Inspired in self-isolation (9)
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Inspired in self-isolation: Adam Davies
Adam was an avid NRG (Next Robe Generation) crew member and graduated from the Universityof South Wales in Summer 2018 with a BSc (Hons) degree in Lighting Design & Technology. Henow works full-time at TSL Lighting based near Gatwick, West Sussex, UK, as a Control & DataSystems Technician.Robe: Where are you right now?Adam: I have currently moved back to my Mum and Dad’s in Shrewsbury, Shropshire.Robe: What are you doing to fill the time whilst isolating / on lockdown? Adam: I am finally exploring grandMA3 and Depence2 (a new buzz-name in the world ofvisualisation software) ... AND ... doing all those jobs I’ve never got around to doing, my deskand car have never been so tidy! I’m also enjoying the surrounding Shropshire countryside. Asone of the largest, and most sparsely populated counties in the UK, you can walk for an entireday in this sunshine and not see anyone else at all!
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Robe: What’s the most creative thing you’re able to do in isolation?
Adam: When I was at school, I used to be obsessed with model railways so I’m re-visiting this to pass the time. It’s very therapeutic, quite rewarding and doesn’t involve staring at a screen!
Robe: Are you looking after anyone else during the Covid-19 crisis?
Adam: Not directly. My Dad works for the NHS as a paramedic (one of the frontline heroes) so we’re taking extra precautions and keeping in contact with family via FaceTime.
Robe: Has anyone inspired you since this started?
Adam: A group on Facebook called #ProductionSkillShare where freelancers are doing daily webinars on a diversity of skills that they have to share – from accounting to Vectorworks.
Robe: Favourite book / movie / Netflix series / viral video
Adam: TV Series - Silicon Valley (American comedy series created by Mike Judge, John Altschuler and Dave Krinsky) If you love The Big Bang Theory, you’ll love this!
Video – Sports commentators taking to everyday life so https://www.thepoke.co.uk/2020/03/20/this-commentators-got-no-live-sport-left-so-hes-commentating-on-everyday-life-and-its-brilliant/ (some featured clips are before social distancing was introduced)
OR
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khQYWHVg9yU (Kitchen Commentary by Clive Tyldesley)
Robe: What’s the first thing you’d like to do when we are through it?
Adam: Go to Starbucks, on the way to the pub! Unashamedly I usually buy a coffee every day, this is going to be a long 3 weeks of lockdown here in the UK… (the UK’s lockdown was initially introduced on 23rd March)
Robe: Own question / answer / message of solidarity or something you’d like to say?
Adam: We are inherently an industry of people who love being busy and love socialising, which we obviously can no longer do! Take the time to relax, learn new skills and be sure to stay at home! Everyone is bored, so why not FaceTime? To quote Greg James, “isolation does not mean loneliness”!
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Inspired in self-isolation: David Kachlíř
David is the lighting designer and operator at Městské Divadlo (City Theatre) in Brno, Czech Republic, a venue he describes as “the best theatre in the world”, which normally has a vibrant and varied performance programme. David creates lighting for both musical shows and drama pieces and is very patriotic about his country.
Robe: Where are you right now?
David: Brno, CZ - my Home.
Robe: How are you spending time whilst isolating / on lockdown?
David: I am with my family most of the time – working on building spiritual values compared to the material ones.
Robe: What’s the most creative thing you’re able to do whilst in isolation?
David: Building faith.
Robe: Are you looking after anyone else during the Covid-19 crisis? Like neighbours or others in the family?
David: I visit my parents often weekly.
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Robe: Has anyone particularly inspired you since this crisis started?
David: Yes – my children – they surprise me every day with their purity!
Robe: What has been your favourite book / movie / Netflix or TV series / viral video / Games / music?
David: The Holy Bible.
Robe: What’s the first thing you’d like to do when we are through this crisis?
David: Continue with building spiritual values...
Robe: Own question / answer / message of solidarity or something you’d like to say?
David: Let’s open our eyes and focus on the real values.
A Heads Up with Eugene Kostyra
We zoom to Ukraine to meet rising star young lighting designer Eugen Kostyra from Alight – the largest lighting rental and production company in the country – who is usually busy working on music festivals, concerts, tours, music awards and other TV shows. Recent work includes The Voice and Dancing with the Stars.
Robe: Where are you right now?
Eugene: I live in Kyiv, Ukraine.
Robe: What are you doing to fill the time whilst isolating / on lockdown?
Eugene: I am the happy father of a little girl and spend almost all my free time with my daughter and my family. We often go for walks to the forest or around the river.
I am also trying to learn new software and follow all the current trends on the profession development horizon.
I really like to play the guitar, and music has always been my passion, but because of the (usual) lack of time, I have not practised for a while! However, self-isolation made this possible!
Robe: What’s the most creative thing you’re able to do in isolation?
Eugene: We managed to still stage the final of the television project “Voice of the Country” (The Voice Ukraine), following all quarantine restrictions.
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It turned out to be a “new normal” show that changed the history of television projects in Ukraine.
Our project team created a unique studio design that was different from the standard one.
Lighting became the basis of the show direction and helped to achieve an atmosphere of self-isolation on the stage at the same time creating a beautiful picture for viewers. For me, it was a great inspiration.
As a lighting designer, I tried to create the most diverse performances for the different participants in terms of emotions and lighting design.
Robe: Are you looking after anyone else during the Covid-19 crisis?
Eugene: I take care of my family and relatives who are living close by.
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Robe: Has anyone inspired you since this started?
Eugene: I am always inspired by my colleagues and their massive projects all over the world. Looking at their work gives me the desire to create something new and impressive.
Currently, my main inspirations are my family and my creative team at Alight - even during this quarantine time we are keeping in touch and working on new ideas.
Robe: Favourite book / movie / Netflix series / viral video
Eugene: I really like Jonathan Safran Foer`s “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close” (first published in 2005, the book's narrator is Oskar Schell a nine-year-old boy who discovers a key in a vase that belonged to his father, a year after he was killed in the September 11 attacks in New York) which I am reading right now.
I listen to music - and cannot imagine my life without it. During last month, I am into (Icelandic multi-instrumentalist and producer) Olafur Arnalds, Audioslave and The Weeknd.
Robe: What’s the first thing you’d like to do when we are through this?
Eugene: Get back to work as soon as possible, preferably go to a music festival at the seaside.
Robe: Own question / answer / message of solidarity or something you’d like to say?
Eugene: Love the music and try to imagine it with light.