1 00:00:00,021 --> 00:00:01,621 [soft piano music] 2 00:00:01,621 --> 00:00:02,661 [Man] A global epidemic now 3 00:00:02,661 --> 00:00:03,501 -spreading fast- -[Woman] The number of 4 00:00:03,501 --> 00:00:05,061 -confirmed coronavirus cases -The UK's infection rate 5 00:00:05,061 --> 00:00:07,061 -stands at- -infection rate about to rise 6 00:00:07,061 --> 00:00:08,421 to dangerous levels. 7 00:00:08,421 --> 00:00:10,781 [Angela] After six weeks of lockdown, 8 00:00:10,781 --> 00:00:13,221 our socially-distanced nation learned 9 00:00:13,221 --> 00:00:16,221 that it wasn't just stocks of loo rolls in danger. 10 00:00:16,221 --> 00:00:19,861 In the mother of all plot twists, a tiny virus from China 11 00:00:19,861 --> 00:00:23,061 suddenly called wrap on our favourite TV shows. 12 00:00:23,061 --> 00:00:24,021 [News Anchor] We know that the filming 13 00:00:24,021 --> 00:00:25,701 has stopped on Corrie. 14 00:00:25,701 --> 00:00:27,021 [Angela] Fresh supplies of soaps 15 00:00:27,021 --> 00:00:29,461 and drama, would soon run out. 16 00:00:29,461 --> 00:00:31,181 Everything's gonna be all right. 17 00:00:32,341 --> 00:00:34,021 [Angela] But award-winning writer, Jeff Pope, 18 00:00:34,021 --> 00:00:36,621 decided the curtains would not come down 19 00:00:36,621 --> 00:00:38,181 on the stories of Britain. 20 00:00:39,381 --> 00:00:42,221 It was the day that reality became fiction. 21 00:00:42,221 --> 00:00:45,461 You should not go out, other than for exercise 22 00:00:45,461 --> 00:00:49,301 and in that case, at a safe distance from others. 23 00:00:49,301 --> 00:00:54,181 I am in 24-hour lockdown with a baby due in three weeks. 24 00:00:54,181 --> 00:00:57,421 [Angela] Filming everything with mobile phones, 25 00:00:57,421 --> 00:01:00,861 storylines were given a new lease of life. 26 00:01:00,861 --> 00:01:03,381 You know, I haven't lost a leg, not yet. 27 00:01:03,381 --> 00:01:04,981 [Angela] For the first time ever, 28 00:01:04,981 --> 00:01:07,821 actors were encouraged to phone in their performance. 29 00:01:07,821 --> 00:01:11,901 Just sitting here all alone getting fatter by the day. 30 00:01:11,901 --> 00:01:15,101 Essential supplies, milk, bread and hemorrhoid cream. 31 00:01:16,421 --> 00:01:18,061 [Angela] Under the most challenging conditions 32 00:01:18,061 --> 00:01:20,381 the television industry has ever faced. 33 00:01:20,381 --> 00:01:21,581 [phone buzzing] 34 00:01:21,581 --> 00:01:25,421 A cosy life on location became a thing of the past. 35 00:01:25,421 --> 00:01:27,541 [Robert] Merry Christmas. 36 00:01:27,541 --> 00:01:30,101 [Angela] As actors rolled up their sleeves. 37 00:01:30,101 --> 00:01:31,621 [Man] Once you've finished in the art department, Eddie, 38 00:01:31,621 --> 00:01:33,221 could you go into the lighting department 39 00:01:33,221 --> 00:01:35,501 and turn all the practical lights back on, please? 40 00:01:36,581 --> 00:01:37,661 [Angela] And conscripted members 41 00:01:37,661 --> 00:01:39,581 of their own households. 42 00:01:39,581 --> 00:01:42,061 [Janine] I'm actually in the kitchen sink. 43 00:01:42,061 --> 00:01:43,701 [laughing] 44 00:01:43,701 --> 00:01:45,901 [Angela] To make four prime-time dramas 45 00:01:45,901 --> 00:01:48,981 in the midst of a global pandemic. 46 00:01:48,981 --> 00:01:50,861 We called it "Isolation Stories" 47 00:01:52,261 --> 00:01:53,901 and this is how we did it. 48 00:01:53,901 --> 00:01:56,661 [cheerful music] 49 00:02:03,781 --> 00:02:04,981 Welcome to my world. 50 00:02:06,701 --> 00:02:08,141 [Angela] The first isolation story 51 00:02:08,141 --> 00:02:10,781 featured Sheridan Smith, playing Mel, 52 00:02:10,781 --> 00:02:13,821 a soon-to-be first-time mum who was self-isolating. 53 00:02:13,821 --> 00:02:16,621 ♪ Beautiful dreamer ♪ 54 00:02:16,621 --> 00:02:18,901 ♪ Awake unto me ♪ 55 00:02:18,901 --> 00:02:19,941 Nah, I just tried another angle 56 00:02:19,941 --> 00:02:21,221 but it's probably wrong. 57 00:02:22,741 --> 00:02:24,501 [Angela] After filming, Showrunner, Jeff, 58 00:02:24,501 --> 00:02:26,021 caught up with Sheridan. 59 00:02:26,021 --> 00:02:29,461 It must be one of the weirdest jobs you've done, isn't it? 60 00:02:29,461 --> 00:02:30,301 [laughing] 61 00:02:30,301 --> 00:02:31,101 It's bonkers. 62 00:02:31,101 --> 00:02:32,661 It's bonkers but brilliant. 63 00:02:32,661 --> 00:02:35,781 I mean when you got in touch with me first, admittedly, 64 00:02:35,781 --> 00:02:38,541 obviously I'm heavily pregnant. 65 00:02:38,541 --> 00:02:39,381 Heavily. 66 00:02:39,381 --> 00:02:43,181 A few weeks away, so yeah, I mean, I was just thrilled 67 00:02:43,181 --> 00:02:45,181 but I couldn't understand, like, how you were gonna do it? 68 00:02:45,181 --> 00:02:48,101 I was thinking, "What do you mean, you're gonna be 69 00:02:48,101 --> 00:02:48,901 at the end of the hall 70 00:02:48,901 --> 00:02:49,821 and we're gonna-" 71 00:02:49,821 --> 00:02:51,621 but now it's all come to life. 72 00:02:52,861 --> 00:02:54,621 [Angela] Behind the scenes of Sheridan's film, 73 00:02:54,621 --> 00:02:56,381 her boyfriend Jamie found himself 74 00:02:56,381 --> 00:02:58,101 dropped in at the deep end. 75 00:02:58,101 --> 00:03:01,861 My better half, Jamie, has been setting it all up 76 00:03:01,861 --> 00:03:03,941 and what's great is, they're having a Zoom call, 77 00:03:03,941 --> 00:03:06,981 with all the crew, being guided, where to set up the cameras 78 00:03:06,981 --> 00:03:08,061 and everything. 79 00:03:08,061 --> 00:03:09,381 A little, a little lower, Jamie 80 00:03:09,381 --> 00:03:11,261 and then a little bit panned right. 81 00:03:14,061 --> 00:03:14,941 Yeah that's good. 82 00:03:15,901 --> 00:03:18,581 Even though it's just me and Jamie, actually in the house, 83 00:03:18,581 --> 00:03:19,621 you feel like you've got everyone 84 00:03:19,621 --> 00:03:20,941 in the room with you all the time. 85 00:03:20,941 --> 00:03:24,901 Maybe let's try one where she actually articulates that. 86 00:03:24,901 --> 00:03:28,781 You know, it's important to tell these stories 87 00:03:28,781 --> 00:03:30,301 whilst it's happening, d'you know what I mean? 88 00:03:30,301 --> 00:03:31,901 Rather than, there'll be so many people 89 00:03:31,901 --> 00:03:33,541 who write about this after 90 00:03:33,541 --> 00:03:35,821 and film crews will make things about it, 91 00:03:35,821 --> 00:03:37,141 'cause it's an incredible time. 92 00:03:37,141 --> 00:03:39,701 It's insane what we're going through. 93 00:03:39,701 --> 00:03:41,541 I find it very touching that someone- 94 00:03:41,541 --> 00:03:43,821 [Angela] We'll all remember 2020 as the year 95 00:03:43,821 --> 00:03:46,661 video chat became an essential, 96 00:03:46,661 --> 00:03:48,661 as it was to this production. 97 00:03:48,661 --> 00:03:50,461 When Mel calls home to her parents 98 00:03:50,461 --> 00:03:53,821 it was recorded as a life chat with actors, Philip Jackson 99 00:03:53,821 --> 00:03:55,741 and his wife, Sally Baxter. 100 00:03:55,741 --> 00:03:59,141 So how many of you are there? 101 00:03:59,141 --> 00:04:03,021 Me and Alison, Shelley, Martin, Daniel, obviously. 102 00:04:03,021 --> 00:04:06,461 Daniel's Dale, Shelley's Rob, three little ones. 103 00:04:06,461 --> 00:04:10,021 Melanie, aw, look at you! 104 00:04:10,021 --> 00:04:11,581 I mean I know I'm hormonal 105 00:04:11,581 --> 00:04:12,421 but I've been crying 106 00:04:12,421 --> 00:04:16,181 and just, I just think this nation has been amazing 107 00:04:16,181 --> 00:04:17,821 and come together the way it has. 108 00:04:17,821 --> 00:04:18,701 Cut, thank you. 109 00:04:18,701 --> 00:04:20,741 Amazing guys, that's a great scene. 110 00:04:20,741 --> 00:04:23,021 There's so much family history in that scene. 111 00:04:23,021 --> 00:04:23,861 Right guys. 112 00:04:23,861 --> 00:04:24,861 Thank you so much. 113 00:04:24,861 --> 00:04:25,661 Lots of love 114 00:04:25,661 --> 00:04:27,221 and lots of luck with the baby. 115 00:04:28,701 --> 00:04:29,541 [Angela] Like many women, 116 00:04:29,541 --> 00:04:32,021 Sheridan and her character, Mel, will be having their 117 00:04:32,021 --> 00:04:34,461 first baby, during the COVID-19 lockdown. 118 00:04:35,701 --> 00:04:37,381 Well the good thing is that our position is 119 00:04:37,381 --> 00:04:40,461 probably very different to Mel's, let's say, we're together. 120 00:04:40,461 --> 00:04:41,621 So I support her, you know 121 00:04:41,621 --> 00:04:43,901 and so we've got that interaction. 122 00:04:44,981 --> 00:04:47,301 [Woman] Oh Mel, you'll be a lovely mom. 123 00:04:47,301 --> 00:04:48,581 People on their own, 124 00:04:48,581 --> 00:04:49,901 -like the character Mel. -Yeah. 125 00:04:49,901 --> 00:04:52,701 Like you, really feel for those people. 126 00:04:52,701 --> 00:04:55,421 -Wow guys, what can I say? -Well done the two of you. 127 00:04:55,421 --> 00:04:57,261 -Yeah, well done. -Thanks everyone. 128 00:04:57,261 --> 00:04:59,781 Thank you, Jamie, we couldn't have done it without you, 129 00:04:59,781 --> 00:05:02,061 with our trusty camera crew. 130 00:05:02,061 --> 00:05:03,901 [laughing] 131 00:05:03,901 --> 00:05:06,141 It's nice to be able to tell these stories, 132 00:05:06,141 --> 00:05:07,541 while everyone's in lockdown 133 00:05:07,541 --> 00:05:10,861 and give someone a little bit of entertainment each night. 134 00:05:10,861 --> 00:05:13,621 ♪ Beautiful dreamer ♪ 135 00:05:13,621 --> 00:05:16,301 ♪ Awake unto me ♪ 136 00:05:17,781 --> 00:05:18,581 [giggling] 137 00:05:18,581 --> 00:05:20,061 [cheerful music] 138 00:05:20,061 --> 00:05:22,541 [Angela] Like it or loathe it, online video chat 139 00:05:22,541 --> 00:05:24,621 allows us to connect when we can't get outside. 140 00:05:24,621 --> 00:05:25,701 [doorbell ringing] 141 00:05:25,701 --> 00:05:26,661 One second. 142 00:05:26,661 --> 00:05:28,341 [Angela] And in the lockdown, 143 00:05:28,341 --> 00:05:31,581 it helped prevent a national case of cabin fever. 144 00:05:31,581 --> 00:05:34,901 In my isolation story, I played a therapist called Rochelle, 145 00:05:34,901 --> 00:05:37,221 who had an online appointment with her client, Mike, 146 00:05:37,221 --> 00:05:38,021 played by Darren Boyd. 147 00:05:38,021 --> 00:05:39,621 [Angela] Don't you wanna go get it? 148 00:05:39,621 --> 00:05:43,701 Hmm, no, no, no, no, I'll leave it there for a little bit. 149 00:05:43,701 --> 00:05:45,901 Let the germs, you know. 150 00:05:45,901 --> 00:05:47,941 Oh hello, welcome to the set. 151 00:05:49,341 --> 00:05:51,781 The set, of course, being my living room. 152 00:05:51,781 --> 00:05:54,741 There's our, sort of, in-story laptop 153 00:05:56,581 --> 00:05:58,181 and we've got another camera there 154 00:05:58,181 --> 00:06:00,421 and we've got another camera right here. 155 00:06:00,421 --> 00:06:02,501 It's gonna be totally fine. 156 00:06:02,501 --> 00:06:07,101 I've had a full four hours to learn the 15 page script. 157 00:06:07,101 --> 00:06:11,261 Feel great, feel totally prepared, totally on top of it all. 158 00:06:12,501 --> 00:06:16,501 Not skating on thin, mental ice, at all. 159 00:06:16,501 --> 00:06:18,261 Feel your feet on the floor, stay grounded. 160 00:06:18,261 --> 00:06:19,421 I'm literally light headed. 161 00:06:19,421 --> 00:06:22,101 You're okay, you're all right. 162 00:06:22,101 --> 00:06:22,981 Take your time. 163 00:06:22,981 --> 00:06:24,341 It's fine, it's fine. 164 00:06:24,341 --> 00:06:25,861 [recording whizzing] 165 00:06:25,861 --> 00:06:27,981 [Angela] As an actor, I do love getting involved 166 00:06:27,981 --> 00:06:29,661 with hair and makeup and costume. 167 00:06:30,821 --> 00:06:33,341 But the one department, that never allows us actors 168 00:06:33,341 --> 00:06:35,981 to play with their toys are the camera crew. 169 00:06:35,981 --> 00:06:38,261 But that all changed on this shoot. 170 00:06:38,261 --> 00:06:40,581 I got some equipment delivered by Roy. 171 00:06:40,581 --> 00:06:43,381 Lovely Roy, who stayed two metres away 172 00:06:43,381 --> 00:06:46,101 and he was fully masked up, gloves, the whole thing. 173 00:06:47,101 --> 00:06:50,261 All the equipment had to be sterilised. 174 00:06:50,261 --> 00:06:51,101 The batteries there 175 00:06:51,101 --> 00:06:52,261 and there's another big box in there- 176 00:06:52,261 --> 00:06:53,741 -Perfect. -to keep you going. 177 00:06:53,741 --> 00:06:56,541 On my doorstep, he showed me how to use everything, 178 00:06:56,541 --> 00:06:57,621 what buttons to press 179 00:07:00,221 --> 00:07:01,221 and then he left. 180 00:07:01,221 --> 00:07:02,061 [laughing] 181 00:07:02,061 --> 00:07:02,981 And I had to ship it all in 182 00:07:02,981 --> 00:07:05,461 and set it up in, fortunately I've got a room that 183 00:07:05,461 --> 00:07:07,021 no one else is gonna be using. 184 00:07:08,341 --> 00:07:09,861 We got it all set up 185 00:07:09,861 --> 00:07:13,341 and then I was introduced to working by Zoom. 186 00:07:13,341 --> 00:07:14,661 So if you lose laptop there 187 00:07:14,661 --> 00:07:16,381 and just bring it forward. 188 00:07:16,381 --> 00:07:17,941 Just lose it all together? 189 00:07:17,941 --> 00:07:18,781 Yeah. 190 00:07:18,781 --> 00:07:19,741 The actors were amazing 191 00:07:19,741 --> 00:07:22,181 because they suddenly had to become camera operators 192 00:07:22,181 --> 00:07:24,741 and DOPs and sound recordists 193 00:07:24,741 --> 00:07:27,301 and they were charging the batteries 194 00:07:27,301 --> 00:07:28,421 and doing the memory cards 195 00:07:28,421 --> 00:07:29,541 and setting everything up. 196 00:07:29,541 --> 00:07:31,221 David, which camera are you on? 197 00:07:31,221 --> 00:07:33,621 Obviously they had, in my case, Michael and David 198 00:07:33,621 --> 00:07:35,861 helping them with the technical side of things. 199 00:07:35,861 --> 00:07:38,581 So exposure wise, why don't you bring it to 200 00:07:38,581 --> 00:07:41,421 just above those green files. 201 00:07:41,421 --> 00:07:42,261 Yep. 202 00:07:42,261 --> 00:07:43,741 Darren Boyd, he was on his own, 203 00:07:43,741 --> 00:07:45,221 so he was having to set up the cameras on his own 204 00:07:45,221 --> 00:07:47,781 and find, you know, things to balance it on 205 00:07:47,781 --> 00:07:48,941 because he didn't have necessarily have 206 00:07:48,941 --> 00:07:50,421 as many tripods as he needed. 207 00:07:50,421 --> 00:07:52,701 And luckily Angela's husband, was helping us with 208 00:07:52,701 --> 00:07:54,941 the shooting of her side. 209 00:07:54,941 --> 00:07:59,101 Okay, that one, I reckon one, leave that one. 210 00:07:59,101 --> 00:08:01,901 Honest to God, like, four weeks ago, 211 00:08:01,901 --> 00:08:03,141 I didn't even know what Zoom was. 212 00:08:03,141 --> 00:08:04,941 [Angela] Are you doing anything physical? 213 00:08:04,941 --> 00:08:06,861 Yes, yes. 214 00:08:06,861 --> 00:08:09,261 I just, I was just doing a session, right now. 215 00:08:09,261 --> 00:08:10,061 What's that? 216 00:08:10,061 --> 00:08:12,661 With our film we're talking on the Zoom. 217 00:08:12,661 --> 00:08:14,701 It's a washing line, I'm skipping. 218 00:08:14,701 --> 00:08:15,781 A washing line? 219 00:08:15,781 --> 00:08:16,621 Have you tried it? 220 00:08:16,621 --> 00:08:18,661 As well as what we call, the com Zoom, 221 00:08:18,661 --> 00:08:22,061 which is like where the DOP is and the director is. 222 00:08:22,061 --> 00:08:22,901 [Man] So you're all sorted, 223 00:08:22,901 --> 00:08:24,861 so might go off running with the baby jogger today. 224 00:08:24,861 --> 00:08:26,021 [Darren] Yeah, it's cool. 225 00:08:26,021 --> 00:08:28,021 And actually after a little while you do, 226 00:08:28,021 --> 00:08:28,941 you get used to it. 227 00:08:28,941 --> 00:08:31,861 You get used to tuning in and out of each one. 228 00:08:31,861 --> 00:08:32,901 You know it's so hard for them 229 00:08:32,901 --> 00:08:34,501 'cause they're trying to get in character, 230 00:08:34,501 --> 00:08:35,661 they're listening to me 231 00:08:35,661 --> 00:08:37,301 telling them how to record the camera, 232 00:08:37,301 --> 00:08:38,381 they're listening to somebody else saying, 233 00:08:38,381 --> 00:08:39,701 "Make sure you charge the batteries" 234 00:08:39,701 --> 00:08:41,301 and "Can you connect to the internet?". 235 00:08:41,301 --> 00:08:45,381 Okay, okay guys, we're having battery issues 236 00:08:45,381 --> 00:08:46,181 so if you can try 237 00:08:46,181 --> 00:08:47,101 and get to the end. 238 00:08:47,101 --> 00:08:48,741 So it's very difficult for them 239 00:08:48,741 --> 00:08:50,861 to be able to perform, in that sense. 240 00:08:50,861 --> 00:08:53,901 I'm really amazed that we got the performances that we did. 241 00:08:53,901 --> 00:08:54,741 You happy, David? 242 00:08:54,741 --> 00:08:57,421 No, there's something wrong with seven. 243 00:08:57,421 --> 00:08:58,861 You've got about six voices 244 00:08:58,861 --> 00:09:01,781 and so you're as preoccupied with delivering what they want 245 00:09:01,781 --> 00:09:04,221 and what they need, so they can do their job 246 00:09:04,221 --> 00:09:06,901 because all they have is a screen 247 00:09:06,901 --> 00:09:08,781 and verbal instruction. 248 00:09:08,781 --> 00:09:10,101 Turning over. 249 00:09:10,101 --> 00:09:12,181 Okay wrap, please. 250 00:09:12,181 --> 00:09:16,661 It was definitely a true example of an ensemble effort 251 00:09:16,661 --> 00:09:18,421 and team work. 252 00:09:18,421 --> 00:09:21,541 It was kind of nice to sit down in my bedroom 253 00:09:21,541 --> 00:09:25,101 and be like, "Oh look, I'm on set with my colleagues". 254 00:09:25,101 --> 00:09:28,541 [Angela] Strange as it sounds, TV by remote control 255 00:09:28,541 --> 00:09:30,421 does have some advantages. 256 00:09:30,421 --> 00:09:33,781 This is the Exec Producer. 257 00:09:33,781 --> 00:09:35,501 [Angela] Director Paul was able to watch 258 00:09:35,501 --> 00:09:37,981 and influence from afar, whilst also enjoying some 259 00:09:37,981 --> 00:09:39,861 one-on-one time with his newborn baby. 260 00:09:39,861 --> 00:09:43,421 So, I'm gonna get a quick cuppa tea. 261 00:09:43,421 --> 00:09:44,861 Yeah, if anyone wants tea or anything, 262 00:09:44,861 --> 00:09:47,221 no one's gonna bring it to you, unfortunately. 263 00:09:47,221 --> 00:09:48,701 Jason! 264 00:09:48,701 --> 00:09:49,781 I need a tea! 265 00:09:51,981 --> 00:09:52,821 [Jason] Yeah, baby? 266 00:09:52,821 --> 00:09:53,661 I need a tea. 267 00:09:53,661 --> 00:09:54,501 [Jason] What? 268 00:09:54,501 --> 00:09:56,901 I need cuppa tea, if possible, please? 269 00:10:01,181 --> 00:10:03,421 Do you not just have a little bell, Angela? 270 00:10:03,421 --> 00:10:04,781 [laughing] 271 00:10:04,781 --> 00:10:06,741 You've gone a bit, you're rocking a bit? 272 00:10:08,061 --> 00:10:08,901 Ahhh! 273 00:10:10,461 --> 00:10:11,821 It's more important than ever to remember 274 00:10:11,821 --> 00:10:15,941 that if you use it properly, you can have intimacy. 275 00:10:15,941 --> 00:10:17,701 You can really connect. 276 00:10:17,701 --> 00:10:20,101 [Rochelle shouting] 277 00:10:20,101 --> 00:10:20,941 Roch? 278 00:10:20,941 --> 00:10:23,941 I mean thank goodness it's now, 279 00:10:23,941 --> 00:10:25,461 when we do have this 280 00:10:25,461 --> 00:10:29,181 because what was it, it was 2005, there was no, 281 00:10:29,181 --> 00:10:31,701 everyone was still doing dial up modems and so on. 282 00:10:32,541 --> 00:10:33,421 Yes. 283 00:10:33,421 --> 00:10:37,261 To see someone, to look someone in the eye. 284 00:10:37,261 --> 00:10:38,981 Especially times, like now, 285 00:10:38,981 --> 00:10:41,421 when it's essentially all we have. 286 00:10:41,421 --> 00:10:42,261 Now... 287 00:10:43,941 --> 00:10:46,501 do you wanna have a little dance with me? 288 00:10:46,501 --> 00:10:47,461 What? 289 00:10:47,461 --> 00:10:49,821 I've never met Darren before, 290 00:10:49,821 --> 00:10:52,061 bizarrely we've connected. 291 00:10:52,061 --> 00:10:53,341 So the power of the laptop 292 00:10:53,341 --> 00:10:55,261 does means that you are still managing to get, 293 00:10:55,261 --> 00:10:56,821 what feels like, human connection. 294 00:10:56,821 --> 00:11:00,581 It's gonna be so weird, when we actually meet each other. 295 00:11:00,581 --> 00:11:03,341 ["Celebration"] 296 00:11:03,341 --> 00:11:04,341 ♪ Wahoo! ♪ 297 00:11:04,341 --> 00:11:05,141 Come on! 298 00:11:06,021 --> 00:11:08,701 ♪ It's a celebration ♪ 299 00:11:08,701 --> 00:11:09,541 Ooh, look at you! 300 00:11:09,541 --> 00:11:11,061 ♪ Celebrate good times, come on ♪ 301 00:11:11,061 --> 00:11:11,861 [laughing] 302 00:11:11,861 --> 00:11:13,341 [Angela] Making a drama in the lockdown 303 00:11:13,341 --> 00:11:16,421 gets complicated when our "Isolation Stories" 304 00:11:16,421 --> 00:11:17,661 become a family affair. 305 00:11:17,661 --> 00:11:20,421 ♪ Celebrate good times, come one ♪ 306 00:11:20,421 --> 00:11:22,901 [cheerful music] 307 00:11:22,901 --> 00:11:25,221 [upbeat music] 308 00:11:25,221 --> 00:11:28,181 "Isolation Stories" are the first ITV dramas made 309 00:11:28,181 --> 00:11:30,701 since the COVID-19 crisis pulled the plug 310 00:11:30,701 --> 00:11:33,061 on scripted productions across the nation. 311 00:11:34,621 --> 00:11:36,581 Under strict lockdown conditions, 312 00:11:36,581 --> 00:11:38,181 four short films were made. 313 00:11:39,301 --> 00:11:41,541 Technology was pushed to it's limits. 314 00:11:41,541 --> 00:11:42,341 Sound rolling. 315 00:11:42,341 --> 00:11:45,301 Morning everyone I've obviously done a stream of helium. 316 00:11:45,301 --> 00:11:46,141 [laughing] 317 00:11:46,141 --> 00:11:47,581 [Angela] With inexperienced crew. 318 00:11:47,581 --> 00:11:49,141 Twenty six, take one. 319 00:11:50,261 --> 00:11:53,301 [Angela] And teams of professionals were stuck in doors. 320 00:11:53,301 --> 00:11:54,861 I'm missing the location catering. 321 00:11:54,861 --> 00:11:55,701 [laughing] 322 00:11:55,701 --> 00:11:57,901 [Angela] Nobody has ever made TV 323 00:11:57,901 --> 00:11:59,541 quite like this before. 324 00:11:59,541 --> 00:12:00,621 Let's cut there. 325 00:12:01,461 --> 00:12:03,221 [Angela] So we're taking you for a behind-the-scenes 326 00:12:03,221 --> 00:12:06,101 look at the future of television. 327 00:12:06,101 --> 00:12:07,501 Okay, so no rows at home yet? 328 00:12:07,501 --> 00:12:08,901 All going well? 329 00:12:08,901 --> 00:12:10,261 I don't know, we've been remarkably-- 330 00:12:10,261 --> 00:12:11,261 Ooh! 331 00:12:11,261 --> 00:12:12,781 [laughing] 332 00:12:12,781 --> 00:12:14,421 Jeremy Beadle has arrived. 333 00:12:15,301 --> 00:12:17,661 Let's just hope it all gets back to normal soon. 334 00:12:17,661 --> 00:12:20,101 [cheerful music] 335 00:12:20,101 --> 00:12:21,861 [Angela] When social distancing restrictions 336 00:12:21,861 --> 00:12:24,461 were imposed, we were effectively imprisoned, 337 00:12:24,461 --> 00:12:25,981 with members of our household. 338 00:12:27,981 --> 00:12:30,221 Some families, desperate for unity, 339 00:12:30,221 --> 00:12:32,181 suddenly find themselves, more divided 340 00:12:33,061 --> 00:12:35,701 and this scene is picked up in "Karen". 341 00:12:35,701 --> 00:12:37,581 A film featuring Eddie Marsan, 342 00:12:37,581 --> 00:12:38,901 who is also under lockdown 343 00:12:38,901 --> 00:12:40,981 with his two sons, Blu and Bodhi. 344 00:12:42,701 --> 00:12:44,021 This is a story about a man 345 00:12:44,021 --> 00:12:45,221 whose marriage has broken down 346 00:12:45,221 --> 00:12:47,141 and he's trying to deal with that, within lockdown. 347 00:12:47,141 --> 00:12:52,141 Which sets a whole new collection of problems to deal with. 348 00:12:52,301 --> 00:12:54,581 [Angela] The isolation story begins with a surprise 349 00:12:54,581 --> 00:12:56,541 visit from their estranged grandpa. 350 00:12:56,541 --> 00:12:57,981 Jesus, that's all we need. 351 00:12:57,981 --> 00:12:59,901 Played by David Threlfall. 352 00:13:01,181 --> 00:13:04,061 Keeping the two main cast members a safe distance apart 353 00:13:04,061 --> 00:13:06,461 was of paramount importance on this shoot. 354 00:13:06,461 --> 00:13:08,741 Fortunately David came prepared. 355 00:13:08,741 --> 00:13:11,581 He revived his classic Threlfall method 356 00:13:11,581 --> 00:13:13,861 to keep Eddie at least two metres away. 357 00:13:13,861 --> 00:13:15,181 It's not been unknown in the past 358 00:13:15,181 --> 00:13:16,021 and I didn't do on this, 359 00:13:16,021 --> 00:13:18,621 I didn't shower for four days while we filmed. 360 00:13:18,621 --> 00:13:21,781 No but then that's isolation for you. 361 00:13:21,781 --> 00:13:24,661 David was gonna make his entrance, his big entrance 362 00:13:24,661 --> 00:13:26,781 and just as he came running in character 363 00:13:26,781 --> 00:13:29,181 our tortoise decided to come out of hibernation 364 00:13:29,181 --> 00:13:30,021 [laughing] 365 00:13:30,021 --> 00:13:31,581 and walk across the garden. 366 00:13:31,581 --> 00:13:33,861 [laughing] 367 00:13:33,861 --> 00:13:36,861 Our tortoise has just come into shot. 368 00:13:36,861 --> 00:13:38,541 [Woman] Tortoise? 369 00:13:38,541 --> 00:13:39,621 [Eddie] He always wanted to be an actor 370 00:13:39,621 --> 00:13:42,781 he just, he just couldn't come out of his shell. 371 00:13:42,781 --> 00:13:44,621 You'd get started, ready to do a take 372 00:13:44,621 --> 00:13:46,141 and you'd have to go, "Hang on!" 373 00:13:46,141 --> 00:13:48,021 -"What?" -"Elvis, Elvis" 374 00:13:48,021 --> 00:13:49,461 and sometimes when I didn't see him, 375 00:13:49,461 --> 00:13:51,421 Eddie and the whole family were going, like- 376 00:13:51,421 --> 00:13:52,901 and I'm going, "Hey, hey!" 377 00:13:52,901 --> 00:13:55,341 and they're going, "No, no, Elvis, Elvis!" 378 00:13:55,341 --> 00:13:57,461 I said, "I can't do Elvis, I can do Eric Morcambe 379 00:13:57,461 --> 00:13:59,261 but I can't do Elvis". 380 00:14:00,261 --> 00:14:02,141 I had to remove him from the premises, obviously 381 00:14:02,141 --> 00:14:03,381 and give him a good talking to 382 00:14:03,381 --> 00:14:05,781 and say, "Look, listen mate", you know. 383 00:14:05,781 --> 00:14:07,861 Anyway, we put him in the corner, gave him headphones, 384 00:14:07,861 --> 00:14:10,181 he could hear everything, so it was okay, you know. 385 00:14:11,341 --> 00:14:14,581 Me and David were chatting from six feet away 386 00:14:14,581 --> 00:14:17,701 and he said to me, that when we were young actors 387 00:14:17,701 --> 00:14:21,861 he used to take two or three weeks to work on a character 388 00:14:21,861 --> 00:14:23,701 and then he'd bring it to the screen. 389 00:14:23,701 --> 00:14:26,621 It's that visual side of things, has always interested me 390 00:14:26,621 --> 00:14:28,621 so it's quite pleasing. 391 00:14:28,621 --> 00:14:30,141 It's also pleasing just to- 392 00:14:31,861 --> 00:14:34,901 I was near enough to get on my motorbike, in costume, 393 00:14:34,901 --> 00:14:38,221 put the helmet on, in the sunshine, drive round to Eddie's 394 00:14:38,221 --> 00:14:40,301 walk down the side alleyway 395 00:14:40,301 --> 00:14:43,581 and go straight to the back garden, not having seen anybody. 396 00:14:43,581 --> 00:14:44,941 Hey, hey, hey, hey! 397 00:14:44,941 --> 00:14:46,821 Who's that? 398 00:14:46,821 --> 00:14:48,901 It's so liberating, actually, to get it. 399 00:14:48,901 --> 00:14:50,661 I mean, who wants a pandemic? No thank you 400 00:14:50,661 --> 00:14:53,141 but I mean it's so liberating. 401 00:14:53,141 --> 00:14:55,661 It's great to have done it, in such a short time. 402 00:14:56,701 --> 00:14:59,661 This is it, 'kay, once we've got this bit of them 403 00:14:59,661 --> 00:15:01,261 they'll be finished for the day. 404 00:15:02,581 --> 00:15:03,621 Home schooling is going on 405 00:15:03,621 --> 00:15:07,101 and it's our home, it's our kitchen as well. 406 00:15:07,101 --> 00:15:10,981 So really that was quite exhausting. 407 00:15:12,461 --> 00:15:15,181 When I was outside looking in, when lunch was called, 408 00:15:15,181 --> 00:15:18,981 that was, I brought that, that was my Tupperware salad 409 00:15:18,981 --> 00:15:22,341 but all that time, Eddie and Janine had to feed the family. 410 00:15:22,341 --> 00:15:24,101 When they weren't doing that, they were moving lights. 411 00:15:24,101 --> 00:15:25,501 When they weren't doing that, 412 00:15:25,501 --> 00:15:27,661 they were putting the clapperboards on 413 00:15:27,661 --> 00:15:30,021 and all the technical stuff. 414 00:15:30,021 --> 00:15:32,661 So they were there on the move, you know, 415 00:15:32,661 --> 00:15:33,661 pretty much all day. 416 00:15:35,141 --> 00:15:38,141 Probably the most intense thing was when we had lunch, 417 00:15:38,141 --> 00:15:40,301 we had to cook lunch for the kids on set 418 00:15:40,301 --> 00:15:42,501 and then clean it up afterwards in time to get back 419 00:15:42,501 --> 00:15:43,461 and shoot in the afternoon. 420 00:15:43,461 --> 00:15:45,141 Sorry, I've just got to mute you. 421 00:15:47,061 --> 00:15:49,781 Janine was amazing, she was multi-tasking. 422 00:15:49,781 --> 00:15:52,221 I was just in the toilet, making out it was my trailer, 423 00:15:52,221 --> 00:15:53,421 demanding coffees, all day long. 424 00:15:53,421 --> 00:15:54,621 [laughing] 425 00:15:54,621 --> 00:15:56,061 [Kids] Mom! 426 00:15:56,061 --> 00:15:58,061 [Angela] Beautiful as the Marsan's kitchen is, 427 00:15:58,061 --> 00:16:00,661 it was never designed to be a film set. 428 00:16:00,661 --> 00:16:02,661 Is that you reflected, Janine? 429 00:16:02,661 --> 00:16:04,061 [indistinct] 430 00:16:04,061 --> 00:16:05,981 In that corner class? 431 00:16:05,981 --> 00:16:09,741 The limitations of having so much glass and mirror 432 00:16:09,741 --> 00:16:12,341 and trying to keep myself out of it, 433 00:16:13,421 --> 00:16:16,661 in the parameters of the shot. 434 00:16:16,661 --> 00:16:18,661 So, yes, I've learnt a lot. 435 00:16:19,661 --> 00:16:21,581 [Angela] But in the end, Janine put all that pesky 436 00:16:21,581 --> 00:16:23,261 reflective glass to good use, 437 00:16:23,261 --> 00:16:25,141 in a sequence of poignant end-shots, 438 00:16:25,141 --> 00:16:27,141 that will have professional cinematographers 439 00:16:27,141 --> 00:16:29,101 quaking in their boots. 440 00:16:29,101 --> 00:16:31,501 [sad music] 441 00:16:31,501 --> 00:16:34,301 [cheerful music] 442 00:16:34,301 --> 00:16:35,541 [Angela] Over the past few weeks, 443 00:16:35,541 --> 00:16:36,341 many of us have cared 444 00:16:36,341 --> 00:16:38,981 for a loved one with COVID-19 symptoms 445 00:16:38,981 --> 00:16:40,141 and this was dramatised, 446 00:16:40,141 --> 00:16:43,221 in the isolation story, "Ron and Russell" 447 00:16:43,221 --> 00:16:45,301 starring real-life father and son, 448 00:16:45,301 --> 00:16:47,301 Robert and Tom Glenister. 449 00:16:47,301 --> 00:16:48,861 I brought you some breakfast. 450 00:16:49,821 --> 00:16:52,221 The fact that I'm doing it with Tom, is a bonus 451 00:16:52,221 --> 00:16:55,341 because we sort of have, there's a sort of an understanding, 452 00:16:55,341 --> 00:16:58,381 a sort of, we don't really. 453 00:16:58,381 --> 00:17:00,661 -Shorthand. -Shorthand that's the word. 454 00:17:00,661 --> 00:17:01,941 I just wanna go home. 455 00:17:03,181 --> 00:17:04,821 I don't know why they put me in here. 456 00:17:04,821 --> 00:17:06,101 This is your home, dad. 457 00:17:07,421 --> 00:17:09,061 What's fascinating doing this 458 00:17:09,061 --> 00:17:11,501 is this simplicity of how we're doing it 459 00:17:11,501 --> 00:17:15,301 and the simplicity of being able to tell the story 460 00:17:15,301 --> 00:17:17,821 because you haven't got, 461 00:17:17,821 --> 00:17:19,141 I suppose for want of a better word, 462 00:17:19,141 --> 00:17:20,941 the paraphernalia, that's often associated 463 00:17:20,941 --> 00:17:22,421 with film making et cetera 464 00:17:23,301 --> 00:17:25,061 and we haven't got the time. 465 00:17:25,061 --> 00:17:27,901 [cheerful music] 466 00:17:27,901 --> 00:17:30,981 It's the roles reversed really, it's one of those things 467 00:17:30,981 --> 00:17:33,901 where actually you realise how easy actors have it on set. 468 00:17:33,901 --> 00:17:34,741 [laughing] 469 00:17:34,741 --> 00:17:35,901 Gaffer, best boy. 470 00:17:36,901 --> 00:17:40,021 [Tom] It started with a very carefully thought out, 471 00:17:40,021 --> 00:17:44,101 safe delivery of equipment phones and laptops and stuff, 472 00:17:44,101 --> 00:17:45,461 left outside the house. 473 00:17:45,461 --> 00:17:46,501 Merry Christmas. 474 00:17:46,501 --> 00:17:50,501 Which we then, had to go and collect and bring in. 475 00:17:50,501 --> 00:17:53,581 We're not stock piling, it's an essential prop. 476 00:17:54,741 --> 00:17:57,221 Believe that, you'll believe anything. 477 00:17:57,221 --> 00:17:58,741 [Angela] But once dad had all the props 478 00:17:58,741 --> 00:18:00,341 and technical kit in the house. 479 00:18:00,341 --> 00:18:03,381 It was up to mom, Celia, to do all the heavy lifting. 480 00:18:05,181 --> 00:18:07,381 It's a huge responsibility, especially 481 00:18:07,381 --> 00:18:10,741 because you know, I was actually going to be doing, 482 00:18:10,741 --> 00:18:12,341 sort of, five people's jobs. 483 00:18:12,341 --> 00:18:13,421 You were art director 484 00:18:13,421 --> 00:18:15,501 -and props master. -Yeah. 485 00:18:15,501 --> 00:18:17,901 -You were everything. -Yes but I'm loving it. 486 00:18:18,941 --> 00:18:21,221 You know, I'm running about. 487 00:18:21,221 --> 00:18:23,901 Ask me at half past eight tonight, how I'm feeling. 488 00:18:23,901 --> 00:18:24,821 [laughing] 489 00:18:24,821 --> 00:18:26,461 She actually physically moved the whole tripod 490 00:18:26,461 --> 00:18:27,621 towards the window, so. 491 00:18:29,421 --> 00:18:30,861 [Celia] That's as far as I can go. 492 00:18:30,861 --> 00:18:32,261 [Cameraman] Okay, that's cool. 493 00:18:32,261 --> 00:18:34,861 I mean it's been amazing, I mean I've learned so much 494 00:18:34,861 --> 00:18:36,901 in a very short space of time 495 00:18:38,221 --> 00:18:39,901 and I'm thinking of changing my career. 496 00:18:39,901 --> 00:18:41,461 [laughing] 497 00:18:41,461 --> 00:18:43,061 [Director] Mark it. 498 00:18:43,061 --> 00:18:45,101 Scene 6, take 1. 499 00:18:45,101 --> 00:18:46,981 [clapperboard clapping] 500 00:18:46,981 --> 00:18:49,741 It's all been messages being transferred 501 00:18:49,741 --> 00:18:51,781 from outside the house, into the house. 502 00:18:51,781 --> 00:18:53,781 We could do this for the rest of lockdown, 503 00:18:53,781 --> 00:18:54,821 just do films like this. 504 00:18:54,821 --> 00:18:55,661 [laughing] 505 00:18:55,661 --> 00:18:57,861 We can bring the squad team, guys, that's good 506 00:18:57,861 --> 00:19:00,581 but Celia, you're coming everywhere with us. 507 00:19:00,581 --> 00:19:02,461 Mum, suddenly becoming a DOP 508 00:19:03,821 --> 00:19:06,021 and being told how to set up cameras 509 00:19:06,021 --> 00:19:09,101 and how to set up lights and microphones. 510 00:19:09,101 --> 00:19:13,301 If you can pan right, so I can see the other knob 511 00:19:13,301 --> 00:19:14,901 at the end of the bed, please? 512 00:19:16,501 --> 00:19:18,581 That's no way to describe me! 513 00:19:18,581 --> 00:19:20,061 [laughing] 514 00:19:20,061 --> 00:19:21,501 Hold it there, Celia. 515 00:19:21,501 --> 00:19:24,261 [cheerful music] 516 00:19:26,021 --> 00:19:26,861 [coughing] 517 00:19:26,861 --> 00:19:28,181 What are you wearing? 518 00:19:28,181 --> 00:19:29,621 [Angela] Playing a seriously ill man 519 00:19:29,621 --> 00:19:31,381 presents its own challenges. 520 00:19:31,381 --> 00:19:33,381 Come on, I've got to take your temperature. 521 00:19:33,381 --> 00:19:34,941 [Angela] Under lockdown conditions, 522 00:19:34,941 --> 00:19:37,821 no makeup team can go within two metres of Robert. 523 00:19:39,341 --> 00:19:40,901 That's a turkey probe. 524 00:19:40,901 --> 00:19:42,661 [Angela] So, it's up to the family 525 00:19:42,661 --> 00:19:46,061 and Robert, himself, to make the fever look realistic. 526 00:19:46,061 --> 00:19:47,501 Where are you gonna put it? 527 00:19:47,501 --> 00:19:48,541 Under your tongue. 528 00:19:50,461 --> 00:19:52,541 I talked to Janet, the makeup designer 529 00:19:53,821 --> 00:19:56,261 and we were going to, sort of, pale him down a bit 530 00:19:56,261 --> 00:20:00,461 and then, I remember a photograph of Boris Johnson 531 00:20:00,461 --> 00:20:01,621 when he was outside No. 10, 532 00:20:01,621 --> 00:20:04,581 doing the first clapping for the NHS 533 00:20:04,581 --> 00:20:07,981 and he seemed very, quite puce to me and quite red. 534 00:20:07,981 --> 00:20:11,581 So I suggested that we have a look without makeup 535 00:20:11,581 --> 00:20:13,501 and I just, I had a beard before we started 536 00:20:13,501 --> 00:20:14,461 so I shaved that off 537 00:20:14,461 --> 00:20:16,061 and just got a bit of stubble, 538 00:20:16,061 --> 00:20:16,941 swept my hair back 539 00:20:18,461 --> 00:20:19,301 and we got sweat, 540 00:20:19,301 --> 00:20:22,221 there's sort of custom-made bottle of sweat, 541 00:20:22,221 --> 00:20:23,781 I mean, not real sweat, obviously. 542 00:20:23,781 --> 00:20:24,781 [laughing] 543 00:20:24,781 --> 00:20:25,861 And you just spray it on 544 00:20:25,861 --> 00:20:28,981 and all of a sudden, you look hot and sweaty. 545 00:20:31,741 --> 00:20:32,741 Okay end board. 546 00:20:35,381 --> 00:20:36,341 [clapperboard clapping] 547 00:20:36,341 --> 00:20:38,301 Boy, unbelievably brilliant. 548 00:20:38,301 --> 00:20:40,021 You've made me cry, three times in a row. 549 00:20:40,021 --> 00:20:41,661 [cheerful music] 550 00:20:41,661 --> 00:20:43,301 [Angela] The film culminates with a scene 551 00:20:43,301 --> 00:20:45,021 that's become a unifying phenomemon 552 00:20:45,021 --> 00:20:47,301 in locked down nations across the world. 553 00:20:48,221 --> 00:20:49,781 [Presenter] Millions of us, will show our support, 554 00:20:49,781 --> 00:20:52,581 for our wonderful NHS and key workers 555 00:20:52,581 --> 00:20:55,381 by standing outside our homes and applauding. 556 00:20:55,381 --> 00:20:57,141 [Angela] Current restrictions on social gathering, 557 00:20:57,141 --> 00:21:00,341 meant summoning an army of extras was off limits 558 00:21:00,341 --> 00:21:03,301 but fortunately this wasn't gonna stop Director, Louise, 559 00:21:03,301 --> 00:21:05,421 from getting all the shots she needed. 560 00:21:05,421 --> 00:21:07,261 [Louise] You know, you can move a little bit so 561 00:21:07,261 --> 00:21:09,141 and then if you come down to him clapping. 562 00:21:09,141 --> 00:21:10,901 [Angela] Luckily the Glenister's live 563 00:21:10,901 --> 00:21:12,941 on a very special street. 564 00:21:12,941 --> 00:21:14,461 [Tom] Not just on the Thursdays 565 00:21:14,461 --> 00:21:16,101 but every single night at eight o'clock 566 00:21:16,101 --> 00:21:17,301 everyone comes out 567 00:21:17,301 --> 00:21:19,301 and it's, kind of, it's amazing. 568 00:21:19,301 --> 00:21:21,301 We've got a couple of nurses on our road 569 00:21:21,301 --> 00:21:23,101 and a couple of people who work for the NHS, 570 00:21:23,101 --> 00:21:25,461 so it's, yeah, it's quite special. 571 00:21:25,461 --> 00:21:26,421 [pans banging] 572 00:21:26,421 --> 00:21:28,021 [neighbours cheering] 573 00:21:28,021 --> 00:21:31,181 Did you get, were you getting to go round getting 574 00:21:31,181 --> 00:21:34,461 some of those isolated ones of the neighbours? 575 00:21:34,461 --> 00:21:36,461 [Louise] Yeah, we've got some, just a cameo, 576 00:21:36,461 --> 00:21:37,301 so it's an old couple 577 00:21:37,301 --> 00:21:39,261 and some kids and we've got people with a horn. 578 00:21:39,261 --> 00:21:40,061 [pots banging] 579 00:21:40,061 --> 00:21:41,141 [crowd cheering] 580 00:21:41,141 --> 00:21:42,581 [Angela] Maybe TV drama 581 00:21:42,581 --> 00:21:44,181 will be made like this forever more. 582 00:21:44,181 --> 00:21:45,861 [crowd cheering] 583 00:21:45,861 --> 00:21:49,501 Or perhaps the virus, just presented a bump in the road. 584 00:21:49,501 --> 00:21:50,301 For me? 585 00:21:51,381 --> 00:21:53,341 [Angela] Who wants to predict the future? 586 00:21:53,341 --> 00:21:54,661 A few months ago we could never imagine 587 00:21:54,661 --> 00:21:56,021 being where we are now. 588 00:21:57,861 --> 00:21:59,301 So let's just be glad, 589 00:21:59,301 --> 00:22:01,981 that we could tell these "Isolation Stories" today. 590 00:22:01,981 --> 00:22:04,701 [cheerful music] 591 00:22:07,461 --> 00:22:10,221 [cheerful music] 592 00:22:11,501 --> 00:22:14,501 [letters vibrating]