18:23 PST 1/28/2021
in
Bryn Sandberg
The three organizations suspended the recommendation to pause filming due to the increase in COVID-19 in the state.
Industry groups that recommended a pause in production amid the sudden increase in COVID-19 in California in early January have suspended it.
SAG-AFTRA, the Producers Guild of America and the Joint Policy Committee – the negotiating group that represents commercial advertisers and advertising agencies – have agreed that filming may begin from February 1.
The new recommendation comes weeks after most major studios had resumed at least some of their productions and a few days after California Governor Gavin Newsom suspended the state’s regional home order.
The groups say their recommendation is consistent with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health’s expiration of the pause recommendation and the strengthening of a series of Appendix J provisions of the Los Angeles County Health Order, including the elimination of testing exemptions for short-term productions.
Last week, the Department of Public Health updated its production guidelines. These guidelines detailed that the contracted audience is now limited to 50 people and must be actors or extras and not members of the general public, and that the pre-contracting PCR test is mandatory for all productions, in addition to weekly tests during production , at least. In addition, the quarantine period for individuals who have been in close contact with someone with a positive test is now 10 days instead of 14, and the hairdressers and makeup artists on the set must wear facial protection in addition to facial coverage.
SAG-AFTRA, PGA and JPC add that film and television productions must continue to comply with the COVID safety protocols issued by the industry and monitor any additional recommendations issued by the Department of Public Health, should the pandemic worsen again. SAG-AFTRA and JPC will continue to review commercial productions to help ensure that security on the set is maintained for members and industry personnel.