Guidelines coming soon for reopening Hollywood
L.A., film industry pose some tough challenges for fighting pandemic
HOLLYWOOD >> Gov. Gavin Newsom told a panel of filmmakers Wednesday that the state hopes to roll out by Monday some sectoral guidelines aimed at eventually getting cameras rolling again.
“We’re in real-time drafting guidelines related to productions, TV, commercials … that would allow (certain) counties to begin to move forward and allow some modification, allow some work to be done, allow some movement in your industry,” Newsom said during his latest digital roundtable discussion on economic recovery.
But the governor was quick to caution that “it doesn’t mean the light goes on everywhere.” He pointed out that 53 of California’s 58 counties are in position to meet the state’s criteria for reopening, but Los Angeles County — where much film work happens — “remains a challenging part of the state for us still.”
With production throughout Hollywood in lockdown since midMarch because of the coronavirus pandemic, anxious members of California’s
film and TV industry continue to wonder how long before it will be lights, camera, action time again, and what the new normal will entail.
“The question I always hear is. ‘When can we shoot, and what is that going to look like?’ ” said directorproducer Ava DuVernay, who was one of five filmmakers on the panel, which also included Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos.
Netflix, clearly choosing not to wait on California, has productions now going in South Korea, Iceland and Sweden, with each country implementing different safety protocols.
“In places like Sweden, they’re not doing testing, but they’re doing voluntary quarantine in the weeks leading up to and during production,” Sarandos said. “In (South) Korea, anyone with a symptom is immediately tested and production is shut down until you get results. … In Iceland, they don’t do ride-sharing to the set. People are transported separately.”
Added Sarandos, “The key to this is getting to a place where the safety of everyone on the cast and crew is ensured, and beyond that, they have to feel safe and confident … to come to sets that are clean and sterilized, that the people they’re working with are healthy, and they are being looked after.”
The pandemic has had a personal impact on DuVernay, who revealed that she lost a family member and crew member to the virus.
“That can’t be in vain,” she said.
On an optimistic note, DuVernay, who directed the Oscar-nominated “Selma,” said the shutdown has given rise to “positive” new ways of approaching production work, including virtual writers rooms. She added that it’s a time to rethink things, such as having fewer cast and crew members congregating on sets.
“I hope that there will be new energy we can take from this,” she said. “… And that can we leave behind what’s broken.”
Jon Huertas, a producer on the popular NBC drama series “This Is Us,” said he was concerned about the potential for more delays.
“It’s daunting to all of us,” he said, pointing out the show has 200-plus crew members. “We’ve talked about maybe not going into production until January, depending on whether or not there’s a second wave (of the virus). … The social distancing guidelines right now are definitely keeping us nowhere near filming until at least September.”
No matter what guidelines come down the pipe, industry insiders know that implementing additional health and safety measures will drive up already sky-high production costs. And that could send filmmakers fleeing to other states and countries offering tax breaks and other financial incentives.
“I certainly appreciate the need for this state to be more competitive in this space,” Newsom said. “The world we invented is now competing against us. We can’t rest on our laurels. Frankly, there is ample evidence that, for a few decades, we did. And we’ve paid a price for that.”
Other members of Newsom’s panel included Stacey Morris, a hairstylist and barber, and Danny Stephens, a key grip.
Former presidential candidate and San Francisco billionaire Tom Steyer, a member of Newsom’s economic recovery task force, Secretary of Labor Julie A. Su and Public Health Director Dr. Sonia Angell were also part of the panel, which was streamed live on the governor’s YouTube page.