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May 28, 2020

New shows tell our isolation stories on screen – making the most of what's at hand

Tinkering with whatever is at hand to produce media content reflects the emergence of “bricolage” culture into the mainstream.

is the kind of hybrid user-generated television production we can expect to see more of in coming months.

With the majority of Australia鈥檚 film and television industry shut down, and essential production , YouTube style content is elbowing in to the free-to-air and subscription-video-on-demand (SVOD) experience.

Tinkering with whatever is at hand to produce media content reflects the emergence of 鈥渂ricolage鈥� culture into the mainstream.

 

Picking and choosing

Curating experiences is all the rage, from to and . But curation suggests a purposeful selection from premium products. Bricolage, on the other hand, makes the most out what鈥檚 within reach.

The French verb bricoler and noun bricoleur roughly translate as DIY tinkering and a professional handyman respectively. In fine art circles, bricolage refers to . Unlike collage or montage, the combined elements are unexpected and wouldn鈥檛 normally sit together.

The artistry of bricolage is how individual elements maintain their cultural and material provenance but the final arrangement invites new meanings and connections from the viewer.

 

Stories from home

New streaming platform, iWonder, was quick to respond to COVID-19, calling in March about Australians鈥� experiences. The initial 14-minute Coronavirus & Me compilation featuring five short stories was picked up by and aired at the end of April.<

The appeal of user-generated content (UGC) to broadcasters is in the heightened authenticity of unmediated video diaries, remote production, and low costs. Amateur content on television isn鈥檛 new 鈥� see the 25-year legacy of 鈥� but it鈥檚 usually fronted by a charismatic host with theatrical music to smooth over imperfections.

Coronavirus & Me offers heartfelt video diaries from diverse and enjoyable personalities. There鈥檚 a little touching up, such as stock music and imagery, but no host.

Sydney-based director producers, Alex and Catherine Weinress of Hixon Films, have arranged the submissions into a meaningful journey: fleeing home to Sydney from Wuhan; a mortuary worker鈥檚 fears; a performing artist鈥檚 coping strategies; an Instagram-inspired parody of Tom Hanks鈥� Castaway; and a refined short film called Oma that documents a family鈥檚 trials in isolation with a grandma with Alzheimer鈥檚 disease.

A mixed bag of professional and amateur stories, Coronavirus & Me would usually inhabit far corners of the online universe. As a compilation, it contributes to a common understanding of shared adversity and community.

 

Expect the unexpected

础叠颁鈥檚 , an eight-part parody series hosted by Ray Martin, is another example of bricolage production. Supported by Screen Australia, the series provides opportunities for emerging writers and performers during lockdown.

Again, the mixed offering might not normally reach production, but its appeal is in the incongruous situation we all share. It鈥檚 hard to know what to expect from one segment to the next 鈥� an unusual quality to see in broadcast genres.

Making the most of whatever鈥檚 at hand during lockdown is producing some gems. Maria Albi帽ana and Luke Eve from have launched a 10-part web series aptly titled , which follows the actor and producer couple cancelling their wedding in Spain as they face lockdown away from home. The docu-drama strikes an elegant balance between the rawness of a smart phone diary and the artful storytelling of professional production.

 Orange Is The New Black creator Jenji Kohan is for Netflix. Writing and production will be done virtually and the cast will act and film themselves at home.

 

Stories in uncertain times

Understanding human experience is an important aspect of these emerging shows, streams and ways of watching. The process of reflecting and sorting experiences is inherent to the traditional written diary, addressing oneself in the future.

In Italy, director Olmo Parenti reversed this idea to capture the of other countries. He asked Italians in lockdown to to their past self of 10 days prior.

America鈥檚 Public Broadcasting Service is providing an incredible bricolage of citizen experiences via text, video diaries, images, and gifs as .

Meanwhile, the State Library of NSW has partnered with ABC Radio Sydney to collate written reflections in . The intention is to create a time capsule for future interpretation.

A decade ago, the promise of YouTube and other online media was to foster a more participatory culture. The pandemic and new examples of isolation content reveal the essential role of editors and producers as bricoleur 鈥� vital to piecing together our stories.

, Lecturer in Media Arts,

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