The coronavirus pandemic is still going on around the world, but governments and industries are already planning for the “new normal” that awaits after COVID-19.
The Hollywood Reporter says that both guests and studios are looking at implementing a phased opening of the industry, as well as the introduction of measures like packaged meals, quarantined sets, and antibody pretesting.
As the publication points out, it will be different from movie and television sets pre-coronavirus, which had a craft services table, free-flowing movement among departments, and where stars could bring friends and family on set. Kissing scenes may even be removed, as kissing is one way that the coronavirus can be passed on.
Studios like Disney and Warner Bros., groups like the Directors Guild of America, and facilities like Pinewood Studios are working together to come up with different ways of how the film and entertainment industry can reopen. Small productions will probably be the first ones to be greenlit, as they do not require huge crowds and gatherings.
The publication also notes that health and sanitation will definitely take center stage, with masks and gloves possibly becoming mandatory for non-actors. Regular disinfection and cleaning will also become the norm, as well as tightened security to avoid huge gatherings and ensure that no one with COVID-19 symptoms gets on set.
These concerns on how to reopen are also being discussed across the pond, with Deadline reporting that entities like the British Film Commission and Film London are working with the Inward Investment Recovery Group to come up with a manual that will be used to kickstart the film and entertainment industry in the United Kingdom. Once finished, the manual will cover travel, protective equipment, the number of people in a film or television production, cleansing, and contact.
Reopening the industry is certainly a top concern as the coronavirus pandemic has proven disastrous to the business. Because of lockdowns implemented to stem the spread of the coronavirus, the North American box office suffered a $600 million deficit during the month of March. The global film industry is also expected to suffer a loss of $5 billion due to closures in huge markets like South Korea and Japan.
Exactly when the film and entertainment industry will open up again is up for debate, as coronavirus infections continue to rise globally. According to the World Health Organization and its Apr. 28 situation report, 2,954,222 people around the world are now confirmed to have COVID-19. Deaths caused by COVID-19 are now at 202,597 people.
In the United States, the Apr. 28 update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that there are now 981,246 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country. Fatalities are now at 55,258 people.