Healing Through Film: Capturing Clackmannanshire's Covid Journey
During the Remembering Together project, film became a powerful medium for storytelling, offering a visual window into the experiences of Clackmannanshire’s communities during the Covid-19 pandemic. Documentary filmmaking has a unique ability to capture raw emotions and enable people to express themselves in ways that words alone often cannot. It brings a directness and authenticity to personal stories, connecting the audience with real people, real challenges, and real resilience.
Filmmaker Cameron Watt, who directed the roles of Sound Engineer, Lighting Technician, and Editor for the project, worked closely with each community partner to bring their stories to life. His expertise in technical aspects, paired with a sensitivity to each individual's story, ensured that the films reflected both the emotions and experiences of the participants authentically. Through well-balanced lighting and crisp sound engineering, Cameron created an environment that put the interviewees at ease, encouraging them to open up and share their personal journey.
As part of the process, each community partner was asked to give three words that described their experience of the pandemic and lockdown. Words like “meltdown,” "fear," and "inspiration" echoed across various interviews, capturing both the personal toll and the collective awakening that many experienced. Some words captured the struggles of isolation, while others reflected the hope and action that inspired people to help others during times of crisis.
Documentary films, like the ones created for this project, have been described as “empathy machines” by filmmakers and critics alike. By allowing people to share their stories directly, these films foster a deep connection between the subject and the viewer. As filmmaker Ken Burns once said, "Documentaries are the art of letting people tell their own stories." That sentiment rings true in these films, where community members' voices were heard, their grief acknowledged, and their resilience celebrated.
The Remembering Together films not only document what happened during Covid-19 in Clackmannanshire but also serve as a visual record of a collective healing journey. By providing a platform for voices that may have otherwise gone unheard, the project has helped to create a legacy of storytelling that future generations can look back on—learning, empathising, and drawing strength from the shared experiences of their community.