Breaking News
As Los Angeles Restarts TV and Film Production; Safety Protocols For Scenes, Studios, and Audiences Revealed
Today, Los Angeles County can begin film and television production under the guidelines and regulations set forth during the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.
The news of the restart comes with some harsh news that on Thursday, L.A. County’s Department of Public Health reported 1,857 new confirmed coronavirus cases. However, while it was the largest single-day number of new cases announced by the county during the pandemic, health officials said about 600 of those cases were the result of a backlog in the reporting of test results. As well, the city of Long Beach and Pasadena, have their own health departments, combined to confirm an additional 84 cases. That gave the county 1,941 new confirmed cases.
In a statement from Universal Filmed Entertainment Group Chairman Donna Langley who was part of the Entertainment Industry Task Force on the protocols, she expressed on Thursday:“Today’s release of safety protocols for film and television production marks a significant step in getting our industry back to work in Los Angeles County. On behalf of all us at NBCUniversal, we thank the County Board of Supervisors and Mayor Garcetti for their continued commitment to the economic recovery of our region, and the County Public Health Department for their tireless efforts to help protect the health of our community. Teams across the Studios, production companies, guilds, and unions in every facet of our business have shown, and will continue to show, innovation and creativity in bringing film, television and digital production safely back to Los Angeles.”
In terms of your favorite soaps returning and what they may look like when production does begin again, here is what we know thus far via Deadline.
As to what rules and regulations performers, crew, producers and show would have to follow; some of these are noted below:
– All shared clothing, wigs, prosthetics and equipment must be disinfected before reuse.
– In offices and editing areas, workstations much be at least 6 feet apart.
– Breaks must be staggered to allow for social distancing, and they must be frequent to allow for hand washing.
– Eating is prohibited anywhere beyond designated areas to ensure cast and crew wear masks as much as possible.
– Each worker should have their own tools (and not share them) whenever possible.
– Date, time and participants in all production sessions must be recorded to allow for contact tracing.
– Productions requiring audiences must sit those in attendance at least 6 feet apart.
– Where possible, all workspaces shall have one-directional traffic to limit close contact.
– Production units or meetings should be broken down into the smallest feasible groups.
– All scripts, contracts or music sheets should be shared digitally or individually assigned to each worker.
– Sets, production spaces and the entire facility must be cleaned daily, with restrooms and other high traffic areas cleaned more frequently.
– All trucks and other vehicles must de disinfected after each use.
Photo: JPI
In terms of the shooting of scenes”
– Health checks for all vendors and employees when they arrive on set
– All cast must wash and sanitize their hands before each scene and not touch their face.
– Large crowd scenes should be avoided.
– All location filming must occur between the hours of 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., whenever possible.
– All cast and crew should stay on location during filming, even during breaks.
– Locations should be completely secure to prevent public access.
– In permitting, productions that consist of entirely virtual/remote filming and recording should be prioritized when possible.
– Small closed indoor spaces without proper ventilation should not be used.
– Hands-on assistance with wardrobe, hair and makeup should only be provided when cast cannot do it themselves.
– Cast and crew involved must sanitize their hands before each hands-on styling or wardrobe session.
– Actors should stay as silent as possible during the application of makeup.
As for food and drinks on set:
– No buffets.
– No communal beverage service, such as coffee pots
– All cast and crew must sanitize their hands before eating.
– Any foot brought in by individuals must be labeled and not shared.
– If water is served from communal dispensers, the levers and buttons by which they operate must be cleaned after each use.
As for size of studio audiences:
– Studio audience members can include paid staff, and must be seated at least 6 feet from each other and wear face coverings whenever feasible. Audiences should be limited to 100 people or 25 percent of the maximum occupancy of the space (whichever is smaller).
So what do you think The Bold and the Beautiful, The Young and the Restless, General Hospital and Days of our Lives might look like in scenes under these COVID-19 guidelines? Comment below.
Breaking News
Kristian Alfonso Departs Days of our Lives After 37 Years
Breaking News
REPORT: Days of our Lives Targets September Production Restart
Breaking News
B&B’s Supervising Producer, Casey Kasprzyk Shares: “Just Finished Viewing Our First Produced Episode Since Starting Production Back Up!”
B&B’s Denise Richards Reveals Her Husband Aaron Phypers Will Be Stand-In During Ridge Forrester Intimate Scenes
Who Will Be B&B’s New Love Interest For Steffy Forrester?
Kristian Alfonso Departs Days of our Lives After 37 Years
GH’s Mark Lawson Fuels At-Home Workout With Soap Opera Competition: “Dante, Dante, Dante, Dominic, Dominic, Dominic … But What About Dustin?”
REPORT: Days of our Lives Targets September Production Restart
OLTL Alum Renee Elise Goldsberry On Performing Her Showstopper “Satisfied” In ‘Hamilton’ Premiering On Disney+ Today
DAYS Elani Wedding (Photos): What Did You Think Of The Nuptials?
B&B’s Supervising Producer, Casey Kasprzyk Shares: “Just Finished Viewing Our First Produced Episode Since Starting Production Back Up!”
‘Strahan, Sara and Keke’ Canceled by ABC; Show Aired In Timeslot That Once Housed ‘All My Children’
The Young and the Restless Pushes Back Production Restart Date Due To COVID-19 Spike
‘Strahan, Sara and Keke’ Canceled by ABC; Show Aired In Timeslot That Once Housed ‘All My Children’
Kristian Alfonso Departs Days of our Lives After 37 Years
GH’s Mark Lawson Fuels At-Home Workout With Soap Opera Competition: “Dante, Dante, Dante, Dominic, Dominic, Dominic … But What About Dustin?”
The Young and the Restless Pushes Back Production Restart Date Due To COVID-19 Spike
B&B’s Supervising Producer, Casey Kasprzyk Shares: “Just Finished Viewing Our First Produced Episode Since Starting Production Back Up!”
Y&R’s Executive Producer Anthony Morina Talks On Daytime Emmy Drama Series Win For Neil’s Memorial & Honoring Kristoff St. John
47th Annual Daytime Emmys Draws Over 3 Million Viewers For CBS Telecast with Return to Network TV
REPORT: Days of our Lives Targets September Production Restart
GH’s Michael Easton Posts “Ask Me Anything” Part Two
WATCH: 47th Annual Daytime Emmy Winners Virtual Interviews
GH’s Mark Lawson Fuels At-Home Workout With Soap Opera Competition: “Dante, Dante, Dante, Dominic, Dominic, Dominic … But What About Dustin?”
Y&R’s Mishael Morgan Produces Video For Juneteenth Day Featuring Several Soap Notables
Daytime Emmys Release Highlights From Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Nominees
Daytime Emmys Releases Highlights From Outstanding Drama Series Nominees
Y&R Alum Max Ehrich Big Smooch with Demi Lovato in Arianna Grande & Justin Bieber’s New Music Video ‘Stuck With You’
Soap Vet Debbi Morgan’s Emotional Words On How COVID-19 Has Affected the Black Community
WATCH: ‘Venice the Series’ Gregory Zarian Talk Daytime Emmy Pre-Nom, Bullying & Staying Safe During COVID-19
Tony Geary Opens Up About His Iconic Role as GH’s Luke Spencer on Nancy Lee Grahn’s ‘Soaps In Quarantine’
Soap Stars & Jake Gyllenhaal In All-New Episode of Tonight Show’s ‘The Longest Days of our Lives’
WATCH: Nancy Lee Grahn’s Birthday Celebration Replay With Her Drive-By GH Friends & Co-Stars
-
All My ChildrenJuly 2, 2020‘Strahan, Sara and Keke’ Canceled by ABC; Show Aired In Timeslot That Once Housed ‘All My Children’
-
Breaking NewsJuly 6, 2020Kristian Alfonso Departs Days of our Lives After 37 Years
-
General HospitalJuly 5, 2020GH’s Mark Lawson Fuels At-Home Workout With Soap Opera Competition: “Dante, Dante, Dante, Dominic, Dominic, Dominic … But What About Dustin?”
-
Breaking NewsJuly 1, 2020The Young and the Restless Pushes Back Production Restart Date Due To COVID-19 Spike
-
Breaking NewsJuly 2, 2020B&B’s Supervising Producer, Casey Kasprzyk Shares: “Just Finished Viewing Our First Produced Episode Since Starting Production Back Up!”
-
InterviewsJune 29, 2020Y&R’s Executive Producer Anthony Morina Talks On Daytime Emmy Drama Series Win For Neil’s Memorial & Honoring Kristoff St. John
-
Breaking NewsJune 28, 202047th Annual Daytime Emmys Draws Over 3 Million Viewers For CBS Telecast with Return to Network TV
-
Breaking NewsJuly 3, 2020REPORT: Days of our Lives Targets September Production Restart
Elsie Hageman
June 12, 2020 at 11:45 am
How are they going to act out Love scenes.? .
anne
June 12, 2020 at 9:07 pm
My grandmother thinks the producers will go back to some of the rules put in place by the Hays Commission. For example: no two people sharing the same bed, no two people kissing at all and so forth.
Su000
June 13, 2020 at 12:38 am
hi Elsie –
that is a good thing..
Soap love/sex scenes are really bad, I mean really bad..
those scenes are more-so comic than gooey.
not sexy, nope, just so not right..
best not having sex scenes iiissshhh bad..
Diane
June 15, 2020 at 11:03 pm
Will be like Hogan’s Heroes!
Diane
June 15, 2020 at 10:58 pm
They are not!
Momo
June 12, 2020 at 11:48 am
It can be done, but will require more work and protocols. I think scripts may have to be reworked and camera angles to make us think actors are closer than they are.
Jimmy
June 12, 2020 at 12:28 pm
This is going to make soaps look extremely different. Think about how many love scenes there are, and then double that for how many scenes include characters just hugging, sitting at the same table, shaking hands, making arrests, etc. I wonder if these new guidelines will force soaps to write-in a pandemic storyline in order to explain the change in behaviour.
Su000
June 13, 2020 at 12:34 am
Hopefully, the make-up dept will be out.
And we can finally see the [real] and not the phoney person.
they/actors have become quite phoney especially age-wise.
I noticed; Michael from Y&R during an online broadcast
he looked his age- with thinning grey hair
it was the 1st time he looked real without that dead racoon on his head..
and the same goes for others / be your age!!!
they All looked great being themselves online during the lockdown.
And- Maurice/Sonny- he also looked stud with his thinning grey hair..
I prefer the real deal, not the phoney looking.
looking forward to the return !
Violet Lemm
June 15, 2020 at 8:02 pm
SuOOO
I tend to agree with you but a lot of people dont want to see the real thing. They want the actors made up, looking young and more romantic, so to speak.
I did see Michael, so I know what you mean there. Except for the younger actors, I bet Victor is the only one we see who looks the same in real life as he does in feel life.
Diane
June 15, 2020 at 11:08 pm
These soaps are D.O.A. Just let them RIP. They had a good run.
soapqueenforever
June 18, 2020 at 10:55 am
I agree. How are scenes going to be played out with social distanting and mask wearing still a very necessary part of everyday life. It has been so long since I have watched, that I don’t even know what is going on anymore. They served their purpose. Now I think it is time to move on. And the way I was addicted to both Y&R and B&B, I never thought I would here those words come out of my mouth.
Su000
June 20, 2020 at 5:16 pm
well–
the cameras can do ummmm I’ m call it tricks.
cameras can make things/people seem closer even if further apart.
the actors can be standing 6ft. apart but will appear to be close..
Eric
June 12, 2020 at 12:50 pm
Sounds like the Gestapo will be in charge of getting Soaps started again…..
sonniorsolita
June 12, 2020 at 3:35 pm
Sounds like people who care about the health and safety of actors and entertainment technicians are in charge, to me. What good does it do to restart soaps (or any TV or movies) if everyone immediately gets sick? In my state, 1400+ people were newly diagnosed positive yesterday. Better safe than sorry! Stay safe, everyone, and best wishes to the folks in L.A. going back to work so we have entertainment.
Diane
June 15, 2020 at 11:14 pm
Agreed! It is all about money! LA has nothing without the entertainment industry and these fans have NO LIFE.
anne
June 12, 2020 at 9:13 pm
Grow up and start thinking like a responsible adult! The health of each of the actors and others working on the sets of Soaps is more important than your childish need to see your favorites in romantic scenes all the time.
Diane
June 15, 2020 at 11:11 pm
Would you like it better if everyone employed becomes quite ill? MORON.
Sammie
June 20, 2020 at 9:39 am
Does anyone have any idea about when Y&R is resuming production? I keep reading about B&B but nothing about Y&R.
dzzdee
June 13, 2020 at 1:35 am
There will be more communications and dialog s from a distance, which probably good for social distance, not so much for camera view. However, 20 yrs ago filming wasn’t as good as today’s digital process, so it should be a creative way. Interesting to see this play out from fans view. I am glad to take story’s anyway it safe and on network.
Steve
June 13, 2020 at 7:33 pm
Is GH the only show that regularly shoots scenes outdoors? That “park” area on the Prospect lot will probably be used a lot.
To save money, shows have heavily relied on restaurant and bar scenes the past few years. That’s likely to change temporarily as the use of extras in background tables is likely discouraged.
Sets have gotten smaller in the past decade, but look to the larger ones with multiple segments to get used more. On GH, for example, The hospital hub, Sonny’s living room/patio and the Q foyer/living room allow for distance and more cast to be present in each scene.
A larger question is if the shows all ignore the pandemic.
One would hope that shows used the downtime to be prepared for these expected guidelines.
Amber Stroud
June 14, 2020 at 12:21 pm
They just need to start safe and do the best they can do and if they wanna be like real life then wear masksit wouldn’t bother me
Diane
June 15, 2020 at 11:24 pm
If it comes to that, just cancel them all. It will come down to the decision of the network, ultimitely.
Andrea
June 15, 2020 at 10:56 pm
The soaps have been on life support for years. Soaps can not be the same with actors 6 ft apart! Are victor and nikki, Brooke and ridge going to shake hands? May work for GH, they can all just shoot each other.
The best will be the actors doing their own hair and makeup,funny. Now with the BLM movement sponsors will dictate the fate of the shows. Pull the plug already and put us out of or misery, life will go on!
Sally Taylor
June 16, 2020 at 10:26 pm
No kissing I hope
soapqueenforever
June 18, 2020 at 11:02 am
And not to mention no more cat fights or good old fashioned slaps in face. What is a soap opera without a catfight or a face slap. I think the soaps should finally go the way of the dinosaur. RIP. It was fun while it lasted. The only thing I want to know is the outcome of Sharon’s cancer surgery