My ending of the pandemic: what I believe the future holds for the audiovisual sector
For me, the pandemic ended on September 28th, 2022.
The lockdowns, protection measures, and travel restrictions brought new rules to the world of audiovisuals. Presencial assignments all but went extinct, and in turn, stock sales flourished. This, as with any change, had its good and bad sides. Yes, many plans were thwarted and many assignments and travel plans were canceled. However, those of us lucky enough to have a rich and diverse stock library were allowed some well-deserved rest, enjoying the soaring sales and the increased passive income. I enjoyed this new order of business immensely, but for me, it all ended on September 28th, 2022, when I got hired for a very normal shoot in Milan, Italy.
During the pandemic, shooting assignments weren’t completely nonexistent, but they were few in number, and the shoots themselves were tainted by the threat of the virus. In my experience, only the absolutely necessary shoots came through - those following events or particular places which made it impossible to be covered by more generic stock footage. With the increased security measures, the flexibility of all projects was reduced to a minimum, and travel became devoid of any spontaneity, opportunities, or pleasure. I accepted only the most interesting jobs, raising my pricing significantly in order to make any and every shoot worth my while. I used my newfound free time to focus on other projects, personal and professional, as well as to further my education and knowledge in various subjects. It was wonderful while it lasted, but I had started to feel the familiar itch, wanting desperately to get moving again.
Interestingly, the pandemic found me on an assignment in Rome; the trip, which would have taken me on to Milan, was cut short by the first closures and confinement measures. The Milanese cityscapes waited for my return patiently, and so, after more than two years I returned. While the pandemic was raging, I often wondered what it would be like to return to the pre-virus “normal”: would it be strange to travel without a face mask? Would we ever go back to crowded places with ease? Would the audiovisual industry go back to its old habits, or would it be overtaken by stock and AI?
In Milan, I found both the city and the audiovisual industry as vibrant as ever, full of new life energy and a lust for life which we spent two years repressing. (Have you seen this video with cows seeing grass for the first time after months?) We can’t be sure what will the future bring, but one thing is certain: most everyone is eager to go back to how things were before the big halt. Many of the things we took for granted we now appreciate with a newfound passion, knowing that in today’s ever-changing world, we could lose anything at short notice. Hence, I believe that our future is bright: I am certain that the industry will be back on its feet in no time, with many new exciting projects on the horizon.
