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.
How are they going to act out Love scenes.? .
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.
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..
Will be like Hogan’s Heroes!
They are not!
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.
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.
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 !
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.
These soaps are D.O.A. Just let them RIP. They had a good run.
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.
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..
Sounds like the Gestapo will be in charge of getting Soaps started again…..
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.
Agreed! It is all about money! LA has nothing without the entertainment industry and these fans have NO LIFE.
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.
Would you like it better if everyone employed becomes quite ill? MORON.
Does anyone have any idea about when Y&R is resuming production? I keep reading about B&B but nothing about Y&R.
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.
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.
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
If it comes to that, just cancel them all. It will come down to the decision of the network, ultimitely.
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!
No kissing I hope
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
Breaking News
Jacob Martinez is ‘Days of Our Lives’ New Javi Hernandez Replacing Al Calderon in the Role
Finally! The casting has been revealed as to just who would be Al Calderon’s successor in the role of Days of our Lives, Javi Hernandez. On Friday, April 30, the long-running soap opera revealed Jacob Martinez is taking on the part and he will first be seen this coming June 30th and then on all-new episodes streaming on Peacock.
As previously reported, the popular Calderon exited the soap opera last year to join the cast of the NBC primetime medical drama, Brilliant Minds as nurse Nico Silva, who in May will air the remainder of their second season. The series has been on the bubble for renewal by the network. His last episodes as Javi will also air this May on DAYS.
Since DAYS tapes ten months ahead of streaming, Martinez has been secretly ensconced in all the drama in Salem for quite some time. When viewers see the new Javi in story, we should learn what will happen in Javi’s relationship with Leo Stark played by Emmy winner, Greg Rikaart, plus his continued relationship with his relatives in the Hernandez clan. Currently, when Javi returned to Salem after taking care of his ailing father, and after the bust-up of his marriage to Leo thanks to Dimitri (Peter Porte), he claimed he had moved on with someone else while he was away from Salem.
Photo: JPI
Like Calderon before him, Martinez is a multi-talented actor and singer. Jacob’s resume is impressive having appeared in the musical In Pieces: The Musical at Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater and he was hand-picked by Joey Contreras to play the role of Grey. Other credits include: the short film, Memory Swim and the play Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage.
Martinez hails from Norfolk, Nebraska and appeared when he was very young at the Johnny Carson Theatre, and as DAYS fans know, Jacob is now working at the Days of our Lives studios, right where the “Tonight Show” is filled. In addition, Jacob Martinez is a graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA).
Taking to his Instagram on Thursday, April 30 once the news of his casting was revealed, Martinez, expressed, “Way too many people to thank in one post, so I’ll just say THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART to each and every person who continues to pour into me and encourage me to chase my dreams. I cannot even begin to express how grateful I am. I already feel beyond blessed, supported, and loved. See you all in Salem ⏳”
Jacob Martinez appeared on Friday on the Days of our Lives Instagram account announcing his casting. You can check it out below. Deadline was the first to report the casting switch.
So, excited to learn who is the new Javi Hernandez? Please welcome Jacob Martinez to the role and be on the lookout for his debut on June 30. Comment below.
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This week starts with heartbreaking news. Patrick Muldoon, best known for his roles as the original Austin Reed on Days of Our Lives and later as Richard Hart on Melrose Place, died on Sunday, April 19, at the age of 57. Reports indicate his death was sudden following a heart attack.
Muldoon’s sister, Shana Muldoon-Zappa, told TMZ on Monday more details on her brother’s death, “Patrick went to take a shower Sunday morning after drinking coffee with his girlfriend in their Beverly Hills home. His girlfriend decided to check on him after he was taking too long and found him unconscious on the bathroom floor?” Shana added that paramedics rushed over and tried to revive Patrick, but there was nothing anyone could do.
Soap fans first saw Muldoon as Kate’s (Lauren Koslow) son on DAYS back in 1992, where he quickly became a fan favorite during the on-screen love story between Austin and Carrie Brady (Christie Clarke). Patrick left the series in 1995. He later made comeback for appearances in 2011 and 2012.
Photo: JPI
On Melrose Place, he played bad buy Richard Hart from 1995-1996. Patrick launched his acting career while in college landing the role of Matt in the 1990 sitcom Who’s The Boss? alongside the likes of Judith Light (ex-Karen, OLTL) and Tony Danza. Following his graduation, Patrick nabbed a recurring role as Jeffrey Hunter in Saved By The Bell by 1991.
Throughout his decades long career, Muldoon also starred in several motion and TV series including his leading roile in Starship Troopers (1997). He also had parts in Deadlock (2021), Vanquish (2021), Dakota (2022), Marlowe (2022), and Murder At Hollow Creek (2023).
Photo: JPI
Not only was Patrick an actors, but a producer and a musician and singer. He often made appearances and put out music with his band, The Sleeping Masses. Muldoon was the band’s lead singer and guitar player. Patrick was also a producer of TV and film projects.
At the time of his death, Patrick was also an executive producer on a the movie “Kockroach,” which is currently in production.
Taking to his Instagram, just a few days before his death, Muldoon expressed,“So excited to be a part of this amazing project KOCKROACH directed by Matt Ross starring Chris Hemsworth, Taron Edgerton, Zazzie Beetz And Alec Baldwin. Filming now in Australia,” he captioned his post.
Sadly, on April 24, Muldoon can be seen in his 2025 film Dirty Hands also festuring Denise Richards (ex-B&B, RHOBH), which will be released on digital streaming platforms on VOD.
Muldoon is survived by his partner, Miriam Rothbart; parents, Deanna and Patrick Muldoon Sr.; his sister and brother-in-law, Shana and Ahmet Zappa; and their children, Muldoon’s beloved niece Halo and nephew Arrow Zappa.
Share your remembrances and condolences on the loss of Patrick Muldoon via the comment section, which is followed below by the trailer Dirty Hands due out later this week on digital platforms.
All My Children and Hallmark alum, Jonathan Bennett has been cast in the newly-created role on General Hospital as Joe Fitzpatrick.
Look for Bennett to make his debut on the ABC soap opera next month in May. Bennett is very familiar to daytime fans for his work as JR Chandler on All My Children from 2000-2001. Later, he landed the part of Aaron Samuels in the motion picture, Mean Girls in 2004 starring Lindsay Lohan, which would become his breakout role.
Jonathan would go on to star in seven Hallmark Channel movies and then hosting and producing the network’s reality competition show Finding Mr. Christmas, Bennett has also appeared as a contestant on Season 19 of Dancing with the Stars, plus Celebrity Big Brother in 2019, and he starred on Broadway in Spamalot.
Courtesy/ABC
Frank Valentini, the executive producer of General Hospital shared to Deadline who first reported the casting news, “We’re so excited to have Jonathan joining our cast. He’s a tremendous talent and will be a fantastic addition to ‘GH.’
After the news broke, Bennett took to his Instagram and shared, “There’s a new guy in town…” Meanwhile, the official General Hospital account shared a pic and expressed, “He’s already tired of us telling him his hair looks sexy pushed back. Welcome to the family, Jonathan Bennett.
Bennett is married to Jaymes Vaughan. Back in 2022, they became the first gay couple to appear on the cover of the wedding magazine, The Knot.
So, what do you think of the casting of Jonathan as Joe Fitzpatrick? Is he the new man for Lucas? Share your thoughts via the comment section.
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