Actors must be able to break two-metre rule, says producer

ACTORS, like football players, should have “special dispensation” to break the two-metre rule, a Bafta-winning producer has said.

The two-metre social distancing guideline remains a “stumbling block” for the film and television industry, according to Kate Norrish.

Speaking during an online seminar entitled Screen Talks, Norrish added: “I suppose for us, and it seems like everyone I speak to, aside from insurance, the biggest stumbling block is the twometre rule.”

The sector needs to come to an arrangement similar to the one football clubs have agreed, she said, with people permitted to come within two metres of each other.

Ms Norrish, who was working on Reggie Yates’s forthcoming featurelength film Pirates before the pandemic struck, added: “Health and safety is something us, as producers, manage day in, day out.”

She added that the protocols did not present “insurmountable” problems in other areas of film production.

However, there needs to be “special dispensation” allowing actors to break social-distancing guidelines for periods of up to 15 minutes if they are to resume work properly, she said.

A comprehensive review has been launched into the two-metre rule by the Government, including looking at European countries that have smaller distances as part of their restrictions.

New production guidelines were issued by the British Film Commission earlier this month for film and highend TV drama. Measures included daily symptom checks and a ban on stars being chauffeur-driven to sets.

Actors are also being encouraged to avoid performing face-to-face if social distancing is not possible.

The guidance also advises that productions should “avoid social crowd scenes” or use existing technical solutions,

‘For us, aside from insurance, the biggest stumbling block is the social distancing rule’

meaning extras could be replaced by computer-generated imagery.

The industry has been devastated by the global pandemic, with productions all over the world suspended, putting thousands of people out of work.

Eastenders, the BBC One soap, aired its final episode shot before lockdown last night. Filming has resumed in recent weeks but there are no new episodes ready for air, forcing the show to now go on a hiatus for the first time in its 35-year history.

Secrets from the Square, a documentary about the soap hosted by Stacey Dooley will be broadcast during its usual Monday and Tuesday slots.