A tribute to the work of the people who worked in and who managed care homes during the Covid-19 pandemic
Take Me With YoU
The story of the story
Film launched at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in September 2020.
This story is largely a tribute to the work of the people who work in and who manage care homes. During the crisis they had to face unbelievable difficulties which they did with intelligence and good grace, even if exhausted and upset. They watched and felt ignored while the NHS was applauded.
They managed unexpected pressures and took them in their stride. Staff slept in the homes to keep residents safe. They faced the anger and grief of families that were separated from loved ones. The characters in this film show how strong and courageous they had to be. In a society which often criticises care providers unfairly, and compares the staff in care homes unfavourably with other sectors like the NHS, they show that these are real people doing a difficult job in unprecedented circumstances. And it is a tribute to the families and residents, to whom the care home staff dedicate their working lives.
In the early days of the Covid-19 lockdown, Raindog Production and the Dementia Services Development Trust brought together a group of writers and actors to collaborate to tell the unfolding story of what was happening to people with dementia in care homes, and how this was affecting their families, and the care home staff.
The writers of these monologues were confined to their own homes by the protective public health measures created by the Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020. Through telephone and video calls they talked with directors Neil Leiper and Stuart Davids about what was unfolding and came up with inventive ways of creating this dramatic work within the constraints of the pandemic.
The practical problems of making a film “in a bubble” meant that Sean McCardie, Bob Rafferty and Simon McCallum had to quickly learn how to use the app Filmic Pro on iPhones. That footage was cut by award winning editor Colin Monie and post produced by Serious Facilities. Martin McCardie and other writers shared drafts, enriching them with news stories as they came in, reflecting real life and personal experience.
Some of the professional actors lived in one household, for example Maureen Carr with her real-life family Erin and Michael McCardie who were filmed by brother Sean. Claire Knight was filmed at home by her husband, Simon McCallum. Bob Rafferty filmed his mother Barbara in their house.
All of this was done while coping with day jobs by teleconference, and the practicalities of living life in lockdown. Many in real life were supporting older relatives, or managing intercurrent illness of children, and home schooling, and just getting through. Some of those involved were volunteering or doing essential work. The participants on the teleconference might be on a bus journey, commuting to a caring role, or on a break in a hospital canteen.
The powerful performances and highest quality production have been enriched beyond measure by the music of Hollywood composer Patrick Doyle, created especially for this film.
All of this work is dedicated to all those affected by Covid-19 and dementia in care homes, whether residents, families or workers. We honour those who died before they should, and those who will continue to carry a heavy psychological burden in the aftermath of these events. There seems to be more sorrow than we can bear, when we think of families separated at the time of death, and the exhaustion of the people who care. They all deserved better. We should have seen this coming. This must never happen again.
Photo information: top Claire Knight, middle Stuart Davids (l) and Neil Leiper (r), bottom Barbara Rafferty
The Cast
Erin
The care worker
Played by Erin McCardie
Sheena
The Daughter
Played by Maureen Carr
Barbara
The care HOME RESIDENT
Played by Barbara Rafferty
Mikey
The Grandson
Played by Michael McCardie
Carol
The Care home manager
Played by Claire Knight
Production Credits
-
![Stuart Davids Television and Film Director]()
Stuart Davids
DIRECTOR
When I became aware of what was happening in care homes, I immediately felt compelled to do something by way of making a film. It was no mean feat in the middle of lockdown. Having experienced my Mother’s dementia I always strive to use my skills as a director and producer when I can, to represent that experience, or help others who are going through it. To have achieved this with such a talented group of individuals, a lot of whom were learning new skills like shooting on iPhones, is a source of great pride…
-
![Neil Leiper Actor and Director]()
Neil Leiper
DIRECTOR
Neil Leiper is an actor/ director who played in the Scottish feature film Beats and directed the play Cool Dads which was written by Simon Murray and featured at the Oran Mor in Glasgow. This is the second film that he has directed alongside Stuart Davids for the Dementia Services Development Trust. The first was We Need to Talk about Dementia.
-
![]()
Bob Rafferty
LOCATION CAMERA & SOUND
Bob Rafferty is a Glasgow based content creator working primarily in video.
-
![]()
Colin Monie
FILM EDITOR
Colin Monie works across film, television and documentary. His feature work includes the BAFTA-winning The Unloved, directed by Samantha Morton; Peter Mullen's award-winning The Magdalene Sisters; Deepa Mehta's Oscar-nominated Water, and her adaptation of Salman Rushdie's novel Midnight's Children. Amongst his documentary credits is Jig by Sue Bourne. More acclaimed work includes From Scotland With Love and Nae Pasaran.
-
![]()
Martin McCardie
WRITER & LOCATION DIRECTOR
I watched a very good friend of mine as he tried to look after his mum during a very difficult few years as she struggled with dementia. I witnessed the various stages of the condition and what that did to the person that suffered from it and also witnessed how it affected my friend and his family too. I read lots of different books about the condition in its various guises and wanted to help if I could. When the idea of this project was discussed we decided I could write some material that we could film in my family house, my wife, daughter and son are in it and my other son filmed it. We as a family discussed the care home situation at this time and particularly about care home residents who are suffering from dementia and the staff that are trying to look after them…
-
![]()
Patrick Doyle
MUSIC SCORE
Patrick Doyle is a Scottish composer and long-time collaborator of actor-director Kenneth Branagh, Patrick is known for his work composing for films such as Henry V, Sense and Sensibility, Hamlet, Carlito's Way, and Gosford Park, as well as Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Thor, Brave, Cinderella, and Murder On The Orient Express. he has been nominated for two Academy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards and is the recipient of the ASCAP Henry Mancini Award for "outstanding achievements and contributions to the world of film and television music".
-
![]()
Prof. June Andrews
DEMENTIA ADVISOR
The Covid19 pandemic shone a light on many problems in the way we care for older people, and people with dementia in care homes. As the adviser to the Dementia Services Development Trust, I was asked what they could do as their response to the terrible situation that unfolded. Residents in care homes were prevented from seeing their families, and staff were struggling to provide care without the right equipment. Families were forbidden to visit even when people were dying. And people were dying in great numbers. I supported this team of professional actors and film makers to tell the stories that they were hearing
-
![]()
Sean McCardie
LOCATION CAMERA & SOUND
-
![]()
Simon McCallum
WRITER, LOCATION DIRECTOR, CAMERA & SOUND
With Carol’s story I wanted to look at a Care Home that was very well run and where staff and residents had a close connection. I wanted to examine how someone who was passionate about their job, who was very thorough and professional would cope when thrown into the eye of the storm. Through Carol’s eyes we see the impact on the home but also on staff and residents in her care. We also see how her personal life is deeply affected. I spoke to several people in the care sector as well as families with loved ones residing in homes, this combined with numerous press articles formed the bedrock of my research for this story.
-
![]()
Serious Facilities
POST PRODUCTION
Serious Facilities are a full service TV post production company based in FilmCity Glasgow, with great in-house staff offering post production across all TV genres.
