What does that mean? Well, when filming opened up in California again, there was a caveat laid in place to ensure that our cast and our crew remained safe throughout production. In order to carry out rules and guidelines laid out by SAG, by the unions and by the mayor, etc...there are pretty stringent guidelines to follow if you choose to proceed to film.
One of those guidelines is adding a "safety team" to your production. This safety team will consist of a nurse or medic and a covid safety certified team member such as myself as well as others, if the shoot calls for it, to do a number of different safety precautions on set. For example: if you shoot a week with SAG actors, you must test 3 x within that week, which is why you need the nurse or medic (with tests). If you have intimate scenes, they may even ask you to test daily. Per guidelines, you must break your shoot location into zones, with people from each zone NOT entering each other's zones unless it's absolutely necessary, but even then, there are requirements that those entering the zone be proven tested and negative. Every day, there is check-in with temperatures and declarations about symptoms or none, etc... The days are shorter (10 hours). There is major cleanup throughout. There is quite a bit to cover in the new guidelines. The SAG book is over 50 pages long. Plus there are some shorter concise versions.
So what does this mean for production?
I've spoken with many friends who've seen production go out of California and even out of the US into Canada. Also some SAG members haven't worked for months due to the new policies which mean producers pay much more in order to get the show on the road in California. Instead, many productions are choosing to go non-union and leave the US.
So, there are options, obviously. But either way, we all should remain safe and healthy.
I have hovered in the medical field much of my life as an artist, marketer, mom, writer, videographer, etc... and I can tell you there are additional ways to stay safe:
1. Keep your immune system strong, there are vitamins and minerals recommended which strengthen the immune system. Message me for a video a doctor did and what she recommended.
2. Do NOT go and take photos with lookie-loos who wander over to the set. The set should be closed. No guests! None!
3. Stay hydrated, get fresh air and sunshine (when you do this, practice social distancing).
4. Wear PPE at all times if you are crew. Cast should wear it when not acting.
5. Social distancing practices observed.
6. Please no matter what do NOT come to set sick.
7. Please DO NOT go party with people in between shoot days. This has lead to crew getting sick.
8. 48-72 hours before a shoot, I suggest getting tested, since you have to test before coming on set anyway. Here's a link: lacurativeinc.com for testing in Los Angeles.
If anyone is in need of a covid safety compliance officer, message me. If I'm not available, I know others who may be available.
I was certified by SafeSets (filming safely), Johns Hopkins (contact tracing) and 360Edu (awareness).
There is an additional course and testing available through Health Education Services.
Johns Hopkins is about $40
HES is about $50
Safe Sets is free.
Awareness, safety, understanding and carrying through is what will keep our sets safe. If we do this, I can guess that soon, regulations and demands on us and our actors will loosen because the curve will flatten.
Good luck!
Aleisha Brooks
Writer/Director/Producer/Writer's Coach
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Hey Aleisha, this is Karen from the Stage 32 team. I'm sure this post was moved into the Your Stage Lounge because of the link attached, but the value of the information in this post about how to become certified as a COVID Safety Compliance Officer rightly deserves a place in the Producing Lounge (as Producers will be learning about it and hiring for this new role). Thank you for sharing this information!
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Thanks Kay. :) If others have any questions, they can email me or PM me.