Here's the latest from UBCP / ACTRA and it looks like things are slowly starting up again here in Vancouver:
With Phase 3 of BC’s Restart Plan set to commence any day now, some productions have already started shooting with several other new and returning productions prepping to go to camera in the coming weeks.
Although the film & television industry was never ordered to shut down on March 13th, productions shut themselves down out of an abundance of caution. While many of us have been waiting for Dr. Bonnie Henry to announce that Phase 3 has begun, a phase that includes our industry, Producers who have a COVID-19 Safety Plan in accordance with WorkSafeBC are allowed to resume operations. Such safety plans must outline the policies, guidelines, and procedures the production has put in place to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. They must also follow any orders, notices and guidance issued by the public health office.
The major studios and larger production companies will most likely have have their own protocol documents but smaller companies who don’t have the same resources will be more reliant on the Pandemic Production Guide. The document is meant to be suggestive rather than prescriptive. It will address general issues such as washing your hands and wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) if physical distancing cannot be maintained. It also gets into more industry-specific issues, such as casting, catering, props, transport, make-up and wardrobe, dressing rooms, background holding areas.
It will also address close proximity between performers on set, including but not limited to stunt sequences and intimacy, a particularly big concern for our members. The WorksafeBC document is clear; performers may refuse close proximity such as hugging or kissing. As such, the producer must have a plan to address these scenarios when Performers cannot be physically distanced from each other.
The Union is also creating its own best practices document, much like we’ve already provided for voice-over work which continued during the industry shutdown. With this document, we will be able to provide more specific suggestions to address your concerns.
For productions with intimacy scenes, we continue to recommend to producers that they utilize the services of an Intimacy Coordinator. ICs can provide alternatives for production to help achieve their creative desires while maintaining the health and safety of our members.
As of today, we have 5 TV Movies shooting, the first started on June 8th. Our Union Representatives will be visiting all of these productions, ensuring that they are adhering to their safety plans and answering questions of our members on set. Please be sure to check out our COVID-19 resources page
https://www.ubcpactra.ca/covid-19/ which is updated regularly.
Despite all of the work on guidelines and production planning, much remains unknown. There will likely be issues that are going to come up that we hadn’t specifically contemplated. Information is coming at a rapid pace; we are all trying to adjust and adapt while keeping your health and safety top of mind. Please do not hesitate to reach out to your Union. We are here for you.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hopefully the Sandra Bullock film that I was working on ( Stand-In for Vincent D'Onofrio ) resumes shooting again ASAP but right now it is not even on the " What's Shooting " list on the UBCP / ACTRA website.
