Happy one-year quarantine anniversary
Well, we’ve passed the one year mark of lockdown.
Such a strange once-year anniversary to think about, huh.
I know for me, in some ways, it feels like it’s been both 5 years and 5 days at the same time. Time is, in fact, rather wibbly-wobbly right now.
For starters, I’m not going to compare and say that one’s situation is any more or less challenging than others. Comparison is counterproductive, right? That’s what we’re taught in the creative space? Well, all spaces, I suppose. However, that is a thing I have to remind myself of daily recently.
I heard very early on during lockdown, can’t remember where honestly, but it was this: we’re all in the same storm, just in different boats…that seemed like the best way to describe it.
What I can do is speak to my experience as an actor and movement coach, and well, for creatives in the entertainment space, the way we do things sure has gotten thrashed about quite a bit.
It doesn’t matter if you’re on Broadway or do plays at the local community center. If you’re about to attend the Oscars or creating your first film with friends in your backyard. If you’ve been to a conservatory or are going class by class at various institutions.
We’re all in the same spot in the storm where our physical, creative spaces, the places we gather and create art, have been shut.
Movement coach confession
With everything that that entails, the good days and the bad days, and the sheer amount of elevated stress I know everyone is experiencing, for me, I’ve noticed one key thing:
I’m not moving.
Not in the way I was before, at least.
Which is, honestly, a bit embarrassing as a movement coach.
But, it’s the truth.
Every single acting gig I’ve had since last March, has been from my desk, sitting, at my laptop.
Every single lesson I’ve taught has been through a screen with my students maneuvering around their living room furniture.
My guess is you may have been experiencing something similar.
Quarantine silver linings
Zoom and other online platforms have been phenomenal, don’t get me wrong. Talk about timing, huh? The fact that this technology existed before our lives shifted. Silver linings indeed, and I’m sure grateful for it.
Though I will say, one of the things that usually happens in Zoom type acting is, well, less movement.
Now, at times less movement is often the way to go for, camera work, but even for camera work, what we’ve got right now, is often limited.
You’re constantly dealing with, if you’re lucky, a three-quarter shot, that you’re in charge of setting up. You may have a standing desk-type situation or have the camera situated where you have an entire small room to play in.
All of this being said, though, I can pretty much guarantee you’re moving less than if you were on a stage. Or if you were on set, for that matter.
And you’re not alone.
This is shitty.
And while some spaces have been able to open up again under strict guidelines, we’ve still got a ways to go.
So, what am I getting at with all of this?
Movement is important, right? Would you agree?
Now, I don’t just mean movement from an acting or character development/creating a movement signature perspective. I really mean moving in our daily lives.
And hey, movement during quarantine, any kind of movement, is an achievement.
Movement has become an increasingly important research topic in recent years, and not just for our physical health but for our mental health too.
I wasn’t planning on linking Dr. Chatterjee to this blog at any point, but this seemed like a wonderful place to give him a shout-out. A British doctor who focuses on education in lifestyle medicine, his podcast Feel Better, Live More, has been a fav of mine for a while.
An episode from a while back with Brendon Stubbs popped into my view recently, all about how movement can boost our mental health and emotional resilience.
Movement for a lot of us is intuitive, right? I know that giving myself space and time to at a minimum pace around the room or give my body a good shake out before and after performances is incredibly beneficial. Though, I’d be lying if I said that I did this 100% of the time right now.
Each day presents different challenges, quarantine aside, and there are days I don’t get out for a walk or barely leave my designated reading/binge Netflix corner. And that’s alright.
Movement as an actor in quarantine
Now, from an acting perspective, I’ve focused on keeping my movement juices flowing by focusing on micro-movements.
This is a great opportunity to spend some time honing in on the little things. Facial expressions, how I hold my head, posture, etc.
It can be fun to see, if you’ve got yourself in front of a camera, how little movements and little shifts can drastically change how you appear.
So, focusing on micro-movements during your time of social distancing or virtual performances may be a way to milk the silver lining out of this crazy world we’ve found ourselves in.
And with that, I’ll leave you with this…
Hang in there, friend, my fellow creative.
We’ll get back under the lights soon. Lights that aren’t perched precariously on towers of books or on tripods in our own homes that is.
With any luck, and work, there won’t be a second-year quarantine anniversary.
Keep moving, however small, however little, and know it’s better than nothing.
