Strange Changed Times

A week ago, I was still working in Toronto on the Set of American Gods - Season 3. While around us the world went crazy, and the WHO had declared COVID 19 a pandemic, our bosses pretended that nothing could stop us. In Italy, people had started to die in large numbers days before, and in Europe overall, the case numbers climbed exponentially. Canada's prime minister announced some measures, including upcoming travel-restrictions. We continued working. And not just any work - our studio was filled with dirt; we had giant wind-machines that blew dried leaves and artificial smoke in the air, and everybody was coughing (and cursing). Slowly first, then increasingly faster, the news of other productions closing started to creep in. But not ours. I flew the next night to Europe to be with my partner and closer to my family when the borders would close around us. It was just in time. American Gods still continued; they called the already wrapped Second Unit back to work on Monday (16.03). I heart that they made the whole crew assemble in a small space ( no social distancing possible) two times on that day. First to declare that the show must go on and will shoot for another week, then some 8 hours later to tell everybody that this was the last day and they would shut down. How surprising! The denial of the bosses reminded me of the last days of East Germany - back then, the bosses did not want to believe or see what happened either. Now I am in the Netherlands, which is one of the only countries in Europe that has not locked down completely. The case numbers compared to a week ago have increased by more than 200 %, the death rate too. So many industries and companies and educational institutions have shut down - that being home has become the new normal. The Time to think is Now