18:45 PST 1/3/2021
in
Kimberly Nordyke
The Joint Policy Committee, a multi-employer bargaining group that represents business advertisers and advertising agencies, is also recommending a pause in production amid an outbreak of COVID-19.
SAG-AFTRA, the Joint Policy Committee and the Producers Guild of America on Sunday recommended a “temporary suspension of personal production” in the midst of the pandemic.
“In light of the capacity crisis faced by Southern California hospitals due to the COVID pandemic and an anticipated increase in post-holiday COVID cases, SAG-AFTRA and organizations representing commercial advertisers and advertising agencies and independent film and television producers television reached an agreement on the recommendation of a temporary suspension of live production in Southern California, “they said in a joint statement. “Major studios and streamers are already on a production hiatus in Southern California until mid-January.”
The Joint Policy Committee is a multi-employer bargaining group that represents commercial advertisers and advertising agencies. JPC also agreed to recommend that in-person commercial production in Southern California be “paused until more hospital beds are available”.
Said SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris: “Southern California hospitals are facing a crisis like we have never seen before. Patients die in ambulances waiting for treatment because hospital emergency rooms are full. This is not a safe environment. for person production now. “
“Even putting aside the risk of acquiring COVID on the set – a risk that we have done a lot to mitigate through our safety protocols – the production of the set always presents some risk of injury, whether due to a maneuver that went wrong, an equipment failure or a varied garden fall. At the moment, with few or no hospital beds available, it is difficult to understand how an injured worker on the set should seek treatment, “said David White, national executive director of SAG-AFTRA. “I would like to thank JPC and PGA for their efforts to strengthen security measures for everyone, and we recognize and appreciate the large studios and other producers who have proactively stepped up and postponed their production during this emergency.”
SAG-AFTRA also encouraged its members in Southern California to “stay home and refrain from taking jobs on set for the next few weeks”.
He added: “In the event that a SAG-AFTRA member from the Southern California area needs to work during the next few weeks and has concerns about their safety on the set, they are encouraged to contact the union.”
Stacy Marcus, JPC’s chief negotiator, added: “Commercial producers are strongly encouraged to reschedule their production in the Southern California area for a later date when the hospital’s capacity crisis subsides. It is simply too great a risk for artists, staff and industry personnel must continue production knowing that hospitals are in crisis mode and that the number of cases continues to increase. “
PGA presidents, Gail Berman and Lucy Fisher, said: “Independent producers can help hold the line in this crisis by taking the difficult but responsible step of delaying production for now. We can and will do whatever is necessary to protect our cast and crew, and our community. “
SAG-AFTRA, JPC and PGA said they will remain in contact with members and the industry as the situation evolves.
“It is very difficult to say now when the situation can improve, but we are monitoring it closely and will ensure that our members have the information they need to make the best possible decisions to protect themselves and our community,” said White.
The recommendation came in the wake of the regional home stay request that was extended last week in California, with no specific end date. And the week before, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health sent a warning to members of the local film industry that included a reminder to be cautious and “seriously consider pausing work for a few weeks during this catastrophic increase in COVID cases.”
Los Angeles County surpassed 10,000 coronavirus deaths on Wednesday, while California also reached a record number of deaths. California Governor Gavin Newsom also announced the first detected case of the new and apparently more contagious coronavirus variant in a San Diego man. LA County Director of Health, Dr. Barbara Ferrer, noted that, last Wednesday, more than 7,400 people were hospitalized with coronavirus in the county, with 20 percent of them in intensive care units.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.