lockdown

Jan

2021

Life in Lockdown 3.0 | VFX Chair | Lou Hussey

Life in Lockdown 3.0

As I write this, it is the 2^nd weekend of 2021, and we are Lockdown again. The news is unremittingly tough in terms of the impact that the pandemic is having on all of our lives and whether it is our families, our health or our jobs, everyone of us is now touched by the virus in some way. It is certainly going to be a while before we are back in anything like ‘normal times’.

I have been working at home since last March and it does seem inconceivable that it will likely be some weeks, if not months before we are able to back together in person. As someone that naturally loves being with other people, feeling part of a team and enjoys the buzz and chaos of office life, I have found the move to WFH really very tough at times. Sitting in a room on my own, talking to colleagues, friends and family over video calls is not my preferred way of being, but we have all had to adjust.

One of my major concerns over the last few months is how to best support our more junior staff who may be living and working in small flats, possibly spending many hours a day in the same room that they also sleep in. The discipline to separate work and life can be much more difficult if you don’t have room to shut the work away.

Much of the learning that we all do, is actually very informal and comes from hearing people talking around us and being able to nudge the person on the next desk to ask how to do something. On top of that, some of the best ideas can come about from simply bumping into someone in the corridor or the kitchen while making that morning coffee.

In addition, there are the challenges for parents with children that need home-schooling, or whose usual support networks and childcare facilities may be unavailable. For those families, the difficulties of working from home while ensuring their children are educated and entertained is incredibly tough.

As companies, we all need to be working very much harder to make sure that all of our teams feel included, that they feel engaged and that they feel connected (not just technically!). There are no easy answers but as long as we are all working together to find some solutions to enable this strange time to be manageable, that is the best we can do.

I have been lucky enough to be able to continue with my hobbies for the most part. In 2018, I had my first swim in my local Lido as a bit of a New Year’s bet with myself. Having enjoyed it, I ended up continuing to swim most weeks over 2018 & 2019, and in January 2020, I decided to set myself the challenge of completing 50K in the pool over the course of the year – and then Covid…..! The pool was open on & off, following government guidelines, and at times I gave up on the plan. In early December, the pool was open again, and I still had around 15k to do, and I pushed myself and on 23^rd December, I was thrilled (and knackered) but had done my 50K, and raised around £700 for my local food bank, so the effort felt very worthwhile.

Early morning at the Lido

In addition, I have been doing Pilates classes online with my local Pilates Studio, and I have clarinet lessons, also online. So my weeks are fairly structured outside of work, which I have found really helpful in preventing me from just sinking into endless Netflix shows – not that I don’t also do that from time to time!

Animated Women has been busier than ever, and I really treasure the friends I have made through it, as well as being incredibly proud of the events and activities that we managed to put on over 2020, thanks to the hard work of the Board, our Advisors, and our Volunteers. Our newsletter still comes out regularly, Networking events moved to Zoom, which has worked better than we could have imagined, our Achieve programme and workshops have been full and have been really appreciated by the participants and we have now launched our Mentoring Scheme which is so exciting.

I think what AWUK has shown me in the last year, is that having a support network, people you can have a chat to and a cry, moan or laugh with, and a common aim that we are working to together has been the best of fun, and the best of distractions in what was a very tough year.

So my advice is, if you are struggling, and we all have times when we will, then ask for help – whether that is from old friends or new, you will find a welcoming ear, or comforting shoulder, as we are all going through the same thing in an extraordinary period. We don’t all need to come out the other side knowing how to bake Sourdough Bread, having learnt another language or being able to do a Yoga headstand but we do need to make sure we are looking after ourselves and staying in touch with our friends, in whatever way works for us.

So stay safe, take care and keep in touch!

Louise Hussey is our VFX Chair

Aug

2020

Isolation Animation Nominated at Indie Short Fest

In our May Newsletter we put out a call for animators to ‘Beat the Isolation Blues’ by producing up to 60 secs of animation as part of a collaborative initiative by Roobot Productions. The resulting short film Isolation Animation has since been selected for the Los Angeles Indie Short Fest where it is nominated for ‘Best Experimental Short’.

Bringing together the work of 31 animators, including AWUK member Christine MacKay, the film is an expression of the artists’ experiences of the Covid-19 lockdown. Director Ruth Ducker says it was great to see each artist express their experience of the lockdown in such different ways. There was only one rule for the artists to follow: each animator had to start their animation from the final frame of the previous animator. Otherwise, they were free to express themselves however they wanted which many found to be both exciting and scary.

Being a firm believer in looking after your mental health, Christine described the project as a ‘welcome and fun challenge that gave us free creative reign and refreshed our burning passion for all things animated.”

Not being able to see what others were working on aside from a single frame undoubtedly increased the diversity of the work and Ruth encouraged the artists to express themselves without creative interference.

Christine’s team upped the ante even more by having 5 animators work on 1 collaborative piece and splitting the 15 seconds between creatives, leaving only 3 seconds each to animate. This challenged the creatives to create effective transitions in a visually delightful way and the resulting section showcases everyone’s different personalities and styles through extremely different but equally gorgeous approaches to the animation.

Working on a voluntary project throughout the lockdown proved challenging at times as everyone was dealing with their own personal lockdown circumstances. Some artists had to juggle the project alongside their work, others had children or caretaking responsibilities for other family members. To breach the divide and combat the isolation felt by many, Ruth would send regular updates to the whole group so that each individual, though working alone, still felt part of a team of people who were collaborating. This also helped achieve a collective responsibility to one another to deliver.

For Christine’s team, the transition to working from home went extremely smoothly so working collaboratively and remotely on a project like Isolation Animation was one of their strong points. They loved the idea of creating something with other studios and the mystery of the outcome was tantalising but encouraged them to churn out work whilst keeping to a high standard.

For more information about how ‘Isolation Animation’ came to be, check out the ‘Making Of’ video below:

Aug

2020

The AWUK Board in Lockdown

We recently reached out to some of our Board members to see how they were coping since lockdown began in March. How has COVID affected them specifically? How did they manage to find a balance between work and family life when they were both almost inseparable? How has working remotely affected their current positions? And what are their thoughts on the future of the animation and VFX industries?

This month we will be featuring the stories of Anna Gregory, Val Cazalat and Georgina Hurcombe. They each share their own struggles with lockdown from a dear parent’s death to managing work-life and parenting; we hope you can relate to their stories and find comfort in the time of COVID.

Coachella Anna Gregory

In the Time of COVID – The Lockdown Days

At the start of lockdown, I realised this was going to be a real challenge for me, as well as for so many others. Not because I would have to work remotely, which I love, but because I was obligated by law to stay at my home until further notice. Why was that so unusual? Well, for me it was because for many years I had lived in three locations every week. I would spend a couple of those nights with my partner and for the rest of the week, I would be at my ageing parent’s home, helping care for them.

I couldn’t help but keep asking myself, how would I feel about spending all my time at my own house for a change? What am I going to do? It did not take me long to sort out my first month, including enrolling in online courses, cleaning and clearing the house, and having the luxury of learning all that software I never had time to play with before. It all sounded good to me.

Then I thought about my lovely Mum’s 95th birthday at the beginning of April and how we wouldn’t be able to spend the day with her. That was a blow. So, I decided to set up a Zoom birthday meeting.

I must admit that a break from all that personal care was a real relief, but it did not take long for me to find I missed caring for my parents even though it could sometimes be a challenge. We were all being exceptionally good obeying the lockdown rules: Shuya Stay home, Protect the NHS, Save lives. No travelling unless necessary.

The birthday Zoom meeting turned out to be a great success! My parents really got behind it. My Dad was constantly fascinated by technology and always an early accepter of it. We even set up indispensable weekly Zoom meetings. It was a little compensation for the lack of physical contact with my family.

And I was getting on well with all my plans. I relished the weekly Zoom meeting together with regular phone calls. And on one particular call with my Dad, it was heartening to hear him chatty and sounding happy. I thought he would be missing us more. You can imagine how I felt when my brother called me the next day with the news that my Dad unexpectedly died that night. I was in complete shock.

As a family, we worked tirelessly to keep my parents away from care homes and oh my goodness, did that pay off! When the paramedics came to check my Dad, they told my brother there was no COVID involved and the family could come to the house. We did almost immediately, as Mum really needed our support.

And with that, it did not take long for my routine to get back to normal. I discovered I was classed as a key worker since I am registered with the local council as a carer. Which meant I could now spend all the time I wanted to with my Mum without breaking lockdown rules. The biggest issue for me after finding that out was I could’ve been there for my parents the whole time; I could’ve been there for my Mum when she needed me most and I could’ve said goodbye to my Dad. Instead of getting upset, I spared a thought for all those grieving families who couldn’t even see their loved ones in hospitals or care homes.

This sad and tragic episode is bearable because my lovely Dad died peacefully in his bed next to my Mum, the love of his life for 67 beautiful years. This fact alone gives me great comfort in the time of COVID.

Val Cazalat

Life in Lockdown — The Accountants Perspective

On the 16th of March we were all asked to work from home until advised otherwise. The move was surprisingly easy; we already had IT systems in place enabling remote working and had carried out a test the week before to see if the system could take all 600 of us working from home at the same time. We left that evening fully expecting to be back in in a month or so. Five months on and it is we’re only just planning a return to the office.

The first month was frantically busy; long hours with phone calls as clients both in the UK and overseas wanted help with cashflow projections, loan applications, help with understanding how the furlough process worked, and access to the various government assistance programs. I was never one for video calls before lockdown, but they are now an everyday part of my life. So much so that a normal phone call is a rarity! We have settled down into our new way of working and are making sure we keep in daily contact with all staff (especially with the trainees). Generally, everything works well but my stress levels seem to be inversely proportional to the strength of my broadband. It was at an all-time high when Virgin Media went down for 6-hours just as I was about to host a client webinar. My stress levels returned to normal only after the aid of a large gin and tonic that evening.

A well-deserved gin and tonic

We have even managed to host lots of team socials for the office: quizzes, drinks (BYO obviously), bingo, yoga (thank heavens I didn’t put my camera on!) and online poker (surprisingly loads of fun). I still miss the buzz of being in the office and am looking forward to going back in for at least some of the time when we can.

Georgina Hurcombe

Reflecting on Lockdown

Many of us never saw this pandemic coming. If you had told me a year ago that a phrase I would use almost daily would be “turn your microphone on I can’t hear you”, or that I wouldn’t see some of my team members for months, and some of my proudest moments would be baking bread; I would have laughed!

In February, I travelled to Miami for Kidscreen. Having heard limited stories of the virus, I was the only person in the airport wearing a mask (looking quite strange, I imagine). Who would have thought that months later, this look would be an everyday staple?

I must say, I have been so touched to see how people have really come together and the efforts of frontline workers within our society. From the doctors and nurses of the NHS to the Amazon delivery workers, they have all been inspiring. It’s amazing how so many people have put their lives at risk to keep our society going.

Like many, I’ve gone through stages of fear, frustration and loneliness at not seeing friends and family members, but I’ve also grown and adapted in so many ways, as I’m sure we all have had to do.

Home schooling has been challenging, especially with a 6 and 9-year-old in my household. I’m lucky the children have been incredible and adapted to lockdown very well, but it’s certainly been tricky trying to carry on “normal” routines while juggling schoolwork. On one occasion, I had a very important Zoom conversation about a fund I wanted to apply for, and I had implicitly explained to the 6-year-old not to come in unless there was an emergency. Of course, he knocked on the door throughout the call, popped his head around the door and even danced on the spot until finally announcing his “big” emergency was that he didn’t know how to spell the word “boat!”

Sharing a workspace at home can be interesting…

It’s also great to hear so many positive stories about our industry, and how many studios have been able to adjust to working remotely in such an adaptive manner. I’m incredibly proud of my own team and how well they’ve adapted to the challenging situations COVID-19 has presented us with. I’ve got to know many people on a much deeper level with Zoom being such a normal part of life; I’ve met people’s family members, their children and their pets online! I’ve even pitched virtually at MIPTV kids series pitch.

Despite all the challenges, I do think the future is bright. We are hopefully going to be recruiting for Pop Paper City soon, hiring animators and production team members alike. I’m still nervous about what the future holds with the pandemic still ongoing and the potential of a second wave, but I’m also confident that our industry, country, and the world can rise to the challenges we face together.

Jun

2020

Producing Patience | Sarah Kileen

As we enter week 10 of the ‘new normal’ I decided to sit at my (eldest child’s Ikea) desk, knees brushing my chin, and write about my experience over the last few weeks. Home hot desking options that include the kitchen, the bedroom, and the back of the car, have certainly not been my most remarkable locations to work as a producer, but the challenges of working from home full time have been as significant as my new found love of gin at 5pm. That part is misleading, it’s not new.

I am Managing Director of Fred & Eric, an animation and design agency that I run with my partners Jamie and Maggie. We have a studio on Charlotte Street but are now scattered to East, West and South London. It was important to all of us that our agency could always operate remotely, so setting up a working from home environment was an easy transition. The challenges have come from two exceptionally difficult clients, aged 2 ½ and 6….

These clients are diva level demanding. They insist on regular catch-ups by holding onto my chin in a vice-like grip to make sure I understand their brief. They like full control over a project, and will communicate their feelings with ardent force if anything doesn’t ‘work’. Woe betide the times I attempt to distance (*hide) in another room; with senses more acute than Lassie they sniff me out. And I learnt early on, don’t EVER forget the biscuits to any meeting they’re attending.

The clients I live with also need regular exercise, despite getting my hands on one of the last trampolines available in lockdown, zipping them in and hoping for the best only buys me so much time. As a result, I have become adept at taking work calls whilst throwing a Frisbee, kicking a ball, and acting as a human vending machine for snacks. I mouth silent instructions and use hand signals to covey with an increasing amount of urgency that it would be preferable not to be used as a human climbing machine.

Most of our clients favour email correspondence, although ‘jumping on’ a recent zoom call with a prospective new client whilst wearing highly inappropriate 90s girl band bunches was not my finest hour. My business partners assured me I managed to keep an air of professionalism despite the unspoken Baby Spice homage (anything goes in in the Corona Call Era). And before you suggest there’s always time for a last-minute-pre-zoom-restyle, just accept that the eldest of my live-in clients turned personal stylist was vocally against modifications. And they say the client always knows best….

At times I’ve attempted to involve the ‘clients’ in creative decisions, sharing examples of illustrations and animations. But within moments, I was candidly told I should ‘get a cooler job’. ‘Like what?’ I foolishly asked, ‘errrrr Rocky, or……Sonic.’ So it seems that unless I become a boxing hero, or a hedgehog on steroids, I’m irrelevant. I may yet recruit the smaller one into new business however, as his propensity to grab my phone and start cold calling has resulted in numerous chats with strangers, and just a couple with the police…..

There is a palpable lack of office etiquette, working hours are irregular, dress codes flounced daily with a fluid relationship with the necessity of clothes, and no one has made me a cup of tea. The soundtrack to my working life consists of loud renditions of ‘Dance Monkey’, accompanied by ear-splitting instrumentals care of a plastic keyboard stuck on ‘party mode’. However we’re muddling through, and I’m proud we’ve created an agency that is thriving in these exceptional circumstances.

Sarah Kileen is a member of AWUK and Managing Director of Fred & Eric

lockdown

Life in Lockdown 3.0 | VFX Chair | Lou Hussey

Isolation Animation Nominated at Indie Short Fest

The AWUK Board in Lockdown

Producing Patience | Sarah Kileen

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