Under the new crown epidemic, the crew stopped work, the project stopped, and the global film and television industry came to a standstill.
But there are still many filmmakers who are trying to break the creative limitations brought about by the epidemic.
In this special period, leave the audience with images with the imprint of the times.
BBC has just launched a comedy "Stage Play", starring David Tennant and Mike Sim, the golden CP of "Good Omens", telling the story of a stage play affected by the epidemic and can only be rehearsed through zoom.
The witty dialogue and the plot that is close to the moment have received many praises, which is a model for filming dramas with zoom during the epidemic.
In addition to "online video", "single monologue" has also become another way of shooting during the epidemic.
An actor, a camera, a change of scenes, a form of intimate dialogue with the audience,
A monologue about life may be a kind of image presentation of the "latest crown"——
Directed By: Jonathan Kent / Nicholas Sitner / Myrian Aliuot / Josie Locke
Writers: Alain Bennett
Starring: Judy Comer / Martin Freeman / Kristen Scott Thomas
Premiere: 2020-06-23 (UK)
12 episodes, each episode is 40 minutes, and the Douban score is as high as 9.0.
It is still the guarantee of the quality of BBC, British drama.
"New Chatter Life" is an adaptation of the original dialogue of "Chatter Life" written by the famous British playwright Alain Bennett.
The original version of "Chattering Life" was released in 1988 and 1998, each with 6 episodes.
Maggie Smith, Stephanie Cole, Julie Waters... Gathered a group of british old drama bones, imdb score 8.6+.
Now, the story is moved to 2020, once again gathering the British actors from the middle and young generation to the national treasure level "top match".
Because of the "Killing Eve" drama, the "little pervert" Judy Comer, who is popular all over the world,
Martin Freeman, who played Watson's "hipster" in "Sherlock",
Leaving behind "The English Patient", "Bitter Moon", "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and other film history classics such as Kristen Scott Thomas,
Tamsin Greg, the super high-scoring British drama "Black Bookstore"...
12 actors are gathered in one show, and each episode is super explosive.
During this particular period, the filming of "New Chatter Life" strictly adhered to the principle of social segregation.
In a state of home isolation, the actors rehearse through zoom and use video communication software to communicate scenes, storyboards and line details.
Keep your distance in the filming, and the costumes and makeup of the actors are done by themselves.
In the ready-made scenes at Elstree Studios, twelve episodes were shot in two weeks.
A single monologue, a narrative form that confronts the camera, may initially "dissuade" some viewers who are accustomed to a relaxed drama,
But once they quiet down and enter their chattering life, they will be immersed in the charm of language.
Gazing at the camera, they establish a connection with the audience to see and be watched,
It is as if a video chat is being held, allowing the audience to automatically become the object of the people in the play, or empathize with it, or judge it.
The title of the first episode is called "A Lady of Letters."
Actor Imelda Staunton, best known for playing Professor Dolores Umbridge in the Harry Potter series.
Coming from a theatre class, she has won the Lawrence Olivier Award, britain's highest theatre award, four times.
Stanton plays the character of Irene, an elderly woman who lives alone and is keen to write letters of complaint.
This is not a popular character who likes to comment on the lives of others and has an inappropriate "sense of justice".
She has written countless times to parliamentarians, police, food manufacturers, crematoriums, pointing out the social ills she has observed and calling for solutions.
"When I see deviance and malfeasance, I can't ignore it."
Erin is reclusive and has a strong desire to peer into the lives of others.
The curtains were tightly closed, and through the gaps, they observed the every move of the newly moved neighbor couple and commented on their heads.
She complained that the neighbors went out to the wild every night and did not stay at home with the children, but the truth was that their children had leukemia, and the couple went to the hospital late every night to take care of them.
It wasn't until the police contacted Irene to investigate the complaint letter she had written that Irene learned that the neighbor's child had died of illness.
At this moment, the camera is closer, and the audience can see her facial expression change from aggressive to shocked, and then to sadness.
His jaw was trembling, and the corners of his eyes and corners were gradually lowering.
Bringing such a strong emotional resonance to the audience under a single lens, only such an old drama bone can do it.
One of the most interesting stars in "New Chatter" is Judy Comer.
At the 71st Emmy Awards, the 27-year-old won Best Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Vera Nell in "Killing Eve.".
She once admitted in an interview that this participation in "Chattering Life" was "undoubtedly the most difficult thing I have ever done."
Because of the one-shot format, there are higher requirements for actors: "If I have a sentence that doesn't go well, I have to take a deep breath and go back to the beginning and start over." ”
In the play, she is also a true actor, playing Leslie, an eighteen-line actress with career ambitions.
She tried her best to please the producer and director carefully, and took the initiative to win the opportunity for the heroine of the film for herself.
But from her narrative, it seems that the filming is just a pornographic movie,
And the sexism and unspoken rules that pervade the entire crew, she can only pretend to swallow nothing.
Leslie's talent and efforts seemed worthless to others.
She put her emotions into this hard-won role.
However, under the lure of "talent is affirmed", he slept with the director and shot a lot of nudity in the film.
As soon as the film was finished, she was abandoned by the director and the entire crew like a plastic bag.
I want to say goodbye to them in earnest, but I find that I am no longer cared about by anyone.
"The essence of performance is dedication."
At the end of the episode, Leslie said with tears in her eyes.
All pretend innocence and love for the cause turn into the helplessness and sadness of an actress's heart.
I don't know where fate will push tomorrow's self, except for the pursuit of her career, she has nothing.
Most of the scenes in "Chattering Life" are set in the character's home, which is in line with the life of home isolation during the epidemic.
But there are some more daring, complex, and confusing stories told:
Inexplicably in love with the mother of her 15-year-old son, she lost her relationship with her family at the boundary of incestuous feelings.
Martin Freeman plays a middle-aged man who has lived with his mother for a long time, hiding his gay identity for many years and afraid to come out publicly.
One story per episode, one life per episode.
But the loneliness of modern people is the eternal theme of "Chattering Life".
Trying to make an emotional connection with the people around you, but always retreating back to your own world.
A torn life is like a wound that is difficult to heal, and it is impossible to stitch up the emotional rift through chattering words.
The monologue drama produced by bbc is not only "Chattering Life", nor is it exclusive during the new crown epidemic.
In 2017, "Queers", which specialized in LGBTQ themes, and the 2018 women's monologue drama "She Said: A Hundred Years of Women's Life Moments",
This form of expression, which takes root in the soil of drama, focuses on different groups, listens to their talk, and experiences their lives.
The monologue drama is diffused with a lot of details, and it hides the telling of real emotions,
As if there is magic, it pulls the audience into the space where they live, resonating with their lives.
There is no need for gorgeous costumes, nor is there a need for exciting scenes.
That is the power of language, the power of performance.
*Author: Soy milk