Islanders record lockdown life to raise funds for foodbank
More than 200 clips of footage capturing real-life Mull in lockdown are to be turned into a film to raise money for the island’s foodbank as well as become a telling archive of these unprecedented times.
Filmmaking couple Alasdair and Georgia Satchel, who live near Dervaig, invited residents on Mull, Iona, Ulva and Gometra to send them short snippets of their lives caught on film during the COVID-19 outbreak.
The deadline for submissions has now passed and Alasdair and Georgia, who are also known for their What We Do In the Winter podcasts talking to islanders about their lives, have to start editing in time for a Watch Party on Youtube and online chat event in early June.
The film will be for everyone to watch and contributions will be voluntary, how to donate details will be announced soon.
Mr Satchel said people’s response to filming their lockdown lives has been ‘phenomenal’ with incredible footage both diverse and beautiful.
‘We have got lots of film that people have taken on their daily exercise, taking a breather from lockdown showing us the flip side of confinement. Other bits of film show the mundanity of it all, one clip is of someone doing the ironing with the question ‘Can I do an more ironing for you?’
‘I don’t want to give too much away. There’s bees busy working, there’s a time lapse of Dot Stewart on Iona who does a 10-minute dance every day, then in total contrast there’s footage over her shoulder as she knits and the ferry slips back over to the mainland.’
There have also been ‘simple and sincere’ contributions from hardworking carers on the islands. ‘Some of those clips have brought tears to my eyes,’ said Mr Satchel.
The final edit documenting everyday life during the coronavirus crisis will go to Mull Museum, Ross of Mull Historical Centre and the National Library of Scotland’s Moving Image Archive.
‘Just as our winter podcasts are a sincere testimony to island life, this film is to show that the people who live here have real lives and it’s not just preserved in aspic for nostalgic tourists. It’s to tell the truth. We don’t exist in a bubble. We might be on the edge geographically but it depends where the centre of the map is,’ said Mr Satchel.
The foodbank on Mull is sending out parcels to families across the island, Mr Satchel said: ‘It’s awful it has to exist. This is to help get money to keep it going for sometime, I think it will be needed for a long time yet.’
Musicians Hannah Fisher and Sorren Maclean who live on Mull and have worked with some great Scottish artists, including King Creosote and Dougie MacLean, have agreed to do the music for the film.