Film explores impact of pandemic on Bristol’s creative community

A new film explores the impact of the pandemic on Bristol’s creative community.

What Does Normal Look Like? charts the way the city’s cultural sector found ways to continue their work and come together when they were forced to close up shop in March 2020.

The film’s title comes from a speech in the film, which was taken from a protest during lockdown, and speaks to the way in which everything from clubs, music venues, protests and communities in Bristol transformed overnight, creating a new normal.

The 70-minute feature film is the work of filmmakers and photographers Colin Moody and Tom Whitson, whose worlds collided during a “creative walk” call-out at the height of the first lockdown.

Colin and Tom have traced the impact of lockdown on Bristol’s creative community over three years – photo: Colin Moody

“It’s been this parallel between me and Colin meeting in lockdown,” Tom told Bristol24/7.

“We were documenting how barren and empty and devoid of life these areas of Bristol were that were normally popping and full of people connecting and dancing and clubbing. That was kind of where the project started.”

The pair followed figures and institutions that make up our city’s cultural institutions for two years, as they tried to contend with the pandemic and lockdown.

What Does Normal Look Like? captures the uncertain world of experimental percussionist, Dan Johnson, the anger of masked ‘kill the bill’ protesters, the isolation of gig-goer Big Jeff and the sad closure of Left Bank on Cheltenham Road.

“The filmmaking process was really reactive,” explained Tom. “We were reacting to the circumstances of lockdown changing and new kinds of issues coming to the fore.”

One of the stories explored is that of Big Jeff, whose world changed when music venues closed during lockdown – photo: Simon Holliday

While What Does Normal Look Like? charts the extreme changes for Bristol’s cultural community, it also reflects on the new places and projects that popped up during the period, with the opening of venues like Strange Brew and Dareshack in the city centre, and new communities like the Dove Street gardens project in Kingsdown.

Colin and Tom worked with creatives in Bristol to document the period, including Save Bristol Nightlife campaigner, Annie McGann; photographer Khali Ackford, who captured the Black Lives Matter protests; and photographer Simon Holliday, who captures the spirit of Bristol’s cultural scene.

“The film is a way to give testimony and agency to all these people, about how we got through this,” said Colin.

“Collaboration is the life artery of our culture in this city. The film becomes about Bristol, as much as it does about lockdown.

“It’s a collective healing process for the biggest psychological and irrevocable change of our lifetime.”

Tom added: “I genuinely think going to see this film would open your eyes to a creative community that you could reach out to and get involved with.

“Because even though the film is about a hard period of time, I think you leave it with a sense of optimism about the variety of creative opportunities that are in Bristol and how much of a sense of family there is in Bristol among creative people.”

What Does Normal Look Like? will be screened at the Cube on November 9, followed by a live performance by Dan Johnson.

Main photo: Simon Holliday

Read next:

• Artist documents dozens of collaborations during lockdown
• My Bristol Favourites: Colin Moody
• Documentary explores class, prejudice and pride in south Bristol estate

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