Filmmaking During A Pandemic

Hello Sloths! We hope that you are staying sane and healthy during these tough times. As creatives, we have found it especially difficult to get anything done. We have tried on multiple occasions to film the last three days of our Tri-Cities Thunder Documentary. For over two years, we have followed and filmed the team, interviewed players and obtained footage for flashback scenes.  Just when we were ready to grab the last three days; Corona Virus hit the country. We made the hard call of cancelling our remaining film dates once we realized that to bring in talent from out of town not only put our local community at risk, but also put those actor’s and crew’s families at risk when they went home.  It was just not a chance we were willing to take.  So, in the meantime, we have been studying our editing software, writing on other projects and mixing things up a bit here at Salty Sloth.  You will see lots of changes coming to our local presence, our artistic direction and our team.  

For those in our industry, whether it be film, art, radio, photography or any creative outlet . . . there are some things you can do while we wait for life to get back to normal. First and foremost, educate yourselves on Covid-19 and what it means to be proactive in your setting.  We recommend “Safe Sets Covid-19 for the Film and Video Production Industry” training.  It is online and it is free.  It covers all aspects of questioning your cast and crew, preparing safe craft services, ensuring sterilized equipment and props and follow-up should a member test positive after filming.  We are proud to share that two members of the Salty Sloths as well as our cinematographer, Jacob Hart from Dark Star Films have completed the training.

Second, reach out to your other creative friends and see what you can do to help them. So many of us love to read, write and watch films. We all have unique talents. Maybe you could be an editor, help find props, research locations and backgrounds for them. Maybe you have that idea that they just haven’t been able to pull from their resources. Brainstorm with your creative friends for ideas you can work on that require little to no exposure of others. 

Finally, if you are safely able, go visit museums, art exhibits, get out in nature, watch independent films, listen to podcasts or watch YouTube videos on areas that interest you. Expanding your knowledge and exposure can only help you as a creative to bring more projects to life. If the project is an environment that you feel comfortable working in; volunteer as a production assistant, runner, grip, wardrobe assistant, hair or make-up artist. Your friends will appreciate the help, you will learn in the process, and they might return the favor one day. We have been invited to work on larger productions, just because we were willing to help out on smaller jobs.  Don’t let the pandemic ruin your creativity! Make it happen! Keep moving forward! ~ Momma Sloth