Soaps have had to adapt since Covid-19 restrictions came into place and actors have had to remain two metres apart and EastEnders has impressed with some of its new tactics including camera techniques, plastic screens and even hiring in real life partners for kissing or arrest scenes which required close contact.
Show boss Jon Sen has admitted that it has been a huge challenge and the whole team, who were forced to come off air at the height of the first wave of the pandemic, are eager to get things back to normal.
But at the same time, everyone has been proud of what they have managed to achieve under the most difficult of circumstances.
The producer said: ‘The biggest challenge is making convincing drama whilst keeping everyone at a safe 2 metre distance. As you’ll have seen from some of the content we put out, we’ve gone to great lengths to make sure that what we are producing is a reminiscent of pre-covid EastEnders.
It’s been a great challenge for both cast and crew alike to maintain that quality and we’ve kept the ambition of our storytelling. I’m really proud that we’ve not compromised on the ambition that we’re bringing to the show – the number of characters that were able to tell stories with and keeping that sense of the community feel that everyone comes to EastEnders for.
‘Keeping a brilliant range from the dramatic and thrilling to the comic stuff – it was great to see Kim back too! We’re still doing what EastEnders does best even under these very challenging times.
‘The thing that I’ve realised through filming in this way, is how much clarity one can achieve through the use of one or two cameras. It does have some benefits aesthetically and I hope that we can hold onto those as we go forward.
‘However, I think the actors – rightly so, are desperate to get back to filming as we have done for the past 35 years and I can’t wait to join them whenever that may be. One of the greatest challenges we’ve had is actors finding themselves doing plate shots, acting to nothing and being added in later so finding the natural rhythm to scenes is a really different process.
‘It has been an amazing thing to watch all of the cast rise to the challenge, I’m really proud.’
If you’ve got a soap or TV story, video or pictures get in touch by emailing us [email protected] – we’d love to hear from you.
Join the community by leaving a comment below and stay updated on all things soaps at our homepage.
Source: Read Full Article