Normally,
this time of year would have Bellingham’s Pickford Film Center busy with people
lining up, ordering popcorn, and enjoying films entered in the CASCADIA
International Women’s Film Festival. But the COVID-19 lockdown changed all
that.
This year,
the festival was forced to screen its official selections online. What makes CASCADIA
unique, is that it’s one of only five film festivals in the U.S. to showcase
films directed and co-directed by women.
As conditions with the Covid-19
virus took the world by storm, all non-essential local businesses have been
ordered closed.
This immediate change left little time for any transition, and
students were thrown right into it. Teachers were not immune.
“I’m learning from the experience,” said Whatcom
Community College drama instructor Gerald Large. “One thing, for instance, is the Drama 110 Production
class. Live on stage, I’m focused on getting the play on its feet for
performing in front of a live audience. Putting it online, I’m forced to focus
more on analysis.”