Inspired in self-isolation (8)

Inspired in self-isolation: Frédéric “Aldo” Fayard

Robe: Where are you right now?

Aldo: I am at home with my family. To be honest, it is like a holiday for me. I’m living in France, 100 kilometres to the south of Lyon in the country, and we live in a quiet house with a garden. I’m very lucky because it is such a peaceful place!

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

Aldo: Professionally, there have been many steps.

Firstly, catching up on several current projects, and then secondly, deep-diving into some of my old folders to share my memories and moments on the socials networks!

Thirdly … I am thinking of the future and trying to anticipate how myself and those around me can live better and more responsibility in the future.

Fourth I am work from home on some future projects, because some clients are brave and are planning on this future work.

Personally, I have been enjoying this time with my family. It is so rare for me!

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

Aldo: Depending on everyone, of course. For me, it’s a mix between drawing up ideas, following some new technologies, exchanging information and thoughts with my colleagues, and trying to imagine better ways to do my job after all of that!

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

Aldo: I’m taking care of my family. The close one and the extended one.

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

Aldo: Some public people like a speech by fashion designer Giorgio Armani or those who are being realistic about ecology like the brilliant French scientist Aurelien Barreau (French physicist and philosopher, specialized in astroparticle physics, black holes, and cosmology).

Regarding Mr Armani, the question is knowing if these speeches are just effective communications or real thoughts. We must think of the planet, and live better.

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

Aldo: “Demain”, a 2015 French documentary by director Cyril Dion and “Home" by Al Gore. Both are right in their predictions and they are not alone. We miss these sorts of people and influencers when critical decisions are made … and we all need to be able to go further, better and be cleverer.

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

Aldo: As I told … I am very lucky because I’m not really in lockdown. I can run out of my home, I can enjoy my garden, I live with my family, so… Maybe, I will just try to go to re-open my Parisian design studio with my wonderful team and give them the opportunity to do what they are passionate about!

Our job is to create, imagine, invent, programme and be able to participate to the renewal of live entertainment.

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

Aldo: For the moment and the next weeks everyone should stay home as much as possible to protect themselves and their families and be humble in the face of this pandemic.

Nothing is over yet!

We are paying the price for following the wrong path! We are living in a world where money is driving our lives, not health!

We are being encouraged to stop the lockdown because of money, not because of health. I do not know what the future will be in the next weeks, months and years, but I am sure we will all make global mistakes!

We must hope it was just the planet’s signal to all governments, industrialists and commercial enterprises, influential public figures, and that they will hear it like this … even though I doubt they will!

Hoping it was not a beginning of something worse, so take care of yourselves and everyone else!

Inspired in self-isolation: Josef (Pepa) Zenisek

Pepa heads up his Prague, Czech Republic-based live event Production Company SMART Production which specialises in a full range of events, from small corporates to international tours and large festivals like Colours of Ostrava – the largest in the Czech Republic. This spring and summer looked like they would be one of their busiest, with one large European tour, a brand new project with the Cirk La Putyka company and multiple other projects, including the Summer Olympic Festival park in Ostrava just a week after the Colours of Ostrava festival.

Robe: Where are you right now?

Pepa: Today is the first regular day back in our office in the centre of Prague after over a month and half long isolation. We are slowly returning back from home-offices as things in the Czech Republic are quickly changing to better times! Hope that it will stay this way!

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

Pepa: I found it actually very inspiring and enriching in both ways – personal and professional. From a personal point of view, I spent more time with my family, taking care of them and seeing much more of them – which is often very rare in our profession! And I also very much enjoyed the free time!

From the professional point of view – the whole company has been working on basic structural and operational improvements which would have otherwise been impossible at this time of the year.

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

Pepa: Since we – the team at SMART – have been currently working on improvements – like learning new software – for our event design studio to present visuals and ideas to clients, we have implemented new ideas to some of the existing but postponed projects. We are very excited about the results which should come up in the following months.

I am personally impressed by the number of other new activities which have come up during our online brainstorming meeting sessions!

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

Pepa: The family, and I also signed up as a volunteer to Prague Red Cross organization to help distribute medical supplies and to help neighbours from the high-risk groups.

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

Pepa: Most inspiring for me is that the whole nation can stand together and fight for one thing. Also that people suddenly help each other and also are able to reconsider their own needs, which includes compliance with the restrictions.

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

Games / music?

Pepa: From the isolation period, it is mainly documentaries on BBC Earth and I watched the 3rd series of Fauda.

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

Pepa: Have a nice meet-up with all my friends, go out, have a drink. And experience any type of culture event as soon as possible. (This might be sooner rather than later as small outdoor events are already being planned as CZ moves out of lockdown … and Pepa has some plans for the next month!)

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

Pepa: I hope that this whole situation will have an impact on people’s behaviour in a good way. That they will take care more about the most valuable priorities such as family, relationships, nature. We need to take care of our surroundings and environment as well as each other.

Inspired in self-isolation: Roni Huber

Roni Huber is responsible for developing technical concepts at event management company Winkler Livecom in Switzerland, which includes creating and implementing lighting designs. Additionally, as an independent LD, he designs and operates lighting for a range of exciting projects.

Robe: Where are you right now?

Roni: Mostly I am at home, near Zurich, Switzerland, and every now and then in the office, which is nearby.

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

Roni: I made up my mind to do everything I could that falls by the wayside, but I haven't done that much yet! I spend a lot of time online, researching on topics that interest me. A little self-study of equipment and software, just to be calm and slow down.

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

Roni: Create designs for upcoming projects and maybe visualize them in a little more detailed than usual.

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

Roni: Not in my narrow environment. My mother lives in Austria, my brother in Zurich. But I am in intensive exchange – unfortunately only over the telephone – with a group of colleagues / friends, keeping each other entertained. :)

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

Roni: Hmmm, I believe there are a lot of people who deserve respect for their actions or words. The small, fine things touch me more. For example, a mother of a good friend posts a picture she painted herself on her FB account every day. Or I know people who have organized themselves immediately and quickly to look for and find alternative employment. To me, especially these silent stories are inspiring right now.

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

Roni: Netflix and I are the best buddies because I am also a serial junkie.

This ranges from "Casa de Papel" (AKA the amazing and ever-popular “Money Heist”) to "Picard" (a fictional Star Trek franchise character, most often seen as the captain of the starship USS Enterprise) and from various Marvel stories to the "Star Trek Universe".

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

Roni: Hug good friends, just going back to a restaurant, actually doing all the things again that haven’t been able during the lockdown – only now when you don’t have these … Do you realize how much you miss them!

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

Roni: I think a lot has happened during this time because the quality of communication has improved. In the past, the simple question "How are you doing" was answered succinctly – and actually one even didn't want to hear more.

Today the answers are often more personal, and the exchange is more intensive. I like that. We also notice that there are more important things than just those we thought were important. I hope we’ll take this experience with us into the future, think about who and what we actually are and just learn to say thank you again!

Inspired in self-isolation: Jakob Larsson

Jakob is based in Karlstad, Sweden and works as a lighting designer mostly touring with Swedish artists and on an eclectic range of theatre, musical and opera productions as well as some sporting events.

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

Jakob: Fortunately, I have the opportunity to sit down and prepare some productions that are scheduled for 2021! And even though I am not getting paid directly for all the work that I am doing now, I can at least go to the office and avoid climbing the walls at home!

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

Jakob: Drawing drawings and more drawings, having digital meetings and listening to music on which I will work with later on. Also, I am planning to learn more about the grandMA3.

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

Jakob: No, all my family are safe so far.

Robe: Has anyone inspired you since this started?

Jakob: Yes – all the people who do everything they can to survive – instead of sitting at home crying, they try to find new ways to offer their services and products even though they may feel they are not getting the help they need and deserve. It´s truly honourable!

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

Jakob: The fourth season of La Casa de Papel (AKA Money Heist) was the best so far! (and yes, we’d agree with that!)

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

Jakob: Ha-ha! Work work work work!! And travel.

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

Jakob: No more than that I hope we all get stronger from this crisis and are more prepared the next time it happens!

Inspired in self-isolation: Chloe Boucher

Chloe is a busy production electrician or an LX2 for musical tours. The UK / Irish tour of BKL Productions’ The Sound of Music was her latest venture, which was cut short because of the pandemic. Chloe is a keen member of NRG (Next Robe Generation) and attends the get-togethers and socials whenever possible – even sometimes when on tour …  and the NRG event is in the same city … like in Dublin at the beginning of the year.

Robe: Where are you right now?

Chloe: Currently I’m back home with my parents in South Hertfordshire, and giving myself a couple of weeks of forced downtime after a busy year.

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

Chloe: I’m practising my Avolites Ai skills with the time I’ve been given, focussing on the projection mapping aspects of it.

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

Chloe: Both my parents are classed as essential workers so I’m at home helping out around the house. I’ve also done a bit of baking to keep the spirits up!

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

Chloe: Yes, my step-mum works for the NHS and my Dad works for a plumbing company and so as I’m the only one without a job at the moment, I am keeping up morale at home by baking and cooking dinner for when they get back from exhausting days.

Robe: Has anyone inspired you since this started?

Chloe: Yes, since this all started my friends have been really inspirational, they’ve been getting jobs and keeping themselves healthy and most of all, occupied!

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

Chloe: My favourite book is The Shining (Stephen King's 1977 novel) it’s so much better than the film and way scarier!

My favourite film is What We Do In The Shadows (2014 New Zealand mockumentary horror comedy written and directed by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi) … it always makes me laugh.

The Crown (historical drama web & TV series about the reign of Queen Elizabeth II)  on Netflix is brilliant, and I think my favourite viral video is this youtu.be/dQw4w9WgXcQ (the very best of pop, so uplifting you’ll be bouncing round the house trying the tumbles!!)

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

Chloe: Once this is all over, I can’t wait to get back into a theatre, see all my mates and have a proper catch-up!

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

Chloe: I just want to say that I know this seems like forever, but it will pass eventually, and I’m sure our industry is going to spring back as soon as it can!