Entertainment industry sets stage for resuming production

California will allow film and television shoots to resume June 12, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office said Friday, marking a major step toward reviving the entertainment business after the coronavirus outbreak forced it to shut down nearly three months ago.

However, the restart of film, TV and music productions will be subject to the approval of county public health officers where the work will take place, the state Department of Public Health said.

Further, the future of daily life on Hollywood sets will not be the same when movie and TV production starts up again. Entertainment studios and labor unions agreed last week to a detailed set of production protocols that will make major changes to the way TV and movie sets operate, including the elimination of buffetstyle meals and requirements to wipe down handheld props after each use.

The state health department said that to reduce the risk of coronavirus transmission, “productions, cast, crew and other industry workers should abide by safety protocols agreed by labor and management, which may be further enhanced by county public health officers.”

Studios, production companies and workers have been desperate to learn when they can resume shooting. Sets have been closed since midMarch, when governments began issuing restrictions to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The suspension of productions and live events because of the pandemic has put thousands of people out of work.

Companies have laid off and furloughed employees, and executives have taken pay cuts as the industry works to outlast the shutdown.

It’s still unclear when shooting might return in Los Angeles County, which has struggled more than other areas to control the spread of the virus.

The recommendations for production took longer than Newsom had initially indicated. The governor said on May 20 that the state planned to issue guidelines that would allow many counties to resume production, but union leaders at the time said the move was premature.

Last week, a task force of studios and union officials submitted a 22page document to governors in California and New York; their proposed health and safety guidelines aim to protect workers and performers as production resumes.

The guidelines call for dramatic changes to what had previously been routine practices in the film and TV industry, which was booming before the pandemic because of the demand for content, particularly with the advent of more streaming services. The shutdown drew focus to longstanding problems with hygiene and sanitation on film sets, including a lack of handwashing stations.

The task force’s recommendations include using individually packaged meals instead of buffet tables, allowing live audiences only when they wear face masks and remain a safe distance apart, and requiring a COVID19 compliance officer on every set.

Among the chief recommendations are mandatory coronavirus testing of cast and crew, including temperature screening, and supplying personal protective equipment.

Other recommendations include organizing departments into smaller groups, staggering call times, and using remotemonitoring technology to reduce the number of people on set. Hair and makeup artists are asked to minimize time spent in direct contact with performers, while also using protective equipment and proper hygiene.

Auditions should be done virtually as often as possible, according to the protocols. If a performer must audition in person and without a mask, there should be a plexiglass or other barrier between the actors and the casting team.

Many of the recommendations set by state governments as well as by productions are expected to raise film and TV budgets, according to analysts and executives. Shooting costs could increase by 10% to 20% per day, said JP Morgan media analyst Alexia Quadrani in a note to clients. Larger productions with extensive location shoots and more cast and crew members will probably take longer to come back than smaller movies and shows, such as horror films and sitcoms, which are often confined to soundstages.