A New Years Update
Happy New Year! Like many cinema screens in Scotland and around the world, things have been quite silent with myself and the Unbound Screen. Even into 2021, the pandemic continues to be an issue for everyone. So we must try to make the best of 2021 and find new and interesting opportunities.
I would love nothing more but to get to work, back to a cinema again and doing anything to be honest. Consulting a cinema management team on tailoring to young people, putting together a project or event or just being an usher, welcoming in audiences to the latest film on offer. But for now, that’s not the case and like many, I can only dream, think and plan. But it doesn’t mean everything is at a stop, there are things happening in the the past month and coming weeks which I want to talk about!
Firstly, I am again out of work. For a short time, I took on a temporary Christmas job with a big retailer. It was good to be earning again and, even though I missed working with film and the cinema, it was a really fun experience which I have certainly learned from. For now, I’m going to be looking for new opportunities again. Hopefully within our industry and perhaps even in the capacity of The Unbound Screen but honestly anything to keep me healthy and happy. This pandemic has really taught me that it’s okay for dreams to be on stand-by and that patience is a virtue.
But I won’t be idle and am soon to be getting busy again. I’ve taken the big decision to return to university. I’m going to be back at Queen Margaret University studying MA Arts, Festival and Cultural Management and I’m very excited to get back to studying. This course is really going to help me focus my skills, advance my knowledge and learn new skills and experiences that I hope will benefit me in any future career and I hope in my freelancing as well. It’s going to cover fundraising, finances, marketing, arts policy and management which are all things that will only make me a stronger candidate and asset to those I hope to work with. Especially with the pandemic, these are things cinemas and venues will need support with more than ever. Though I am feeling that going back to university now is a scary prospect with a new lockdown and a whole new method of teaching. But this is a challenge I will take head on, just as I have done with the challenges thrown at me in 2020.
In addition, I’ve also joined Ramsgate International Film & TV Fest as a Submission Committee member. Viewing submissions and giving comment on them, I am apart of their team in advising for the next edition of the festival taking place this year. Though this is only a voluntary role, I am finding it rewarding being able to continue doing something with a film festival and watching a lot of really interesting content. I’m looking forward to seeing how my input helps shape the festival and how it’s edition forms over the next few months.
This photo I’ve used on this update, I took a few days ago on a walk around Edinburgh. It’s a city I really love and enjoy being a part of. It’s rich in history, in culture and in life. It’s one I love to work in and hope to continue to do so for years to come. I’ve been thinking about a line from ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers’ from Samwise Gamgee: “there’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it’s worth fighting for.”. It’s quite a corny & cheese line, something I would often roll my eyes at, but it’s one that’s really effected me over the past few weeks and one I will be taking into 2021. I hope you all have a good year.
