Like so many performers who had no money coming in when COVID-19 shut down stages, Twin Cities comedian Mary Mack had to take unusual measures. Even if that meant working with a live bear.
Mack wasn’t thrilled about shooting an ad with a live bear, but she’s been desperate for work. And at least the work was outside. Thankfully for Mack, the bear was “such a diva” that it had to be filmed only when it was ready. Mack was spared; the bear was done by her call time, and she would be edited into the shot.
“I would never do this if it weren’t for the pandemic,” Mack said. “I don’t want to keep acting with dangerous animals.”
The shutdown of live venues, as a result of the coronavirus, challenged the entertainment industry. The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) and the #SaveOurStages movement, both focused on preserving independent venues, sprung up as a result. But women in entertainment say it wasn’t easy…
