'50-Style Quarantine Video Spoof Adds Levity To Trying Times
TAMPA, FL —With the stay-at-home orders hampering her usual busy spring season of listing and showing homes for sale, Tampa Realtor Brenda Christian decided to use her down time to bring some comic relief to her clients.
With the help of some friends, Christian produced a 1950s-style video that takes a comical view of the coronavirus quarantine.
“We are being inundated with news story after news story about the coronavirus, and all of it is so draining,” said Christian, a real estate agent for eXp Realty and myhistorictampa.com. “This is such a difficult time. We’ve got to have some levity.”
Travis Cossel, who runs Black Label Films in Miami, has been staying in Tampa with his girlfriend, real estate photographer Amy Kellison of HD Showings, during the stay-at home orders.
He approached Christian about collaborating on the video.
“He and Amy started brainstorming and came up with the theme of a 1950s nuclear bomb shelter,” said Christian. “He sent me the idea, and I thought it was fantastic.”
Cossel based the video on the “Fallout” video game, which spoofs an American nuclear apocalypse.
Cossel turned to event planner Mylez Edward to play the role of “Bob” in the video. He previously did a promotional video for Edward’s company, Creations by Mylez Edward, and thought Edward would be perfect for the part.
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Then the search began for a home to use as a film set.
“We were looking for a home that had a pool with a ’50s flair,” said Christian. Fellow real estate agent Kara Atkinson happened to have a listing for a mid-century home at 4806 N. Highland Ave. in Seminole Heights that fit the bill. “It was perfect and Karen was so gracious to let us use it.”
The video shows the character, Bill, in a full hazmat suit happily going about his daily activities — cooking at the grill, lounging by the pool, baking cookies and showering.
Cossel said the 55-second video took about eight hours to film.
“We did all the filming practicing social distancing and wearing masks and gloves,” said Christian. “We had a blast doing it and it turned out amazing. We’ve gotten a great response. I’ve had nothing but positive comments.”
Christian, who’s been selling homes for 20 years, is continuing to list and sell homes during the coronavirus pandemic. But, instead of face-to-face contact with buyers, she takes advantage of FaceTime technology to show homes.
“We can go into a home and do tours for people while they watch from the safety of their homes,” she said. “We can show them everything just as if they were there. If they want to look in cupboards, we open the cupboards for them.
“It’s actually a great time to buy a home. The rates are very, very low, and people staying at home have to time to go online and look at houses,” she said.
She’s said she’s gotten quite a few inquiries from apartment dwellers seeking more distance from their neighbors as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Although the video is intended to bring a smile to faces during a trying time, Christian said she’s well aware of the toll the pandemic has had on Tampa Bay businesses and families.
On Thursdays, Christian volunteers at the food pantry at the Lake Carroll campus of the Mission Hill Church, run by friends Lynn and Gary McNeal.
“It keeps it real for me,” said Christian. “A lot of families come through who are parents of elementary-age children, and they have nothing. It’s heartbreaking.”
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