Richard Gelfond discusses the way back from the coronavirus pandemic to the film industry.
Most Hollywood entertainment productions are expected to remain on a hiatus until “the second or third week of January, if not later,” as COVID-19 cases continue to rise in California.
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In a letter on Tuesday to the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists’, approximately 160,000 members, President Gabrielle Carteris and national executive director David White said the union is monitoring the rise in COVID- infections. 19 and the reported lack of intensive care unit bed infections across California and Los Angeles County.
“This is deeply worrying for all of us and we take immediate steps to contact our epidemiologists and public health experts regarding the increase in cities across the country,” wrote Carteris and White.
SAG-AFTRA said that the number of its member members working in sets will be “reduced” and that its security protocols “will ensure adequate precautions for the vacation hiatus”, including additional testing time before resuming production.
The union warned its members to remain vigilant and “adhere to safety principles to protect themselves, their families, communities and colleagues”, including wearing masks, keeping a safe physical distance, washing their hands frequently and following instructions. public health recommendations.
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The announcement came a day after the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health asked Hollywood to consider suspending physical production in an email to FilmLA, a nonprofit group that serves as the official film office of city and county of Los Angeles. The organization helps to coordinate the authorization for filming in the area, among other responsibilities.
“While music, TV and film productions may operate, we ask that you strongly consider taking a break from work for a few weeks during this catastrophic increase in COVID cases,” wrote LADPH. – risk work for now, if possible. “
Public health officials also asked FilmLA to remind filmmakers that “travel for production purposes is currently not advised,” noting that this increases the risk of spreading the coronavirus, making it more likely that people will end up together in vehicles or inside. home in less controlled settings ”, with people from distant areas.
“Hospitals are crowded almost everywhere,” warned the message, encouraging filmmakers to “keep the cast and crew close to home.”
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Film LA said in a press release that the local film industry is “highly invested in efforts to control COVID-19” and began to reduce activity considerably earlier this month.
The organization added that film authorization data published in January will show a significant decline in enrollment for December, noting that enrollment last week reached levels not seen since weeks after the resumption of film and television production across the world. state in June.
From June to November, FilmLA said it received more than 3,550 film license applications.
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On Tuesday, California announced that it would extend its request to stay in a regional home in Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley.
Both regions do not have available capacity in their intensive care units, according to state health officials.
Governor Gavin Newsom announced in early December that any region whose ICU capacity drops below 15% will enter a mandatory three-week shutdown.
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California reported more than 30,900 additional cases of COVID -19 and 432 additional deaths on Wednesday, bringing the total across the state to more than 2.2 million confirmed cases and more than 24,900 deaths since the pandemic began.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles County reported more than 10,000 additional cases of coronavirus and 274 additional deaths on Wednesday, bringing the county total to more than 756,000 cases and more than 10,000 deaths since the pandemic began. There are currently 7,415 people hospitalized in Los Angeles County.