It's a difficult time right now. I don't have to tell you that, you are going through it, as am I. Everyone around the world is suffering, some worse than others due to the situation they were in even before this COVID-19 virus started to change everything that most of us took for granted on a daily basis – family, the environment, work, our mental health, spirituality, our finances and the arts.
The physiological human response when a pandemic of this capacity strikes, or any situation really that a human (or an animal) feels is out of their control, or when a threat is suddenly present, is to go into 'fight or flight mode'. In response to acute stress, the body's sympathetic nervous system is activated due to the sudden release of hormones, boosting alertness and heart rate and sending extra blood to the muscles, prepping the body to respond and to survive. I don't know about you, but as a writer and a film director, I find human behaviour fascinating and the human condition to be so complex and full of possibilities.
As our brains jump into flight mode it can be hard to look at the big picture, we start to panic and we can't think straight, let alone rationally. In the situation we are all collectively facing right now, that is a justified response. I mean we are losing our jobs which threaten our income and our ability to pay our rent or mortgages, money is in disarray, our freedom to travel and be close with loved ones, even freedom to socially interact as human beings, is locked down. The financial markets are plunging, entertainment institutions are now in jeopardy, and the impact on our mental and physical health is drastic. I haven't even mentioned the already disadvantaged; the disabled, the frail, the homeless and the abused trapped with their abusers. Thinking of this is most probably triggering your flight response again, as it is for me.
So stop. Stop thinking about it. I know it's hard but start by switching off the news, stop mindlessly scrolling social media, stop making every conversation about coronavirus and stop googling the symptoms. Just for a little bit. Just long enough to give yourself time to catch a deep breath again.
We need to come back down, calm ourselves down, and one way to do this is to come back to our creative nature. Staying creatively focused when we feel like the world is spinning out of control can really give an artist grounding, a sense of purpose and most of all a feeling of comfort knowing that there are some things we can still control. Even people who don’t consider themselves creatives (though I would argue we all are) can find solace in creativity when things seem dire.
I recently had a bout of recurring anxiety two weeks ago and coupled with stress it led to me physically grinding my jaw during sleep, causing me pain in my waking hours. Lack of sleep caused by juggling full-time work with after-hours film producing, lack of sit down meals and distractions during eating, and a poor diet as sometimes I would skip dinner because I was working to deadlines. Throw in the fact that I was also suffering from a cold a week prior to the teeth grinding, and I panicked when I heard about the Coronavirus attacking weak immune systems. To calm myself I banned all alcohol and caffeine from my diet, took part in long meditation sessions each morning on waking, slept when I felt the need, read a book in bed, and took isolated walks in nature. The best thing I did was not take calls from panicked family members; instead, I sent them a text or WhatsApp telling them I need some time right now. And the other thing that really helped me heal was switching off from social media for two days.
As I mentioned, focusing on what you can control and shifting your energy back to the core of your creative self is a big part of getting through the stress and anxiety caused by this outbreak. Start by having a routine for your day by setting aside some time each morning to just shift your focus to you, to your breath, and to the now. Not what is going to happen to you in two months from now, or to your job in two weeks time. Focus on right here and right now.
This morning routine can be anything from a short exercise sequence you found on Youtube or that your gym is now doing though videos, writing a page in your journal about your feelings, reading a chapter from a business or motivational book, sitting peacefully alone with a hot cup of tea, taking up a sketch journal, writing a grateful list, patting your cat, maintaining a skincare routine, and doing some basic stretching. This can also be done at night before bed to help you relax and unwind.
The rest of your time could be spent working on creative pursuits and catching up on basic things like meal prep and housework, spending time chatting with family face to face or through online video. For creatives there is no better time than in quarantine to do the following:
Sort through your hard drives and computer files, and you may find footage or photographs you can upload to Shutterstock, Pond5 or maybe even for a new visual Instagram account. This could bring in some cash or in turn generate a following or some business leads which could prove fruitful once this pandemic clears.
Update your film or business website and write some blogs. Now is the time to add that newsletter, and start a community based on your films or projects or a niche audience you want to create content for.
Build an online following for your film or project before you even start shooting.
Start drafting and writing that novel or screenplay idea you said you would do a few years back, but could not find the time. Now we have the time.
Start shooting and editing an online course. Everyone has a skill, everyone can teach something. We teach film online on Udemy and Skillshare but there are plenty of platforms out there looking for online teachers. It may be another way you can make money. Or sign up today to an online educational platform and take a course so that you have some extra skills for when this is all over. We never stop learning in life and being stuck inside is a great time to boost your skills in subjects you want to know more about.
Take online meetings with your team or with your collaborators or friends and come up with ideas for projects you can do now or when the pandemic is over. Refine those ideas and be ready to go. It is a great time to brainstorm projects.
Upload your film to some streaming platforms which don't need a distributor involved, such as Amazon or Vimeo On Demand. There is also an aggregator called Filmhub which has no upfront fees involved and tries to place your film on all sorts of streaming platforms once you upload your film with them. Try to make some money with your old content. Short films are fine too. If you don't know about the possibilities of self-distribution, take this time to do some research and teach yourself.
If you are an actor, find some strong monologues you can practice and shoot alone or with your roommate in quarantine. Keep practising your craft. Keep working every day. And learn the other side of the camera too. Take a course about camera operation, about sound design, about lighting. Download DaVinci Resolve, a free non-linear editor, and practise editing footage yourself.
Update your IMDB page. This can serve as free promo for your film or you as an actor.
Research how you are going to market your film through a range of lists. Make a list of possible distributors, look at places (online and in the real world) where you can screen in the future, look for possible cast and crew you would like for your project. Make a list of influencers and businesses you can team up that can help promote your work in the future. Make a list of producers and companies you may want to start a co-production with.
Rejig your current press kits and film materials or create new ones for your latest films that don't have one.
Learn how to build a website using Squarespace, WordPress, Wix or Brizy, and get one started for yourself or a project which will serve as your online portfolio.
Create a vision board using Photoshop or Canva. The latter is great for those, who like me, struggle with the former. Plus Canva basic use is free!
These are just some ideas I had off the top of my head, most of them I am working on myself with Ivan as we continue to build Nexus Production Group. I can't remember the last time that I was so productive and focused on my company and creativity and shifting my energy to a good place.
As terrible as the situation is right now, one thing is for certain, we are all in this together. It is not the end of the world, use your time wisely, learn, create, grow as a person. What we have shown as a race is that we are really good at banding together, supporting one another in times of need, and adapting to change. We will come out on the other side of this. And when we do, make sure you are ready to tackle life with a new outlook, new skills, and new ideas.
Written by Sarah Jayne.