Hello everyone!
I know it’s been a while since my last official update – that said, it is only because a lot of work has been going on behind the scenes. Still, as I’m sure many of you might have noticed, the world seems to be going through a bit of a rough patch at the moment. How or will this all affect the production of Forbidden Dish? Read on!
COVID-19
While I’m sure the ubiquitous global pandemic needs no introduction, nor do its effects, I’ll play to the audience of history here and give a brief rundown of the state of things as they currently stand:
With most of the world still in the grips of the easily-transmissible and potentially-deadly Coronavirus known as COVID-19, many places/businesses/entire cities are still in lockdown (to one degree or another). While some areas are more “normal” than others, nowhere is really back to a pre-COVID state – and that isn’t really expected to change until the eventual finalization and distribution of a vaccine. While hopes are still high that this could occur as quickly as early-2021, nothing is certain. In fact, that pace would itself be quite the world-record in immunology.
Movie Industry
Unsurprisingly, given the scale and distribution model of the entertainment industry, it has been particularly affected by the pandemic. Film and television sets are hotbeds of activity and personnel, never mind the proximity and mutually-touched surfaces. Factor in that many films change locations (and even cities) regularly, and you have as clear a case as any for spreading and catching the disease.
This is all besides the fact that, on the whole, the demand and market for theatrical experiences are at an all-time low: after all, who wants to go sit in a closed room, in a shared seat, with a myriad of other people right now? So, with no supply and no demand, most of the industry is at all standstill.
Forbidden Dish
This all brings me to my own film, Forbidden Dish. I will first start out by assuring you that, no, production has not ceased and there is no intention of stopping the project. That said, like the rest of the industry, forward momentum is currently paused. Now is not the time, for a host of reasons, to be doing the types of tasks which were next on the docket (tasks which, by their very nature, require in-person, face-to-face contact). That said, whenever it is safe to resume work, the proverbial gears will begin turning again.
Until then, like the rest of the world, Forbidden Dish will remain safely quarantined. Art is great, but it isn’t worth the life, health, or safety of any of the crew, investors, cast, or otherwise.
What’s Next
One other topic I will touch on is exactly how we (I) here at Triple Zero Films will be spending the days during this unexpected and turbulent time. The answer, as is common in this industry, is that “The Show Must Go On!”
In this case, the ‘show’ is the creative enterprise of creating and crafting new stories. As such, besides doing what I can to further the Forbidden Dish film, I have also been (and will continue) using this time to work on new concepts, eventually fleshing them out into fully-realized screenplays. So far, without giving too much away, I’ve had quite a good deal of success!
That is to say: when the world finally does return to normal, and Forbidden Dish is both a wild critical and commercial success (isn’t that always our hope?), there will be no drought of follow-up projects on which to begin work. In fact, I’d go so far as to say I’m giddy for the day when I’ll be able to share with you all what is next – I really think you’ll like it.
Until next time, please remember to stay safe out there and to take care of yourselves! I hope to see you all on the other side of this mess and to continue making something I think you’re truly going to love!
Chris