Filmmaker explains how the global pandemic has affected the independent film scene

Iain Cash should currently be on the festival circuit with two of his most recent short films, called Forever Manchester and Dear John, I’m Sorry.

Both were due to be screened at the Lift Off festival in Tokyo this month, which would’ve allowed him to see how audiences react and provide much needed feedback on his work.

But the 40-year-old, from Winstanley said that although audience engagement would be negatively affected, there were some advantages to be taken, such as not having to worry about travel expenses, which can be a big worry for independent creators.

“In a normal world, we make a living from making films and having people see our work,” said Iain.

“It’s an amazing feeling. One of the best things is getting to see audiences see your films. The last few films I made were comedies, so seeing people react and laugh was great. I was really looking forward to seeing the impact of Dear John.

“But the pandemic is going to have a massive impact, because we don’t know if people are going to watch our films online. The whole point is seeing your film for the first time with an audience, and that’s being taken away. But of course, the bigger picture is that we have to think of everyone’s health and wellbeing.”

He added: “You can spend more in festival entry fees than you do making a film. It can cost anywhere between £5-50.”

Had the festivals gone ahead, attendees would have been eager to watch Forever Manchester, a short film about a family’s desperate attempts to contact their daughter on the night of the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing. They also would’ve been among the first to see one of Iain’s latest shorts, Dear John, I’m Sorry. Shot in Hindley and starring Wigan Little Theatre actors Maggie Hall, John Naughton and Phil Gwilliam, the drama focuses on an elderly couple who tragically decided to end their lives together.

Iain said: “It is based on a true story. I remember seeing in the news that an old gentleman had been told he had cancer, and it was inoperable. The couple decided they couldn’t live without each other. I just took that premise and made it into a story. It was made using a couple of actors from Wigan Little Theatre and people we’ve worked with in the past.

“Making the film was really cheap because we could call in favours and borrow kit. The real expenses were getting it to film festivals, but now coronavirus has changed everything and the festivals are going online.”

Instead of touring the world at great expense with his film, Iain has been making the most of the lockdown by honing his latest script for a film about bodybuilding in Wigan.