Australian production ‘Neighbours' is creating a Coronavirus production guidelines roadmap that other Hollywood movies and shows could potentially follow.
As we previously reported, Hollywood insiders do not believe filming will return until September. However, one production in Australia is ramping up filming and has created a set of guidelines, which, if successful, could become the new standard.
Deadline reports Australia's long-running soap opera ‘Neighbours' will start filming next week after a monthlong production shutdown because of the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. The movie will be the first suspended TV series to restart production.
Here are the following safety guidelines, which are being created and, if successful, could be the new rules for reopening up the film industry.Â
- The studio space will be divided up into parts, with production teams isolated from each other.
- Three actors are allowed to work together at one time. In the event, if someone gets sick, only that part of the studio will be suspended, and production will continue in another area of the studio.
“There will be no more than 100 people a day in any area, we'll implement the four-square-meter rule and the one-and-a-half-meter social distancing rule,” Fremantle Australia boss Chris Oliver-Taylor told Australia's ABC, which airs Neighbours.”
- There will be a nurse on set.
- Everyone will have their temperature check.
- Male actors will not have make-up, and actresses will not be touched up.
- Actors will practice social distancing. There will be no physical contact between actors (ie, no kissing, holding hands, or intimate scenes). Camera angles will be used to make actors look close.
- There will be no outside extras. Crew members will work as background actors.
In related news, a new report revealed Hollywood does not expect filming to return until September.
The article continues by explaining new protocols that producers will add to address the film industry amid the Coronavirus, including contracts identifying production companies in case you get sick from the Coronavirus during production.
“You acknowledge you are going into a high-density area, and while we will make our best effort to protect you, nothing is failsafe, and if you contract COVID-19, we are not liable,” said a source involved drawing up these guidelines told Deadline. “There is no other way we can think of to address this. If you don't want to sign, don't take the job.”
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