#WFH Diaries: Freelance Producer Wickham Irwin
As confinement continues in many parts of the world, Muse checks in with creative people to see how they're faring. Here, we chat with freelance producer and production manager Wickham Irwin.
Give us a one-line bio of yourself.
Chief operating officer of the Department of Redundancy Department.
Where are you living right now, and who's with you?
Los Angeles, with my wife and two of my three kids.
What's your work situation like at the moment?
Dead in the water. Film production is shut down indefinitely, so I am using this time to work with The Art of Good, helping small businesses adapt to the current conditions. Also, helping my wife with her blog.
Describe your socializing strategy.
I maintain human connection through walks in the neighborhood, Zoom virtual gatherings, driveway drinks (keeping acceptable social distance, of course).
How are you dealing with childcare, if applicable?
Too late for that.
What are you reading?
Finished The Great Influenza by John Barry, now starting George Orwell's classic 1984, because I never read it in high school.
What are you watching?
Ozark, just finished Season 1. And Seinfeld, always. Because it's timeless.
What are you listening to?
My '80's Spotify playlist "New Wave in the Rust Belt," because it reminds me of carefree times while I repaint the bathroom. But I am also enamored with the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge Allstars amazing cover of "Times Like These."
How are you staying fit?
Jogging. Heavy bag in the backyard (for especially frustrating days).
Have you taken up a hobby?
Is drinking considered a hobby?
Any tips for getting necessities?
None, if you consider toilet paper, paper towels, disinfectant, Lysol and hand sanitizer necessities. Otherwise, just strap on your face mask and go to the market. Trader Joe's is great about keeping shelves stocked.
An awkward moment since all this started.
Tracking down yeast for five days because I wanted to bake bread, only to never actually make the bread.
Best work email you got since all this started.
What's email? Everybody Zooms now.
An aha! moment since all this started.
What would we do if there were a power outage!?! Also, the satellite pictures of the Earth being able to breath again.
What's your theory on how this is going to play out?
There are so many ways this could play out, and most of them aren't encouraging in the short term. But hope springs eternal, and as corny as it sounds, the human spirit is a powerful force that will see us through. So it's not really a matter of how this is going to play out, but rather, what we learn from having gone through it.
