The creative industries sector in Calgary was faced with a number of challenges when the COVID-19 pandemic began. Many found a way to pivot and have been able to find new and efficient ways to continue working.
Here are some of the news-making stories from Calgary’s Creative Industries:
- Back in action: Calgary was one of the first cities to adapt and allow film production to restart. Health and safety remain a top priority, and strict safety protocols have been implemented at film sites, including deep sanitization of equipment, temperature checks for all those on set, mandatory mask use and proper physical-distancing measures.
- Some Good News: Communo, a subscription-based platform that connects creatives with short-term project work played a major role in sharing Some Good News. Communo helped producers of the web series, created and hosted by actor John Krasinski, find the right talent for everything from post-production to distribution to social media. The Calgary-based startup also stepped up to help creatives when COVID-19 first hit by waiving membership fees, allowing many contract workers free access to hundreds of job postings.
- Gaming for good: ePlay Digital teamed up with Canadian actor and comedian Howie Mandel to launch the Breakout the Masks charity campaign, which focused on getting much-needed masks and personal protective equipment (PPE) to doctors, nurses, and front line workers. The campaign encouraged people to download Outbreak, a fast-paced game where players must match three or more cells to destroy the disease before the cells reach the inner cavity. So far, the partnership has gotten more than one million masks to front line workers.
- Shifting to sessions: Event management and ticket provider Showpass found a way to continue offering experiences between artists and customers through its new online marketplace, Sessions. The platform enables performers, celebrities, experts and influencers to create an online setting that mimics physical social gatherings, all while following social distancing guidelines.