Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Pandemic short films feature in new project
Short films made by two former mining communities in Monklands reflecting experiences during the Covid pandemic are among those included in an online project.
The contribution from Glenboig Development Trust consists of an original poem summing up life during lockdown and the village’s community spirit, illustrated by shots of familiar scenes from the past two years including socially-distanced deliveries and children playing locally as restrictions began to ease.
Members of both Northern Corridor community volunteers and the Cardowan community meadow group appear in the two productions made by the latter group, which respectively “celebrate the importance of green space in the time of Covid-19” and show the Cardowan group delivering fruit and vegetable bags with the help of their youth members.
The three videos were among a total of 15 produced by 11 community groups across Scotland as part of the “films of action” initiative run by the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, alongside Regional Screen Scotland, Folk Film Gathering and Screen Scotland.
Local residents in the two North Lanarkshire areas worked with film makers Anne Milne and Shona Thomson over a two-year period to share their stories for the series.
It “reflects the inequalities which continue to affect former mining communities [and] demonstrates [their] creativity and adaptability in finding solutions to their own challenges and supporting vulnerable residents”.
The project was officially launched with a special screening of three of the productions at the Scottish Storytelling Centre in
Edinburgh, along with a film celebrating the project as a whole.
Film maker Shona Thomson said: “We feel honoured to have witnessed people telling their stories,” adding that the project “shows the power of coming together to listen, share and discuss what’s important to focus resources and energy on right now”.
Nicky Wilson of the Coalfields
Regeneration Trust added: “These films are a real testament to the resilience and resourcefulness of Scottish coalfield communities, even in the face of lockdown – and as well as celebrating this community spirit, provide a great opportunity for a dialogue around how to help them thrive in the future.”