The arts struggle to survive: Coronavirus' impact in York Region

'There’s no productions happening, no editing happening. It’s a vicious cycle of not having anything to do'

Yorkregion.com
April 14, 2020
Simone Joseph

In an alternate universe, Sean Cisterna would be travelling to film festivals, promoting his movie "From the Vine."

Instead, he’s home in Oak Ridges.

The filmmaker worked for months on the film’s release. Theatres were booked with Cineplex, Landmark and the TIFF Film Circuit.

In "From the Vine" a man travels back to his Italian hometown, finding purpose in reviving his grandfather's vineyard. It stars Joe Pantoliano ("The Sopranos," "The Goonies").

But because of COVID-19, Cineplex announced its closing in mid-March and film festivals across the world were cancelled.

Cisterna’s production work halted.

“Now I'm developing projects with hopes of shooting at a later date, but it's hard to book actors, locations, international meetings when all these restrictions are in place.”

"From the Vine" had a release date of May 1 and cost a million dollars to make. The goal was to get $100,000 back.

Now that goal is dead, and similar challenges are industry-wide.

“There’s no productions happening, there’s no editing happening. It’s a vicious cycle of not having anything to do,” Cisterna said.

Cisterna knows of movies in mid-shoot when the outbreak began. One film featured a house with windows showing winter outside. If shooting restarts, it will be “a continuity disaster,” he said.

Cisterna has creative ways of dealing with the pandemic.

He wrote a movie script based on Filipe Leite's quest from Calgary to Brazil. To further his work, he organized a virtual table reading with Canadian actor friends.

Cisterna also launched a film-themed “coffee talk” via Zoom. Each morning, he spends half an hour with anyone in the industry who wants to participate.

For Sue DiGioacchino, owner of The Patrick House Art Studio & Gallery in Aurora, the pandemic led to her closing her gallery plus no public art events, workshops or lessons.

“Closing up for now has cost me revenue in paying the bills, and the ability to interact with the public and students,” DiGioacchino said. Her Mother’s Day show will be cancelled, but she’s hopeful the August Doors Open tour will run.

Flato Markham Theatre general manager Eric Lariviere is hopeful the theatre can at least save its summer season, including productions and camp.

But the theatre has also seen the harsh impact of COVID-19. Like many cities, Markham had to lay off staff, including part-time theatre employees who were kept on until April 5.

For Sarah Magni, dealing with COVID-19 meant changing her attitude toward technology.

“I had this idea in my head I don’t need it, said the artistic director of nonprofit theatre company Thatz Showbiz. “I’ve done a 360. This was a blind spot for me. People need assistive technology. I need to be supportive of that. It’s an awakening.”

Classes have been transitioning into online classes.

This had at least one surprising result.

A student with Down syndrome, normally shy and unwilling to participate, began dancing and singing loudly during her online class.

While her company may be advancing in terms of technology, Magni’s worry is that nonprofits like Thatz Showbiz are being overlooked.

 “We’re not being talked about,” she said. “Because of great financial loss, we don’t know how we will bounce back if there is not funding.”