First Contact
Writer’s Note
The first time I saw my housemate after six months apart, she was sitting on the ground, crying next to her crashed car. I reached out to comfort her, and was immediately plagued by questions. Was it okay to touch her? What would the neighbors think if they saw? If we were planning on sharing a bubble, when was the right time to take off my mask? Was this a situation important enough to warrant touching her, even if it wasn’t okay? These were some of the questions I wanted to explore with “First Contact,” combined with the fear of a new love.
Director/Actor’s Note
Fiona’s script really encapsulated the weirdness of dating and new relationships in the pandemic. Zoe and I wanted to visually enhance the feeling Fiona created by wearing masks and staying six feet apart. First dates are awkward under the best circumstances let alone when the lower halves of both of your faces are covered and you’re staying at an awkward distance. This piece was a great opportunity to look at the little things the pandemic has impacted.