Think about it, how do actors perform while still maintaining a social distance? What about love scenes, and how can they act without an audience?
Alex Elam is a first-year student in the Graduate Acting Program at New York University, and she never expected to be taking direction by way of video conferencing.
"Snarl without moving," Associate Arts Professor James Calder advised her via Zoom.
Elam replied with an "OK" from her home in the Hamilton Heights section of Manhattan.
Elsewhere, her scene partner stood ready to react.
"I think the biggest challenge is pushing through this digital apparatus to connect with your scene partner," Elam said. "This whole experience has shown how much we take for granted being in real space and time with another person."
After all, acting is about interacting with others.
"It's a little strange," Professor Calder admits. "It's basically just more difficult to actually have the person-to-person experience."
He never thought he'd ever be doing this in his career.
Typically, Calder teaches right alongside his students, but right now, "Sometimes they're in New Zealand."
"You know theater is such a public event, and you're there adapting to an actual live audience, and so in this instance you have to make it up," Calder said. "You have to imagine a whole lot more."
It may not be so bad after all as video conferencing could be a way to spark creativity.
"I think when something unprecedented like this happens, you really are forced to look at yourself, and ask yourself who you really are," Elam said. "I think what I've learned about myself is that I really do love what I do."
MORE CORONAVIRUS COVID-19 COVERAGE
UPDATES
Grieving the lost: Tri-State residents who have died
New York state
New Jersey
Connecticut
Long Island
RESOURCES
Where are the testing centers
See how our communities are making a difference
Free educational resources for parents and children
How you can help victims of coronavirus
RELATED INFORMATION
Share your coronavirus story with Eyewitness News
Stimulus check scams and other coronavirus hoaxes
Coronavirus prevention: how clean are your hands?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on coronavirus
Total count of NYC COVID-19 cases based on patient address