New rules on sets in Georgia film hub
No more open calls for casting, clear barriers between actors and an end to selfservice fruit platters.
Those are among the recommendations to film crews that Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp released last week in the first statewide COVID19 health and safety guidance for the film industry there. The 11page document was developed in cooperation with studio and production companies in Georgia and can be used alongside industry labor and management protocols as they are developed, the state said.
Filmmakers and TV creators are closely watching what is happening in Georgia, which is one of the biggest hubs for production in the United States and one of the first to reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic. It is home to some of Hollywood’s biggest film franchises, including Walt Disney’s Marvel movies, as well as popular TV shows such as Netflix’s “Stranger Things.” It gives an insight into how film sets will need to change for the future.
“Every element of what has made Georgia such a unique place for film — landscapes, production facilities, a skilled and growing workforce, with a pipeline of new labor thanks to the Georgia Film Academy and our College and Career Academies — are still in place, just as they were before this global pandemic,” Kemp said in a statement.
Tyler Perry is among the first producers who will operate under the recommendations when he starts filming a movie at at his Georgia studios on July 8.
The entertainment industry has become a vital source of jobs in Georgia. The 391 film and television productions in the state last year represented a new high; during that period, $2.9 billion was spent, supporting 3,040 motion picture and television industry businesses, and generating $9.2 billion in total wages, the state said.
The move comes as California Gov. Gavin Newsom is putting together guidance for counties looking to restart filming. After months of being without work, many in the film and television industry are keen to restart shooting and reopen theaters, although many others remain concerned about uncertainty about the virus spread.
One of the challenges that unions and other officials have encountered is a patchwork of protocols that have been put out by producers, organizations and countries around the world. Studios are already facing the prospect of increased costs as a result of the need for additional sanitation.
Beyond the instruction for frequent handwashing, increased disinfection and sanitation of equipment, and the use of personal protective equipment, the Georgia guidelines ask that call sheets and contracts to be circulated digitally rather than on paper.
No more hugs, kisses or handshakes among the cast and crew, who will also have their temperature tested daily. Casting should be done remotely if possible; if not, actors should be given specific arrival times and told to wait in their cars for their appointments.
Among the suggestions for talent: Actors should wear masks until they need to shoot, and clear barriers, which can be removed at the last minute, should be set up between cast members until it’s time to begin filming.
The production will have to keep records of the interactions between actors if distance cannot be maintained between them.
The guidelines would affect even the camera angles chosen, with the guidelines suggesting alternate shot setups and lenses to allow for greater distance between actors. It suggests using actors from the same household, which will be a boon for any actor families in Hollywood.
It also suggests reducing the number of background actors.
Craft services should provide individual, prepackaged portions only. There is guidance for every part of a production, from the art department to sound and electric.
As detailed as these guidelines seem, it’s unclear whether they are enough for unions to allow their members to work on Georgia sets. SAGAFTRA has asked its 160,000 members to seek the union’s approval before taking on new jobs during the health crisis. Anousha Sakoui is a Los Angeles Times writer.