‘The Last Reel’ is an analysis of COVID-19’s impact on the film industry across 2020, and tells the story of cinema’s decline and eventual revitalisation throughout the pandemic. It also examines the potential long-lasting impact of the virus on the media sector, and how it may influence how we make and watch films for years to come.
The documentary is constructed as a single, flowing narrative, predominantly constructed from archive & stock footage. Interview material with media academics and creators, as well as the use of behind the scenes footage, adds to the documentary’s credibility and grounds it on a personal level for the audience.
I directed, edited and researched this documentary so that I could highlight not only the negative impacts of COVID-19 on film & television but also the positives, and to shed some light on the incredible adaptability and hard work involved in keeping it running throughout this time.
I am a 20 year old filmmaker and digital artist studying Film & Television Production at Teesside University in my second year. A portfolio of my work can be found here:
https://tomrv17.wixsite.com/mysite