COVID-19 Response
May 2019
How We Are Executing Safe Shoots Amid COVID-19
As a production company, about a third of our work is on set, and the other two thirds is post production. We’ve been lucky to be able to work from home. But if we can’t shoot, then we can’t gather new footage, and so we can’t edit, animate, color correct, and sound mix for our clients. Needless to say, filming on set is the life-blood of our business, and so we’ve developed protocols to keep us and our clients safe.
Here’s what we’ll be doing until things change significantly.
COVID-19 in Pre-Production
Pre-production is the part of any project where we think ahead, agree on an approach, and prepare for success. Making COVID-19 a big part of pre-production will ensure a set where people feel safe, relaxed, and able to do their best work, no matter their role. This may include a dedicated Safety Officer on medium and large sets.
Because filmmaking mimics life, on-set environments can be as diverse as the real world. Every shoot has its own characteristics and will require tweaks (or a complete re-working) of the plan. We’re here to employ our years of experience and foresight to make sure it goes as smoothly as possible.
Reducing Crew as Much as Possible
Normally, a film set is a large group effort, where a chorus of individuals contribute their specialty to the mix, resulting in an efficient and creative team. With the new realities we’re all facing, we need to find alternative ways to do the same great work.
We’ll approach this differently depending on the project. For starters, we can bring those same team members to set, in small groups. So the camera crew can do their work, followed by the lighting team, followed by talent (for example). This is certainly not ideal, but can be made to work when needed.
Alternatively, we can hire multi-skilled people, who can do multiple jobs on set, thereby reducing the total number of people we need. We’ve preferred working with these types of people for years, and we’re so glad we know them now!
In either case, more setup time will be required to achieve the production quality we’re used to.
More Space, More Time
No matter how you slice it, the need to socially distance will slow down collaboration on set. So instead of 1-2 hours of setup, we might need 2-3. If it’s a more complicated shoot, we might need 2 days of tech scout instead of 1. It means our schedules will be arranged differently, and we might accomplish a little less in a day, but it’s worth it.
Working in larger spaces is another change we can make. This could allow more people to be on set at once, and put more distance between those who are there. For example, rather than filming in a conference room, we might need to film in a lobby instead.
Remote Viewing and Approvals
In the near term, 6-to-10 clients and crew huddled at video village is not going to happen. Luckily, this should be an easy adjustment.
A simple solution is to bring in a large-screen TV to set, which allows viewers to stand much farther away and still see the image clearly. TV sets won’t be as color-accurate as production monitors, but they’ll get the job done. And when budget allows, we can bring an over-sized production monitor instead.
Another option is to create a remote video village through a private live stream. Clients, producers, etc. can see what’s being captured from the comfort of their homes or offices, and video chat as needed for comments and feedback.
Temperature Checks: Pre-set and On-set
While temperature checks are not a perfect solution, they are an additional layer of screening that will be done. Talent and crew will take their own temperature the night before the shoot, and report results to the producer.
On the day of the shoot, we’ll use a touchless infrared thermometer to check all attendees before they enter the set.
Sanitation and Hygiene
By now, we’re all familiar with how to wash our hands thoroughly, and how to make sure we’re doing a full 20 seconds (the chorus to “Stayin’ Alive” is our favorite method).
But there’s more we can do here: UV light is a great way to sanitize things that can’t get wet, like all that film equipment! After the crew is done with their work, we can liberally use a UV wand before talent or clients enter the room.
And this may be needless to say, but we sadly won’t be shaking hands on set for a while. Air fist bumps will have to suffice for now.
Remote Interviewing
In addition to remote viewing for clients and producers, we can even create a remote interviewing setup for our director. Combining existing film tools, like the EyeDirect, with consumer tech such as video chat, the subject can make eye contact and speak directly with the interviewer while they are in separate rooms. This may only be necessary for immunocompromised individuals, but it’s a great option to have.
Overhead Mic Only
While it may be a detail, placing a lav mic on talent is one of the closest interactions that people have on a set, and it happens across almost all types of shoots, from narrative, to documentary, to interviews, and industrials.
Therefore, we likely won’t be doing this for the foreseeable future, unless talent is adept at placing it themselves. Instead, we can rely on an overhead boom mic(s). This allows the sound recordist to stay 6’ to 10’ away, and these mics usually sound better too!
Shippable Camera Kit
For simpler shoots and/or immunocompromised cases, we can ship a self-tape kit to our on-camera talent, and then use video chat to guide them through the process of setting up a good shot and properly placing the microphone. Because of the inherent dip in production value, this should be used as a last resort. But for some shoots, it will get the job done, and it’s a good tool to have when the circumstances call for it.
As new guidance emerges, we’ll keep ourselves, and our clients, up to date on protocols; always looking for ways to execute shoots as safely as possible. In the meantime, many people are taping themselves at home. We’ve assembled a self-tape guide on lighting, camera position, background, and wardrobe to help you look your best during video meetings and presentations. Drop us a line and we’ll send you a link right away.
Stay safe everyone,
BT Studio