Hollywood is slowly reopening as the coronavirus pandemic rages, but with strict social distancing guidelines in place.
Earlier this month, SAG-AFTRA ā in conjunction with other Hollywood unions and guilds ā released a detailed report outlining new health and safety procedures. The move followed a three-month industry shutdown that left the majority of workers furloughed or unemployed, and cost the industry billions.
āI donāt think weāre going to be returning to normal for a long time,ā SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris told Yahoo Finance in a recent interview.
āPeople have to remember there is no such thing as entering back into work [completely] āsafe.ā It will only be āsaferā, so weāve worked with epidemiologists, scientists and the medical professionals to really talk about what that means,ā added Carteris, an alumna of the hit 90s drama, āBeverly Hills 90210.ā
The key components of the reopening plan will include:
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Frequent COVID-19 testing
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Closed sets with no visitors
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A 'zone system' to maintain social distancing measures
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Sanitation and disinfection practices
Additionally, sets will have a designated health safety supervisor (and associated department) to take charge of the testing process and coordination.
āTesting is paramount for us,ā Carteris explained. āWeāre looking for the best test available [to give us] that high-percentage of correct results.ā
Yet, some critics say the plan is not conducive to smaller-budget productions like reality TV and documentaries, which could lack the infrastructure needed for tighter regulation.
āI know itās a challenge [but] they have to be regulated like that,ā Carteris said.
āMaybe if they are not able to fulfill those interests that are put out by the guidelines, they shouldnāt be opening, but truly, a smaller production is not going to be as challenged because we will be able to work with those,ā she added.
Carteris went on to explain how larger productions are of greater concern ā noting that the number of background performers will most likely be limited due to āpotential downsidesā and safety risks.
And as for those romantic kissing scenes? Well, they might just become a thing of the past. Carteris told Yahoo Finance that on-screen intimacy wonāt be āas graphicā as theyāve been in recent years.
āI think weāre going to go back in time a little bit to where people are able to use their imagination more,ā Carteris predicted.
āWeāre going to find innovative ways to tell stories. Youāre still going to be gratified by the intimacy thatās going to happen, but it will be shot differently, stories will be told differently,ā she continued.