Ad producers’ trade body the APA has published a set of guidelines for the safe production of commercials during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The guidelines come in the wake of the Prime Minister’s announcement on Sunday that people should now “go to work if you can’t work from home.”
The guidelines set out the steps that production companies should take to safeguard the health and safety of crew and talent on a film shoot in relation to Covid-19.
The guidelines start from the pre production stage encouraging scripts that can be shot with social distancing in place, early approvals to avoid last minute changes on set, and all pre production managed remotely from home including casting via video link ups.
The advice also encourages provisions in the contract for the possible replacement of director or cast and for extra costs incurred if government advice changes to be covered by the agency or client as insurance will not cover COVID-19 related disruption.
Practical shooting advice covers staggering call times to avoid congestion on set, relaying video to client and agency off set, increasing video monitors to avoid clusters of people, putting down space markers where possible and the bagging, labelling and cleaning of walkies which should not be shared.
Other guidelines include using talent from the same household if possible or compositing talent together later from separate plates. Single locations that don’t require overnight stays are also encouraged.
For the full guidelines head to https://www.a-p-a.net/2020/04/news/updated-regularly/
Jon Creamer
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