Producers Guild of India releases recommendations for filming amid COVID-19 pandemic

Updated: May 25, 2020 7:35:08 pm

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   Producers Guild of India on Monday released a set of recommendations for the film and television industry to follow once they resume shooting. The organisation has asked the industry to follow these rules strictly. (Photo: Producers Guild of India)

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      Some of the rules include wearing a three-layered mask and gloves at all times, avoiding physical contact of any nature and sanitizing surfaces and hands during every entry and exit of a shoot. (Photo: Producers Guild of India)

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         Colleagues have to maintain a distance of minimum two meters and the actors consuming food and beverages during a sequence should take special care to avoid infection. (Photo: Producers Guild of India)

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            The team will be required to report at the venue 45 minutes prior to the shoot in order to attend a debriefing for the day with regards to safety and sanitization of the place and its people. (Photo: Producers Guild of India)

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               At least for the first few months, everyone involved should keep up with social distancing norms and should ideally be asked to stand in demarcated circles to avoid contact. The promotion of these regulations via posters and announcements is to be encouraged. (Photo: Producers Guild of India)

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                  Restrooms are to be cleaned frequently and hand washes and sanitizers should be kept at strategic locations. Portable wash basins are to be constructed at various locations within the premises. (Photo: Producers Guild of India)

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                     A possible bathing arrangement at the filming location should also be made. Routine swab tests should be encouraged. (Photo: Producers Guild of India)

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                        Those who can, should try and work from home as often as possible; ideally on a rotational basis. The area where the shoot is being held should be sealed off and no unauthorised personnel should be allowed entry. (Photo: Producers Guild of India)

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                           A form is to be circulated and signed by the talent and other involved teams regarding their health status and whether they are fit to resume work. Every person’s body temperature should be checked before and after they enter the premises of the shoot. Those who are fit are supposed to wear wrist bands indicating that they are of sound health. (Photo: Producers Guild of India)

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                              A health declaration with the individual’s medical and travel history is imminent. (Photo: Producers Guild of India)

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                                 Face shield, half masks/respirators and gloves should be worn by crew members at all times. (Photo: Producers Guild of India)

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                                    An ambulance should be on stand-by at all times and the production team has to make sure it has an isolation zone ready lest the need arises. Also, two junior doctors and one certified nurse should work in two shifts during the shoot to ensure the safety of the team. (Photo: Producers Guild of India)

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                                       Henceforth, all casting of films and movies will be done online. The talent should record themselves from the safety of their homes and send the tapes to the casting directors via mail or any other online service. (Photo: Producers Guild of India)

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                                          Special care should be taken during the pre-production work, especially with regard to location scouting. The work should be done as remotely as possible and the scout should go there alone and take multiple photographs to avoid coming back to the spot. The scout should pay attention to whether the chosen area falls under red, orange or green zone. (Photo: Producers Guild of India)

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                                             The technical team should work with minimum members and should wear shoe-covers when going indoors during a shoot. (Photo: Producers Guild of India)

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                                                The costume fitting trial sessions should be done with only a few people in attendance. The actors should do the trial run on the same day of the shoot on specified set. Clothes should be kept covered using a plastic bag. (Photo: Producers Guild of India)

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                                                   Different make-up and hair artists should work with different actors and extras. They should follow the rules of sanitization and wear masks and gloves while working with the crew. (Photo: Producers Guild of India)

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                                                      Since the art department is one of the largest teams on set, it is advisable for them to work in shifts with fewer people. The props used should be sanitized properly and care should be taken when any member goes to an outlet for selection of products. (Photo: Producers Guild of India)

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                                                         All the garments procured for the filming should be carefully washed and sanitized. This also includes equipment such as hangers, irons and sewing machines. (Photo: Producers Guild of India)

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                                                            Each talent is supposed to wear what they have been allotted beforehand. They are at no point allowed to exchange clothes with their colleagues without proper disinfection. (Photo: Producers Guild of India)

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                                                               Lapel mics should be regularly disinfected, and each talent is supposed to use their own individual mic. The boom mic should be replaced or cleaned after every scene or a change of characters. (Photo: Producers Guild of India)

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                                                                  Walkie-talkies and speakers are to be covered and sanitized frequently. If possible, every team member should have their own earpiece in order to ensure a smooth and risk-free communication. (Photo: Producers Guild of India)

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                                                                     A video village should be set up in a stand-by area and not within the set, if possible. Also, during filming, all tools and equipment are to be disinfected properly. (Photo: Producers Guild of India)

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                                                                        All camera devices and other necessary equipment should be disinfected and delivered to the set with a certificate stating that they are fit for usage. (Photo: Producers Guild of India)

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                                                                           Disposable cutlery is to be used during catering. Staff should bring their own food if possible. The catering personnel are to wear masks and gloves at all times during work hours. (Photo: Producers Guild of India)

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                                                                              A designated area for food waste should be provided. (Photo: Producers Guild of India)

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                                                                                 The cast and crew members above the age of 60 years should not partake in filming activities in the first three months of the shoot. They should be allowed to work with restrictions. (Photo: Producers Guild of India)

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                                                                                    Outdoor shoots should be avoided at all costs. The actors or the crew members who cannot be replaced should be kept in isolation and should be given their separate facilities. (Photo: Producers Guild of India)

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                                                                                       Filming protocols for non-fiction shoots will be entirely different, with the entire set area divided into separate zones. No more than 15 members are allowed to stay per zone. (Photo: Producers Guild of India)

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                                                                                          The audience members for non-fiction shows should be reduced by 50 per cent. No one from a restricted zone, a different city or country will be allowed to participate. (Photo: Producers Guild of India)

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                                                                                             The voice-over artistes should bring their own headphones if possible. All the mics and headphones are to be duly disinfected. (Photo: Producers Guild of India)

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                                                                                                Measurements should be taken in coordination with an authorised personnel. (Photo: Producers Guild of India)

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                                                                                                   These risk assessments should be duly noted and complied with. Also, necessary guidelines are to be followed with respect to the waste management process. (Photo: Producers Guild of India)

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                                                                                                      All the COVID-19 testing of talents and extras should take place via a swab test. Necessary quarantine measures are to be taken if someone tests positive. (Photo: Producers Guild of India)

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                                                                                                         These are the relevant links and helpline numbers. (Photo: Producers Guild of India)