Inspired in self-isolation (7)

Inspired in self-isolation: Andres Sarv

Andres is head of lighting at Vanemuine Theatre in Estonia – the oldest theatre in Estonia, founded in Tartu in 1870 it is the only three-genre theatre in the region, staging music theatre (operas, operettas and musicals), dance theatre (classical ballet and modern dance) and drama. The theatre has three buildings and employs close to 400 people. Andres also works as a lighting designer for rental company E&T Light – designing for concerts, exhibitions, and installations.

Robe: Where are you right now?

Andres: Right now, I am in my country home in Tartumaa, Estonia.

Robe: How are you spending time whilst isolating / on lockdown?

Andres: Doing work in the garden and repairing my house! Barbecuing and going to the sauna on the weekends with my family.

Robe: What is the most creative thing you’re able to do whilst in isolation?

Andres: Working on my wife`s studio lighting!

Also, I have been trying to learn new lighting desks online and discovering new fixtures and their abilities from Robe.

Robe: Are you looking after anyone else during the Covid-19 crisis? Like neighbours or others in the family?

Andres:  I am part of a 5-person family, and we are checking on other relatives as well.

Robe: Has anyone particularly inspired you since this crisis started?

Andres:  My wife and kids.

Robe: What has been your favourite book / movie / Netflix or TV series / viral video

Games / music?

Andres: I have stuck with my usual “Midsomer Murders” (popular detective drama set in modern-day England) and watching its new season. I have also enjoyed the various livestreams from Estonian musicians and artists.

Robe: What is the first thing you’d like to do when we are through this crisis?

Andres: I´m excited to do the lighting for Tõnis Mägi`s (Estonian singer, guitarist, composer, actor and one of the most influential names in Estonian rock music of the past 40 years) new concerts, visit a pub and a restaurant and start up my weekly basketball training with friends again.

Robe: Own question / answer / message of solidarity or something you would like to say?

Andres: I hope we will come out of this smarter and stronger!

Inspired in self-isolation: Hannah Talbot

Hannah is a lighting technician working on rock and pop shows … which she’s been doing since finishing her apprenticeship at London’s prestigious Royal Albert Hall venue, which is where she first heard about the NRG – Next Robe Generation – programme.

Robe: Where are you right now?

Hannah: I am currently spending isolation in my flat in Wimbledon, South-West London.

Robe: What are you doing to fill the time whilst isolating / on lockdown? 

Hannah: I am studying Open University courses in environmental science and issues surrounding global warming and setting up an online business. But if I’m honest … I'm also binge-watching Only Fools and Horses!! (The popular UK sitcom set in Peckham, south-east London, was originally broadcast on BBC One between 1981 and 1991).

Robe: What’s the most creative thing you’re able to do in isolation?

Hannah: I have been painting and catching up on my tailoring skills, it's been years since I sewed anything properly.

Robe: Are you looking after anyone else during the Covid-19 crisis?

Hannah: I'm not looking after anyone else, but I AM looking after myself as I’m in a ‘high risk’ category.

Robe: Has anyone inspired you since this started?

Hannah: I like to watch some European shows and films and I have recently been watching some Russian shows… so, I’ve now been inspired to begin learning Russian!

Robe: Favourite book / movie / Netflix series / viral video

Hannah: I'm loving Killing Eve right now (British black comedy spy drama / thriller TV series, produced in the United Kingdom for BBC America) and I can't wait for series 3 to come out.

Robe: What’s the first thing you’d like to do when we are through it?

Hannah: Well firstly I can't wait to leave the house as I have been isolating longer than most people as I’m high risk, but mainly I just want to get back to work as I can't stand sitting still for too long!

Robe: Own question / answer / message of solidarity or something you’d like to say?

Hannah: I think it's important to remember each other currently because most of us are aware of the mental health issues a lot of the people in the industry face. I think if we can do anything at this time, then it should be to just check on someone who may need a friend right now. Let's all go back into the industry together.

Inspired in self-isolation: Yevgeniy Ganzburg

Russian LD Yevgeniy believes that he is very lucky! He works with many completely different and interesting directors, set designers and actors in a variety of theaters in different cities lighting dramas, operas, and even puppet shows. He thinks that now when we see how fragile the world actually is, it is very clear what is and was important.

Robe: Where are you right now?

Yevgeniy: I am in Pushkin, near St. Petersburg. I can see an old stone wall and a park from my window. I always wanted to spend more time with my son and now it has happened.

Robe: What are you doing to fill the time whilst isolating / on lockdown?

Yevgeniy: I try to work. Without quarantine, it would be better! I am trying to advise theater designers and students and soon I will be starting online masterclasses.

I am also looking at different aspects and fixing holes in my own education – there are always some to be found, and I am getting ready to work after quarantine.

Robe: What’s the most creative thing you’re able to do in isolation?

Yevgeniy: Paint a picture, write a play or come up with a director's plan (ha ha) … Actually …  I’m not doing any of this!

Most work has a little bit of creativity.

Robe: Are you looking after anyone else during the Covid-19 crisis?

Yevgeniy: My family. My son must keep on learning. My employees have to be paid. I have to care for them all more than ever!

Robe: Has anyone inspired you since this started?

Yevgeniy: Life! It’s beautiful anyway.

Robe: Favourite book / movie / Netflix series / viral video?

Yevgeniy: There is an opportunity to watch movies and now I do that – I like the mastery of Hitchcock and (Swedish film director) Roy Andersson. I like to watch works from the Cohens Collection (rare movie classics) and by Ingmar Bergman, Alejandro Inarritu (Mexico), Wes Andersen (USA) and also enjoy watching “Pinocchio” by Garrone with my son, plus the best performances and operas.

Robe: What’s the first thing you’d like to do when we are through it?

Yevgeniy: There are many important things to do. To visit a hairdresser, to see friends, to travel.

Robe: Own question / answer / message of solidarity or something you’d like to say?

Yevgeniy: Do not give up. There are still many good things.

Inspired in self-isolation: Daan Oomen

Daan Oomen is the creative director and co-founder of Live Legends and CEO of Live Legends Asia, operating in 26 countries worldwide. Live Legends creates amazing live experiences, bringing inspiring content and cutting edge technology together: from tailor-made show creation, set, stage, and lighting design, video content, experience architecture and more – for concerts, theatre, television, high-end clubs, festivals, eSports, conferences and corporate live events.

Robe: Where are you right now?

Daan: At my home studio in Utrecht, and sometimes at our new office in Abcoude. (Netherlands)

Robe: How are you spending time whilst isolating / on lockdown?

Daan: Working on new designs and concepts, spending time with my family.

I have never been home for such a long time.

With over 100 flights a year, you can imagine I rarely have quality time with my family.

In the ten years I’ve been in a relationship with my wife, we have never spent more time than 4 weeks together, so this is definitely a test for our relationship. And it turns out, that we really like each other (I guess she will be reading this article too hahahaha lol).

Besides that, my cooking skills are improving. I always loved to cook, but now I have time, I am getting better at it.

Robe: What’s the most creative thing you can do whilst in isolation?

Daan: Besides designing, we – Live Legends – have developed a new online event concept: LIVE@HOME, a corona-proof solution to create legendary live experiences in a hybrid virtual setting.

Robe: Are you looking after anyone else during the Covid-19 crisis? Like neighbours or others in the family?

Daan: My family.

Robe: Has anyone particularly inspired you since this crisis started?

Daan: It is inspiring to see how everyone is trying to create solutions in the time of COVID-19 … and how rapidly technical innovation is growing to make sure we can still meet each other in a virtual world

Robe: What has been your favourite book / movie / Netflix or TV series / viral video / Games / music?

Daan: I finished watching the last seasons of Ozark and Westworld.

My favourite book is “The Subtle Art of Not Giving A Fuck!” (by Mark Manson – A Counterintuitive Approach to Living), I was always bad at prioritizing, and this book made me realize what needs priority and what does not.

Robe: What is the first thing you’d like to do when we are through this crisis?

Daan: I can’t wait to get back out there, and do what we love best, telling stories on an actual stage, capturing live emotions. After the event, we would go celebrate with drinks, dancing on the tables, holding hands!

Robe: Own question / answer / message of solidarity or something you would like to say?

Daan: I see creativity as an important pillar in the fight against fear and isolation.

Creativity and inspiration give us hope and take us further as a society. Just as scientists are inventive in creating a new vaccine. We as artists can contribute to creating beautiful events and settings to counteract fear and medicine for inspiration.

Like isolated Italian residents who sang and created songs to stay connected and energized.

Creating breeds hope, it brings us together in this struggle. We will stand strong and get through this!

Inspired in self-isolation: Sergio Serrano

Vibrant Mexico City is production manager and rental company owner Sergio’s hometown and his company LED Project is one of the biggest lighting and video companies in Mexico. Sergio has been part of the entertainment industry for over 30 years and has toured in more than 40 countries. This year – January to March – he worked at the Electronic Daisy Carnival, Vive Latino, the Spotify Awards, the Hell and Heaven Festival and on some tours with high profile artists including J Balvin and Maroon 5.

Robe: Where are you right now?

Sergio: Mexico City.

Robe: How are you spending time whilst isolating / on lockdown?

Sergio: My son was born last month (in the middle of this pandemic) so I’m currently changing diapers and taking care of him! I’m also taking courses, watching some movies and series I haven’t had the time to see before, and most importantly I’ve been talking to many of my colleagues whom I admire and respect to exchange and engage in business ideas for future projects.

Robe: What’s the most creative thing you’re able to do whilst in isolation?

Sergio: I currently also work as an advisor at a show agency and right now we are proposing new digital campaigns to substitute for the live concerts. We are selling music streaming to different brands; we’re implementing new dynamics ways in which to participate and we are even bringing romantic dinners with virtual concerts to peoples’ homes!

Robe: Are you looking after anyone else during the Covid-19 crisis? Like neighbours or others in the family?

Sergio: I am mostly taking care of my new-born, my older son and my wife.

Robe: Has anyone particularly inspired you since this crisis started?

Sergio: Yes. I feel very inspired when I talk to my fellow lighting designers, sound engineers, stage, production and artist managers from all over the world about the process of reinventing ourselves for when the pandemic ends.

Robe: What has been your favourite book / movie / Netflix or TV series / viral video

Games / music?

Sergio: I’ve spent several hours watching the amazing Circe du Soleil shows such as “O” and “Ka” with my family.

The movie that I have liked the most is definitely Jojo Rabbit (2019 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Taika Waititi) and the huge Netflix phenomena Money Heist (“La casa de Papel”).

I’ve also watched some concerts, my favourite being “One World: Together at Home”.

Robe: What’s the first thing you’d like to do when we are through this crisis?

Sergio: I look forward to going to a park where people meet up on the weekends to play music and just sit on the grass, eat some ice-cream and interact with other people! I would also love to go to the theatre and see a play.

Robe: Own question / answer / message of solidarity or something you’d like to say?

Sergio: What is this crisis teaching us? That being united with family, friends and co-workers make us better people, better professionals and above all: better human beings.