Our Lives in Lockdown
In July 2020 ROH Bridge approached Elstree Screen Arts Academy about the idea of creating a provocative time capsule piece that captured the thoughts and views of being a young adult in 2020. It needed to feature students’ experience of lockdown, emerging from lockdown and their thoughts about the future.
A small group of students met with a member of the ROH Bridge team in the summer in order to develop the brief and understand that the finished film was to be showcased as part of a web-based Youth Voice magazine series. Out of this came the finalised brief. The students then worked on this project as part of their Year 14 Professional Diploma, taking on an industry client and developing skills in production in order to plan, shoot and produce a final film.
The students worked with Tegan from Bear in Mind, a creative agency, to help shape the aesthetic and vision of the piece. Students used virtual and digital platforms to communicate with ROHB and Tegan in order to facilitate the safe pre-production and production processes in response to COVID-19. They developed the brief along with their technical knowledge throughout the process, and started filming in September and into October of 2020. Taking on crew roles, students shot on location in St. Albans and Borehamwood over a period of 3 days. The final edit was developed over a period of months, with students receiving feedback and making a few revisions through the January lockdown in 2021.
This project allowed students to develop their skills in filming and editing, and also in leadership and communication. We are proud of the final product and we feel it has given a voice to young people who have a lived experience that is extraordinary and important to capture. Thanks to Royal Opera House Bridge for this opportunity.
For more information about Elstree Screen Arts Academy please visit our website - https://esaacademy.org/
With special thanks to Tegan Adams from Bear in Mind - https://bearinmind.uk/