Coping With Covid (Pro Moviemaker)

Six independent filmmakers talk about how the global pandemic has affected their business and life

None of us have ever experienced anything like the global pandemic of 2020 before. Thousands struck down by the virus, travel – and even going outside – banned, jobs hugely affected, mental health issues coming to the fore, and the worry of a second wave. We organised a ‘virtual round table’ to talk to six filmmaking professionals to see how it has affected their business, what they’ve done to cope and find out if there are any upsides to this awful situation.

What has been the biggest effect of the pandemic on your business?

Sebastian Sauerborn: Filming and film festivals stopped, cinemas closed, so production, distribution and coordination also stopped. The business is dominated by freelancers, which means that many were out of work and fell through the cracks. This is much more than a job – it’s a passion, something you do with great conviction, and when you suddenly can’t work any more, this can cause mental health issues, so many had challenges on different scales.