Shooting Films and Videos During a Pandemic
If very few industries have escaped the tsunami that is COVID-19 (a.k.a. “The bug”), one sector in particular is in a very peculiar position. While massive lockdowns across the globe have resulted in a spectacular increase in video streaming (The Washington Post reports Netflix added over 10 millions subscribers in the first quarter of 2020 and, admit it, just like us, you have been doing quite a bit of binging between Zooms).
A vast majority of film sets and video productions have been frozen to prevent the disease from spreading in the ranks of crew members, cast and the millions of talented individuals who made your entertainment, news reporting and branding boosting their life’s work. And this means pipelines have been affected with a potential lull in the delivery of series, films and video assets for channel marketing. Yes, we may have to rewatch season one of The A-Team soon. Ah, Mr. T and his mohawk!
The good news is, as described in this inspiring article from the New York Times, which gives us an insider’s view of the production reboot of Jurassic World: Dominion. Hollywood and productions around the world are adapting to the new normal with a complete set of COVID-19 prevention procedures, thus ensuring the safety of thousands in the industry. We are too! Here are a few of the rules for shoots managed by The Hong Kong Fixer video and creative production:
A producer is assigned to ensure COVID-19 preventions measures are followed on set.
Crew size is kept at a minimum.
Every crew member is fully briefed on sanitary precautions at PPM and before entering set.
Every crew member wears a face mask at all times. Production provides each crew member with a full set of protective gear (70 percent alcohol-based gel, face masks, nitrile gloves).
Temperature is checked at regular intervals.
Every crew member carries hand sanitizer at all times and production assistants carry easy to spray light anti-bacterial fluid to assist when "hands are full”. Whenever possible, at breaks, crew wash their hands thoroughly.
A physical distance of at least 2 meters between crew and talents/clients is maintained whenever possible.
Talents are invited to set up their lapel microphones themselves under guidance by our sound engineers who use long pole booms as much as possible. Gloves are available and used as much as possible.
Cameras, sound gear and all other equipment are sanitised before and after shooting.
We hope these measures can help everyone to feel a little more confident with shooting great stories. Your brand is a channel and has so much to tell your audience. And, if the dinosaurs in Hollywood can wear masks, so can we!
