Film Group
IN THE TIME OF CORONA
BY ROSE FINLAY
When I took over as the coordinator
of the Film Group in February, I was
confident that the work ahead of me
would be challenging but achievable if
I just followed the great example Becky
Tan had set over her many years as the
leader of our merry band of critics. She
set the standard with her kindness and
thorough work ethic, and I thought that
it would be relatively simple to simply
continue on her work. Little did I know
that something truly unprecedented
was on the horizon which would require
me to take the group into new territory.
As you may or may not know, the
main foundation of our group is
attending weekly industry screenings
of upcoming films for which we
subsequently write reviews. However,
since the middle of March, the film
industry (like pretty much everything
else) has ground to a halt with
screenings cancelled, cinemas closed,
and everyone watching and waiting
to see what will happen next. What is
the point of screening a film for critics
if that film has no guaranteed release
date? This certainly put a damper on
the ability of our group to continue
in any feasible way, but with every
rainstorm there is a rainbow.
While the film industry may have
been cut off at the knees with new
productions halted and releases
indefinitely delayed, there were also
many new opportunities to experience
the medium. Over the months, many
film festivals have begun to offer digital
content, many for free. Some have
begun to offer accreditation to view
their entire festival online.
Film archives and collectives offered
free streaming oppor- tunities,
distributors began to release their
new films for Video on Demand (VOD),
and industry insiders have created
new and interesting podcasts and
live chats discussing the future of
film. The pandemic is finally forcing
the traditionally rather conservative
film industry to begin to examine their
practices and consider new models for
the future, something which may lead
to new innovations and opportunities
that could benefit people across the
globe. Imagine if you could attend the
Sundance Film Festival (at least partly)
from the comfort of your home. This
may actually be in the cards in the
future as festivals, distributors, and
filmmakers begin to examine how to
best bring their work out into the world
in a safe, yet profitable, manner.
In our own little microcosm, the Film
Group has also had to adapt. Despite
the lack of screening opportunities for
the club, I continued to send weekly
emails sharing industry updates, free
screening opportunities, and other
interesting film-related information. As
the weeks have progressed, more and
more online industry screenings have
become available to watch and review,
particularly as the light at the end of
the tunnel rapidly approaches for the
reopening of cinemas.
Members have also shared ways to
help local cinemas and have even
developed their own fundraising
initiatives to show our support in these
difficult times. In this unprecedented
time, I am proud to be coordinating
such a wonderful group of women
who are always there with some clever
new idea to help out or an uplifting
comment. We are all in this together,
and while it may take some time for
the film industry to find its new path
forward, I am fully confident that the
Film Group will be there to meet it with
aplomb.
36 In Hamburg