Considering the current circumstances that have prevented contact, I was lucky enough to get the chance to work in a great team for the production of Outside the Box. Initially, I thought it’d be easier to work solo during lockdown, however, working in a team has not only lightened the work-load but also made the experience all the more enjoyable as I got to share it with other people.

At times, I would consider myself a good collaborator as I enjoy meeting new people and building friendships. I often find that when a group of like-minded people are able to get to know one another, and strike a balance between work and socialising, they tend to enjoy the process and trust their teammates, resulting in great work. I enjoyed initiating this dynamic as I feel as though it is as beneficial to others as it is to me.

Another strength I have when working collaboratively is effective communication. Even when tasks were delegated, I ensured the team was updated on my progress, such as shooting footage, complications faced during filming, changes made to the edit, etc… Jes and Brooke also kept the team in the loop of any progress made on their behalf. These debriefings were really important since we were unable to work together physically, enabling us to keep each other involved in the decision-making process, as well as maintaining consistency in all areas of production.

An aspect of collaboration that I struggle with most, particularly during this project, is delegation. At times I prefer to do the task myself, rather than explaining my ideas to others, which I am aware is not a good habit to foster. Because Outside the Box was initially my idea to film, I think it was assumed that I would take on some form of leadership, since I had more background knowledge of the story. This was a challenge as I felt uncomfortable asking others to help me with certain tasks. It was frustrating and somewhat awkward not being able to involve the team in the filming process and therefore I avoided asking them to help me with menial tasks, like organising release forms and other documentation. For future productions,  I will need to be more intentional when seeking help, and ensure that I am direct with instructions instead of waiting for others in the team to magically take on the role.