Film - Phase 1 Production
We are pleased to announce an option for MFA students to complete production during the pandemic. Phase 1 Production may begin with the first day of the Fall Semester on September 8, 2020. Coursework exercises will begin with Fall B, which starts October 26, 2020.
The plan below reflects industry best practices and has been approved by the University. Only Phase 1 production is possible at this time. All production for coursework must follow the General Parameters and Production Protocols, and receive approval as outlined by the Approval Process section below.
The parameters are best suited for auditions and rehearsals, or coursework exercises. However, students are also welcome to complete 8-12s, SYFs, and Thesis-level films as long as the films are able to fit the parameters and follow the protocols and approvals process below.
General Parameters
Cast and Crew
6 maximum on any given shoot day - includes 1 dedicated Health/Safety Manager 10 total for full shoot (can “swap out” cast/crew members within 6-person max)
For At-Home locations: residents (roommates, family members) outside of cast/crew must stay out of shooting space and maintain 6 ft distance from cast/crew for duration of shoot
Phase 1 production excludes SAG actors at this time. We are in negotiations with SAG and will send further information once we have finalized their requirements.
Equipment
Cast or Crew-owned equipment only
Production Center equipment - possible when University approves Nash to open (we will announce via email when possible)
No outside rentals, including Production Center lenses available at AbelCine
Location
Only at-home locations:
“At-Home” location
● Property must be owned or rented by one of the cast or crew members. Either (or both) exteriors and interiors of property may be used.
● Production must have exclusive control pre-dating the shoot by 14 days.
● No shared public spaces (such as apartment courtyards, laundry rooms, community gardens)
● No city or government-owned public spaces (such as parks, sidewalks)
● Occupancy in any given space must be able to accomodate distance protocols below (example: 6 foot distance between all crew members during shoot)
International locations
● Students may not travel across country borders for the purposes of production. If however a student has returned to their country of citizenship, they may complete Phase 1 production while there.
Future Phase 1 developments:
On-Campus Space (Dodge, Prentis, Nash):
● At this time, no on-campus space is available. We will let you know what space is available when the University reopens.
Risk Activities
All Risk Activities allowed 1) if not in conflict with Production Protocols; 2) upon Final RiSC approval.
Reminder: No High Risk Activities allowed for 3-5s (standing policy)
Production Protocols
New on-set protocols, which will be announced in early August, are required to mitigate exposure to COVID-19. Students will detail their implementation of these requirements for their productions in an additional Safety Plan section. Productions must secure Safety Plan approval via Final RiSC approval to move forward. Auditions and Rehearsals are expected to comply with these protocols as SOA Film Program policy.
Approval Process
Auditions and Rehearsals
Instructor permission; shoot must be an assignment attached to a course (can include Thesis Advisement course)
Coursework exercises
Final RiSC with faculty approval uploaded
3-5s, 8-12s, SYFs, and Thesis-level films
PAB & Final RiSC approval
Production Protocols
Note on budgeting for COVID-related Protocols: All areas that require an extra cost are specified below in green, per item.
Local Laws
● The production must be in compliance with local COVID guidelines i.e. State, County, Town, Country, etc.
● The production must ensure the local authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) has approved the filming location(s). This will depend on the current local authority’s re-opening phase and drastically different depending on location.
Health and Safety Manager (HSM) Responsibilities
● Each production must have one on-set Health and Safety Manager (HSM) for the duration of the shoot. The HSM cannot have another role while on set, and is a full part of the pre-production planning through final wrap.
● HSM Training Requirements:
- The HSM must complete ONE of the following trainings (free option available for a limited time):
- Exercises and projects must upload the final certificate to the Final RiSC
- Students are encouraged to seek out experienced HSMs
● HSM responsibilities:
- Ensure that each cast/crew member completes a COVID-19 Symptoms Survey at the beginning of each shoot day, before they are allowed on set.
- Supervise and ensure compliance with cast and crew health and cleanliness practices detailed in sections below
- Discuss and plan for backup roles for all cast and crew
- Post signs on set promoting hygiene & reporting contact information
- Hold a Daily Safety Briefing that includes COVID-19 awareness training
- Encourage all cast and crew to take this free course : SafeSets Intl
- Schedule sanitation breaks (incl. face mask changes) throughout the shoot day
- Complete a Monitoring Checklist and initial each item for every hour of the shoot
- If any COVID-19 symptoms are detected:
- The cast/crew member must immediately leave the set and all other cast and crew must be informed.
- The incident must be immediately reported to the Director of Production Administration and Risk Management Jenny Tromski, Director of Production Maureen Ryan, and Assistant Director of Production Administration Ann Czar. Discussion with these parties will determine next steps for the overall production.
● Please note that the liability of the HSM does not exceed any other crew member’s liability in successfully planning and completing a safe production.
Travel To, From and While On Set
● Students are advised to avoid public transit to transport cast/crew to and from set
- Alternatives: private vehicles, Uber, walking/biking, open air ferries
● Allow time to park and move own vehicle
● Vehicle capacity is one per row/seat bank (example: an 8 pass van can hold maximum 3 people)
● Passengers and driver must rinse hands with 70% alcohol hand sanitizer before entering the vehicle and again after exiting the vehicle.
● Passenger and driver must wear facial covering while in the vehicle
● Windows of the vehicle should be opened to increase fresh circulation.
● Cast and crew must stay on site during the full workday
Distancing
● Cast and crew must limit interaction to internal production during principal photography.
- Note from Parameters above: for At-Home locations, residents (roommates, family members) outside of cast/crew must stay out of shooting space and maintain 6 ft distance from cast/crew for duration of shoot. Residents must also maintain same screening and PPE protocol for shoot duration.
● Practice 6 foot social distancing. No shaking hands, hugging or touching.
● Crew must wear masks at all times, and are encouraged to add face shields.
● Actors must wear masks at all times, and are encouraged to add face shields, during group blocking and when off screen
● All dressing areas must be separate
● No direct contact between actors, including but not limited to intimate contact. Minimum distance of 2 feet should be kept between actors at all times except for those in a pre-existing quarantine relationship (incl. family). For those in a pre-existing quarantine relationship, the 2 feet minimum does not apply.
● Minimize direct contact between actors (<6 feet without facial cover) to under 1 minute for any single take.
● Minimize direct face to face communication between actors when possible, angle the actors and be creative with camera angles.
● Advised: quarantine for 14 days after principal photography
On-Set Hygiene
General - Self-sanitization
● Avoid touching face (eyes, nose, mouth)
● Hands should be washed or sanitized for 20 seconds minimum using soap and water or 70% alcohol gel sanitizer
- Upon arriving at the job site;
- After blowing one’s nose, coughing, or sneezing;
- After using the restroom;
- Before and after eating or drinking;
- After handling shared equipment or objects;
- After cleaning or disinfecting equipment, tools or workspaces
● Cast and crew must bring own multiple sanitized cloth face coverings from home
● Cover your mouth and nose to contain a cough or sneeze with a tissue, paper towel or other item to avoid possibly contaminating a costume as when using an elbow etiquette.
General - PPE Supplies
● Hand Sanitizer:
- Must be 70% alcohol
- Sanitizer should be approved by the FDA
- Production must provide ONE 12 oz bottle per 6 people per day Cost: 12 oz bottle of sanitizer per day - $8 x shoot days
● Masks:
- Each cast/crew member must bring TWO masks for their own use each day. Cloth recommended.
- Production must provide THREE extra 3-ply disposable surgical masks per person per day. Cost: box of 50 disposable surgical masks - $25
● Gloves:
- Production must provide THREE pairs of gloves per person each day. Gloves should be worn to clean surfaces or equipment. Cost: box of 100 disposable gloves - $25
● Disinfectant:
- Must be antiviral disinfectant approved by the EPA Cost: comparable to sanitizer
● Designate a location to provide masks, gloves, disinfectant/sanitizing wipes, spray and gels
Paper, Device and Equipment Sharing
● No shared paper documents; digital document share only
● Do not share any electronic devices
● Designate & label equipment for each person. No other cast or crew is permitted to handle equipment outside of designated person/s. Includes boom mics & lavs.
● Crew to disinfect equipment whenever it is moved to and on set, and between use
● Allow added time for operators to unload and load own equipment
Props, Wardrobe, Hair & Makeup
● All cast applies own makeup and hair design; no makeup artist or hairdresser on set.
● All cast must bring clothes/costumes from home; no wardrobe on set. Costumes/clothing must not be shared on set.
● All cast must bring own sanitized makeup and hair tools; no sharing tools with other cast or crew.
● Designate individual to transport and disinfect any props arriving on set & between use
Location
● Sanitize all surfaces of location prior to load-in (Advised: professional cleaning)
● Regularly disinfect doorknobs, handles, chairs, tables, etc
● Establish departmental holding areas in separate spaces for essential/non replaceable cast and crew
● Keep doors open wherever possible to avoid contact, and/or designate one individual to open doors
● Designate one-way paths, entry points and exit points where possible especially in narrow spaces
● One person to a restroom at a time. If the door does lock from inside, create a means of alerting others that the room is in use.
● In the restroom, have each person sanitize the faucets, handles and their hands prior to leaving.
● Keep the set and workspaces free from as many unnecessary items as possible:
- Mark out the stage for each departmental area prior to shooting
- Ask cast crew to bring minimal personal belongings with them
Craft Services
● Cast and crew should be encouraged to bring their own thermos from home.
● Each person will be designated one labeled drinking container.
● Production must provide individually portioned & individually distributed and labeled food available for all cast/crew. No family style or shared food containers. Cost: individual portioning bags/boxes (such as Ziploc bags)
● Cast and crew may bring food from home, but all containers must remain in the cast/crew member’s possession at all times. Food brought from home may also not include any items from the allergy list, which will be sent to cast/crew no less than 24 hours before call.
● No cast or crew member may share any food.
● Stagger meals and meal distribution to allow crew to maintain 6 ft social distancing during meal breaks.
● Food should not require refrigeration if refrigeration is not available.
● Cast and crew must eat facing the same direction, not opposite each other.