I feel like people will struggle between choosing to stay home when they’re ill or losing a day’s wages. I love what I do and I applaud everyone for making the change of working from home to keep each other safe – but in the long term – I wish our industry had more of a safety net.
Heather Hawthorn-Doyle – Director/Producer: “A semi-wild rollercoaster ride” best describes my experience of the last couple of months, culminating though in a sense of calm. Not only a time to self-reflect, but a time to learn (virtual improv, comedy writing and masterclasses). My professional take away? We’re all scared sometimes, but on set the most important things we can do is to show confidence and kindness.
Rob Hardy – Series Producer/Producer, Big Timber: My biggest takeaway has been seeing how resilient and innovative people can be when faced with a huge challenge, and how fantastic it’s been to see people work together to solve problems and keep moving forward in the face of adversity.
Megan Cameron – Producer: My main discovery has been a glimpse into my future: if the COVID-19 lockdown is any indication, I’m destined to be that old woman who sits in front of her living room window giving commentary on what the neighbours (and geese, and dogs, and….) are doing. I have also learned that Days of Our Lives has really not changed in the past 20 years. I REALLY need to get back to work!
Mark Lawrence – Director: A few weeks ago some friends and I decided to have a safe “physically distant” get-together. We rendezvoused at Hillcrest park and set up under the shade of a few trees at one end of the playing fields. Everyone brought a chair, their own beverages and snacks, so we set up keeping well away from one another (about 12 to 14 feet). We settled in and started chatting, then one of my friends pulled out a large bag of Doritos. A really big bag. Well you can’t just pull out a giant bag of Doritos like that without sharing. It’s just not right. I insisted on us figuring out a way for me to get some safely. We came up with a foolproof game plan. I got up from my chair, walked half way toward my friend and placed a container on the ground. I then returned to my chair. He got up, carefully opened the bag, walked over to the container and poured some chips in, then returned to his chair. Bam! There it was. A container full of fresh untouched Doritos waiting to for me to pick up and eat. What I didn’t count on was the crow waiting in a tree branch just above the bowl. My dreams were destroyed that day. My big takeaway? Covid-19 brought new meaning to the saying, “let the chips fall where they may”.
Tyler F Gamsby – Online Editor & Colourist: Over the last couple of months, I’ve been reminded of why I love my job. Although these are tough times, I’ve received incredible support from my colleagues. I am fortunate that the show I had in my calendar for the spring was far enough into post to be on schedule for online, and I’ve been even more fortunate to receive support and understanding from the producers so I could balance (as best as I can!) work life and a modified home life. I’m buoyed by the creativity, passion, and commitment of the people I work with, and I’m thankful for the kindness, compassion, and empathy those same friends have for me. By far the toughest part for me has been having my wife, Heather, and three children on the Island, while I’m working at my suite in Burnaby. Thank goodness for FaceTime and every second weekend stuck in my car on the ferry, and Heather’s never ending support.
Trish Neufeld – Director/Producer: As much as it’s been hard and slightly unnerving living with the uncertainty (for our family, city, country, and our world as a whole) I have basked in the ability to have time to be creative. It’s given me pause to take on some other projects, to appreciate the small things in life. To understand what it must have been like to live through a war – on a much lesser scale, but still – food shortages, lesser supplies, where is all the yeast? (Lol) etc.
I have deeply missed seeing and hugging my friends. I have worried about their wellbeing and ability to balance work/kids/ education and about their financial security and my own. I am learning I don’t need another pair of $120+yoga pants. That take out can be good, that I can live with less and still be happy. And I’ve learned I should put on a pair of jeans every day – otherwise it’s slow crawl up a size on the waist-band!
Dana Johl – Producer/VP of Production, Lifestyle at GPM: I learned that I was moving way too fast! I pride myself on my organization, but COVID-19 and working from home has made me see that I was crossing things off my list without taking the time to mentally absorb or physically file things properly. As a result, I was spending time searching for a file or flipping through notes trying to remember something. Lately I’ve been taking the time to be present, multi-task less, and as a result I’m more productive and in a way that is far more sustainable.
Kate Green – Director/Producer/Casting Producer: I have to admit that professionally the lockdown has been really great. I’ve had the opportunity to get caught up on all my projects, spearhead and develop new ones and connect with colleagues virtually that I haven’t had time for recently. I think if you work in factual and documentary television you have to have a natural curiosity for the world around you and COVID has certainly provided a lot of opportunity to be inquisitive and creative. I wish I could say I’ve had time to work on my tan or get ripped for summer. There’s only so much motivation one can have and needless to say that the lack of face to face connection with friends or family has been extremely difficult. But there’s not much choice right now. We just have to move forward. Day by day. I do look forward to the day however, that I get to raise my pint with fellow Field & Post members.
David Schmidt – Writer/Story Editor/Producer: My big takeaways are: that teachers should be paid like professional athletes. That household alcohol supplies need to be rationed wisely. That backyard trampolines count as exercise. And that I really, really, really miss swimming pools (anyone have a wetsuit in my size that I could borrow?) and hugs. When we’re allowed to hug again, I’m going to make them last a loooong time. I’m going to make it weird.
Garth Dyke – Director/Editor: I feel like I’m living the alternate-universe version of my life. One where I get to spend unlimited time with my family, lots of outdoor time, plenty of exercise, time for online courses and hobbies I’ve always complained I could never do. I’m not sure I want things to go back to how they were.
John Ritchie – Executive Producer: My main discovery from the pandemic has been that, more than ever, I treasure and cherish the great many people in my life who are smart, positive and kind, and I am happier than ever to live in Vancouver and in Canada.
Jeff Wonnenberg – Director of Business Affairs, Great Pacific Media: I feel the past few months have reminded me of what is important in life. Despite the intensity and anxiety, it has been a paradigm shift that has reaffirmed my personal and professional priorities. At home, things I hold close to my heart are family, friends, community, compassion, tolerance, humour, dedication and perseverance. At work, supporting and nurturing my professional community is key. I’m grateful on so many levels for the team at Great Pacific as we’ve navigated this storm together, keeping the business and shows running. My heart goes out to those who are struggling and I’m hopeful we can find ways to help them, and each other, in the short term and long term.
It may seem a bit precocious, but this quote from Tolkien’s’ Fellowship of the Rings continues to resonate with me for some reason. Words to live by I suppose:
“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo.
“So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
Sarah Chow, PhD – Story Producer/Writer: Every morning around 6 am, instead of waking up to birds cheerfully chirping by my window, I am rudely awakened by the sound of staccato-like hammering on my bedroom wall. For months, I have been living with this noisy little neighbour, who comes and goes as it pleases, leaving multiple pin-sized holes on the exterior wall of my place. Most days, I bury my head in my pillows and wait for the rapid series of drumming to stop. But after several sleepless nights anxiously speculating on what our “new normal” is going to be, I had enough. It’s time I catch this serial striker in the act.
I quietly slid out of bed, pushed open my sliding door, and tiptoed onto my balcony towards the jackhammering sound. And there it was: ramming its beak at high-speed succession against the side of my house was a woodpecker. A Northern Flicker to be exact, native to BC, and it just so happens we’re in mating season.
But instead of shooing the flicker away and heading back to bed, I could feel my anger for it slowly melt away and turn into an appreciation for it. It reminded me how resilient nature can be during these tough times. And just like nature, we too can prevail. But it also gave me a chance to briefly hit pause on life to reflect and enjoy a moment for me.
The flicker eventually flew away, and I returned to bed.
But since my feathery encounter, I make a point every day to take some time for myself – jotting down some TV show ideas in a journal, or sitting quietly with my thoughts plotting my next step to taking over the world – and that is my takeaway during this COVID19 lockdown. As for my flighty visitor, Flicker mating season ends in June, so more sleeping-in for me to enjoy… until next season.
