These are strange, difficult times for us all. Many of us are temporarily out of work, hours are being cut back, jobs are being put on hold or altogether canceled, and we’re tightening our belts as we continue to prepare and react to this pandemic. Daily life has been profoundly disrupted for many of us, and it would be an understatement to say we’re in new, unprecedented territory here.

It’s easy to get caught up in the endless news cycles, but we’re encouraged by all of the individuals and companies stepping up to make this all just a little bit easier by pulling together, launching online classes, inspiring one another with new creative content, hosting giveaways and contests, and giving where they can.

To help you make the most of this time, we’ve compiled a list of resources, organizations and services that are either free, or offering reduced pricing, as well as some additional ideas to make the best of this situation (this is by no means an exhausted list).

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REMOTE WORKING/ COLLABORATION RESOURCES

Adobe is offering 2 months free of Creative:

https://www.adobe.com/covid-19-response/message-from-shantanu.html

Avid is offering a 90 day free license for Media Composer Ultimate, Pro Tools, Pro Tools Ultimate, or Sibelius Ultimate:

https://www.avid.com/covid-19

Writers Room – Free Screenwriting Add-On for Google Docs, use this quarantine time to create your next hit TV Show, Shortfilm or Feature Film.

http://writersrm.com

Comcast in USA offering 60 days free internet service, and public hot spots:

https://corporate.comcast.com/covid-19

Zoom online video conferencing has made substantial adjustments to their free account to accommodate for students through July 1st:

https://zoom.us/docs/en-us/covid19.html

Frame.io is offering a free 90-day enterprise account, as well as an additional 2TB of free space for 90 days:

https://blog.frame.io/2020/03/18/frameio-covid-19-response/

Sound Cloud

50% off SoundCloud Pro Unlimited subscriptions

Today through Monday, March 30th they are offering the biggest-ever discount on our premium creator subscription plan, Pro Unlimited.

http://soundcloud.com/pro/?ref=t738&utm_source=Braze&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=COVID-Comms-Note-from-CEO

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ONLINE EDUCATION RESOURCES

PRO EDU offering reduced pricing on all of their fantastic classes:

https://proedu.com/blogs/news/temporary-pricing-for-those-quarantined-inside-from-covid-19

Shane Hurlbut, ASC Illumination Experience Workshop offered free until June 16th:

https://www.hurlbutacademy.com/illumination-experience-workshop/

UPenn Free Film History Course— “Hollywood: History, Industry, Art”:

https://www.classcentral.com/course/edx-hollywood-history-industry-art-5643

450 Free Ivy League Online Courses:

https://www.freecodecamp.org/news/ivy-league-free-online-courses-a0d7ae675869/?fbclid=IwAR2W2MjT5XM6BHg4q6fl3GfFbETDHaNOIp5GGkLj7J4DIVhLaCkYXTbwhzU

The New York Public Library has nearly 300,000 eBooks and audiobooks available through their app:

https://www.nypl.org/books-music-movies/ebookcentral

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ENTERTAINMENT/INSPIRATION RESOURCES

Many movies currently/recently in theaters are going to be getting VOD/Streaming online release. Slashfilm.com has published an up-to-date list:

https://www.slashfilm.com/coronavirus-early-digital-releases-list/

Audible has just released a whole bunch of audiobooks (many of the literary classics) for free, without any sort of sign-up required:

https://stories.audible.com/start-listen

Metropolitan Opera has been doing nightly streams of several of their most famous shows:

https://www.fastcompany.com/90478031/you-can-stream-the-met-opera-for-free-during-the-coronavirus-crisis-heres-how

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OTHER IDEAS

A few other things you could occupy your time with:

Cut a new reel

Archive your projects

Check in with your clients

Write that screenplay you’ve been putting off

Teach yourself new software, or hardware— now’s the time to master your gear

Organize your gear

Revamp your website

Read some screenplays. There’s plenty of resources out there, but to get you started, here’s the 10 best original and adapter screenplays nominated for the 2019 Oscars: https://www.scriptreaderpro.com/best-original-screenplay/

Chip away at the AFI Top 100: https://www.afi.com/afis-100-years-100-movies/

Give yourself a mental break. These are weird times, and I think many of us think if we’re not multi-tasking and being 100% productive every second of the day, we’re failing.

But unplugging, taking a breath, and reflecting is healthy and needed— especially NOW

Raoul Bhatt

https://instagram.com/raoul