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Inspired while self-isolating (1)

Inspired while self-isolating

With Covid-19 lockdowns worldwide and health authorities urging people to self-isolate and practice social distancing on a massive scale as part of an enormous effort to #FlattenTheCurve of this global pandemic … we are reaching out to industry friends, colleagues, associates, partners, etc., and asking them to share their #StayHome and #QuarantineandChill activities with us during this extraordinary time.

Inspired while self-isolating: Roland Greil

Robe: What do you do normally?

Roland: I work as a lighting, production and video designer, as well as program and direct shows around the world. Together with collaborators and within WBD (Woodroffe Bassett Design), I have worked on a multitude of different shows and genres of performance - from the world of concert touring and working for artists like The Rolling Stones, Phil Collins, Adele, Rammstein and many others, to broadcast projects, theatre shows and special events.

Inspired while self-isolating: Roland Greil

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Robe: Where are you right now?

Roland: At home with my family in Munich, Germany.

Robe: What are you doing to fill the time while isolating?

Roland: Looking after the family, working on the house and pushing forward projects and ideas, which normally can’t fit into the full schedules of standard days!

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

Roland: I think the whole of life and world is full of creativity, so there are plenty of things. You just need to open your eyes, mind and soul.

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

Roland: My wife and daughter.

Robe: Has anyone inspired you since this started?

Roland: The whole of life is full of inspiration, if you’re open to it!

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

Roland: Listening to good music, reading books, as well as watching good movies always helps to keep you upbeat.

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

Roland: Meet my good friends face-to-face around the world again.

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

Roland: My biggest respect goes out to all the people working in medical jobs, running the grocery stores and keeping the world turning in these difficult times.

Stay strong, we will get through all this together…

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Inspired while self-isolating: Giovanni Pinna

Robe: What do you do normally?

Giovanni: I’m a lighting designer – working with live acts like Vasco Rossi and Tiziano Ferro, plus installations and other projects, and I enjoy life as much as possible!

Robe: Where are you right now?

Giovanni: Home, north of Rome, Italy … in the countryside

Inspired while self-isolating: Giovanni Pinna

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Robe: What are you doing to fill the time whilst self-isolating?

Giovanni: Sleeping, watching movies, reading, engaging in some open-air activity – inasmuch as we are allowed out – and that’s in the woods just behind my home! I am also regularly working out as well as cooking!

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

Giovanni: Playing my bass guitar and experimenting with new recipes!

Robe: Are you looking after anyone else?

Giovanni: Yes, my kids ... I’m keeping them active, healthy and eating well!

Robe: Has anyone in particular inspired you since this started?

Giovanni: Not so much one person or people. What’s inspired me and kept me motivated is the idea of not letting go! Something very deep inside that tells you to keep focused more than ever and think positive. Maybe that’s a basic survival instinct?

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

Giovanni: The book I’m reading right now is (Norwegian writer) Jo Nesbø’s Macbeth! The movies are draining my hard disk ???? I’m not a big ‘series’ fan and I’m trying to avoid all the WhatsApp and social junk that’s flying around as much as possible!

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(Robe: We were delighted that Giovanni did answer our initial WhatsApp contact!) ????

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

Giovanni: Run along the beach, go for a sail... and maybe also light a show!!!

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

Giovanni: Will we be better people when all this will end?

Probably not but maybe just a bit more aware of the importance of so many little things that we usually ignore and take for granted.

We are not actually doing much ... having been asked to help save the nation simply by laying down on the sofa and staying at home!

Those who are out there in the health service, working and struggling on the front line with the virus right there are the ones who deserve all our gratitude and respect. They are fighting a real and proper war for all of us!

Inspired while self-isolating: Sune Verdier

Robe: What do you do normally?

Sune: I work full time as project manager and production designer in a rental company, and freelance as a lighting designer for theatre shows and music artists.

Robe: Where are you right now?

Sune: I live and work in Copenhagen, Denmark.

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

Sune: In Denmark, we are still allowed to go to work (as long as social distancing is practised), so every morning I drive through an almost empty capital to go to work at the rental company.

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Inspired while self-isolating: Sune Verdier

We do what we can to keep the wheels turning, and luckily, we still have work to do! A large part of the company has started maintenance on all the kit that we have which there is much less time to do normally.

In April, I’m co-designing a theatre-concert and will be working towards the premiere. Hopefully, it will end up being staged – if not then – maybe later this year.

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

Sune: Hopefully I can soon start programming a tour for this upcoming summer ... if all the summer festivals are not also cancelled!

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If there’s time, I will look into some of the free online courses that are available and find inspiration in learning something new!

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

Sune: Yes, I do weekly shopping for my 96-year-old Grandma, so she can stay indoors as much as possible in these times ... even though she likes to take a run in the park as her exercise!

Robe: Has anyone inspired you since this started?

Sune: Yes, the Danish government … and what it has achieved to turn the curve of infection and prevent the complete chaos as we are seeing in other parts of the world! That’s inspiring to me right now!

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

Sune: The Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz (famous theatre in Berlin on the Kurfürstendamm boulevard) are showing nightly recordings of all the performances that they have staged since the beginning.

It’s all in German, but very beautiful to watch!

https://www.schaubuehne.de/en/seiten/online-spielplan.html

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

Sune: I want to invite all my friends over for a drink and a bite to eat! I can’t wait to see them again! Maybe start up the BBQ season!

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

Sune: I absolutely can’t wait to see you all again! Remember to stay safe and stay creative. Enjoy the things you normally don’t have time to do ... and maybe learn something new! Lots of love.

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