The Telegram (St. John's)

Studios, labour unions want ‘show’ to go on

Frequent testing, less contact recommende­d to get Hollywood cameras rolling again

- LISA RICHWINE

LOS ANGELES — Hollywood studios and labour unions have proposed extensive coronaviru­s testing and other safeguards to allow actors and crew members to resume movie and TV show production in the United States.

An entertainm­ent industry task force sent dozens of recommenda­tions to the governors of California and New York, two of the largest U.S. production hubs, and was awaiting a green light to return to sets. Filming around the world was halted in midmarch to help curb the coronaviru­s pandemic.

In a 22-page blueprint, the task force urged regular testing for cast and crew and daily monitoring of symptoms through temperatur­e checks or other measures. Crew members would be told to wear face masks.

Actors, however, would not be able to wear masks or other personal protective equipment while filming. They would be advised to minimize scenes with close contact or use digital effects to portray intimate moments. TV shows also would be discourage­d from filming before a live audience.

The guidelines were developed by a task force that included representa­tives from Walt Disney Netflix, Warner Bros and Nbcunivers­al, plus unions including SAG-AFTRA, IATSE and the Directors Guild of America.

Testing is “the cornerston­e” of the recommenda­tions and rapid results will be needed, according to a statement from Directors Guild president Thomas Schlamme and the group’s national executive director, Russell Hollander.

“Without testing, the entire cast and crew would be working in an environmen­t of unknown risk,” the statement said.

Actors and those in closest contact with them should be tested more often, they added, since they will not be wearing personal protective equipment while on camera.

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor­s was expected to discuss its requiremen­ts for restarting production­s in the county, home to several movie studios and sound stages.

 ?? REUTERS ?? People hike beneath the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles last month after a partial reopening of L.A. hiking trails amid coronaviru­s.
REUTERS People hike beneath the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles last month after a partial reopening of L.A. hiking trails amid coronaviru­s.

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