What Does the Phrase ‘New Normal’ Mean? 

The team at Moon Films reflect on the many ways it has worked through an unexpected global pandemic.

The world has stopped for some time, which we never anticipated or thought possible. But it has. Something so obvious and previously encouraged like social interaction, became a scary activity.  After the initial shock, we had to quickly adapt to the new reality.

We then found out that this adjustment wasn’t so impossible or as difficult as we had thought. 

All the tools were here, we just had to use them correctly. Because safety was always our biggest priority, now it is essential for us all. 

The first step was the early lockdown, but we found ourselves in the midst of a big post-production process, so even when lockdown suddenly restricted us to our homes, we never really entirely shut down our productions. We had to finish all our projects that had stopped at the post production level. It was a turning point to reorganise and start thinking in different terms. 

The level of CGI is very high now, but it’s downside is time consumption. We needed to act fast and safely. Soon enough we realised that even if our office is officially closed and we had to stay at home, it didn't change that much. We worked online before. We got clients from abroad, we experienced online project management including editing and grading between Africa, North America and Europe. It wasn’t new for MOON FILMS, to take productions to the next level. 

We started with some real in-house productions, for our regular client, Allegro. Online we started to work with Ogilvy and we established reduced film production during the lockdown. We needed courageous innovations: virtual, tech, post, safety on the set.

It’s not easy to produce content when all parties including film crew and actors work confined to their homes. However, we somehow made this ‘click’ in our heads.  MOON Films previous experience in shooting, especially for the strictly digital campaigns, taught us how to minimise crew without reducing the final effect in terms of quality. 

We started from there, brainstorming ideas: how to deliver content, in its core so team-oriented but … now deconstructed so we can work separately but together. And we succeeded by including virtual tutorials for actors, who were shooting without film crew presence. 

We see that distance and borders are melting. We can work remotely all over the world. Not because it wasn't possible before but because our partners realised and admitted that with some improvements and changes of thinking , it’s possible or necessary.

We believe Shooting a film, series or commercial may increase the need for servicing abroad and partial shooting and postproduction outsourcing. 

Our credo is that we call it FLEXIBILITY & CREATIVITY FIRST. So we didn’t stop looking for new production approaches. As I wrote before it was easier because our Clients, Advertising Agencies, film and postproduction people were forced to lead responsibly and trust their creative partners. Reconcile production process as less controlled by them. 

MOON creates state-of-the-art content and advertising films in all shapes and sizes on behalf of clients of all shapes and sizes. Highest production values, striking visual style and excellent client relationships - that’s what we aim for.

MOON FILMS founder Magda Betlejewska is an experienced commercial producer whose talent is not only to bring the final result but also to make everyone comfortable in the process.

The production house is formed mostly by people that cut their teeth working for years and years in DDB Warsaw group. With this professional background MOON FILMS understands perfectly the Agency - Client’s world and needs. In the pandemic and post pandemic time, trusting your partners and forming close collaboration is and will be crucial. Creative producers that have a great sense of aesthetics and empathy for artists will  not only be added value as before but necessary to control the creative process on set in collaboration with virtual present partners. 

Together with exceptionally creative producers, MOON FILMS brings you wonderful in-house directors, who are ready to work in unimaginable ways before production approaches. 

And, of course, a realistic and professional CREATIVE FIRST Production Schedule and CE followed by safety guidelines - new approaches and necessary precautions and health and safety protocols. Medics on the set was a normality before. Now, we will check temperature, give safety kits, ozone and disinfect our set, keep safe distance, care and work even harder to deliver the best film. Fun is creative. Don’t give up. We love brave. We love human. We love goosebumps.