Crisis, Change and Creating Art
As the entire world navigates how to respond to COVID-19, we’ve all been forced to examine the definition of critical infrastructure and think about the different roles that individuals, communities and governments play.
How do artists fit into the picture?
We shouldn’t be surprised in times of crisis when art becomes difficult to sell. Is art comparable to food or medical industries? Artists serve a different need, and it’s not fair to compare them to a farmer or nurse. The latter serve the physical needs of the body, which are required for life to continue. Art speaks to what isn’t physical: what you believe in, what you know, how you process information, what makes you dream. And as such, every human soul has the ability on some level, to be an artist (or at least, to create themselves and what they believe). The work of the artist, then, is supplemental. Hopefully to challenge the thinking of our audience. Stretch them. And draw them closer to truth.
As we have watched the film industry crumble to the ground in the course of a month, I began to study World War II history, wondering how the industry reacted in another worldwide crisis. (Hooray for Netflix documentaries!) Obviously, it was a very different time and one that didn’t quite so socially-distance the population. However, when the U.S. joined the war, almost overnight, ⅓ of the men in Hollywood left the industry for the battlefront. Over time, working hours in Hollywood were curtailed, and the supporting industries were affected. Clubs, restaurants and bars began to close as over 27,000 men from cinema went to war.
Many directors/actors/filmmakers joined the war. And many who survived returned to films when the war was over. Others were able to continue their filmmaking during the war, some started working for the government in documenting the war or creating propaganda.
Obviously, only so many comparisons can be made to today, as WW2 ultimately caused a huge boom for cinema, with those stuck at home filling their time by going to the movies. (Theater attendance peaked just after the war, in 1946, with 57% of Americans going to the movies at least once a week.)
But I think one of the big lessons for filmmakers from World War II, is that in a time of crisis, there’s nothing wrong with taking a break and engaging in other important work, especially if it’s in service to others. Real-world experience makes for stronger and better filmmaking, as evidenced by many directors releasing their best and most-impactful work in the years following the war. COVID-19 is an obstacle for the movie industry, and it requires us to change, but I’m confident it will also result in unique opportunities.
Not every change that happens is good, but something good comes from every change. The more we teach ourselves to find and apply the good lessons we learn from change, the quicker we learn and the stronger and better we become.
Streaming and online movie-consumption have been growing, but now the entire audience has been forced to home entertainment and streaming for new releases. What that ultimately means for the industry remains to be seen. Will theaters explode after the virus scare is over? Will audiences come back eager for the big-screen, community experience of cinemas? Or will they gravitate towards the ease and comfort of movie-viewing in their homes? Despite studio and industry battles in recent years to prevent it, the entire film audience is being forced to experience the latter and only time will tell what they think long-term.
What about independent cinema? Streaming has been opening additional marketing doors for indie filmmakers for years. Will the sudden consolidation of eyeballs help or hurt as large studios shift to find their audience?
Excitingly, there are no simple or unifying answers. What is certain is that difficulty can be a tremendous door to success. Are you willing to change your definition of success? Are you willing to do the work?
Don’t be afraid to keep telling stories. Don’t be afraid to take a break. And don’t be afraid to pursue or create opportunities that look different than you imagined.