Hollywood unions sign cope with studios boosting return to work
Hollywood’s top unions announced a handle major film studios Monday on coronavirus safety precautions needed for the entertainment industry to ramp up its go back to production.
The months-long talks over Covid-related testing, equipment and sick pay were regarded as a significant bottleneck in getting Tinseltown back again to work, with unions currently having to approve individual film and television set projects on a case-by-case basis.
The deal sometimes appears as a go in the arm for a struggling industry which has seen silver-screen productions grind to a halt - although obstacles such as for example insufficient coronavirus insurance, local restrictions and high infection rates in shooting spots will remain.
“Finally, I’m confident that these protocols, as rigid and thoughtful as those of any industry in America, could keep crew and cast safe as well as the communities they live and work in,” said Thomas O’Donnell, director of Hollywood’s teamsters union, in a statement to AFP.
The agreement was jointly negotiated by five of Hollywood’s biggest unions, like the actors, directors and craft guilds, totaling over 350,000 members.
Talks were held with the Alliance of FILM and Television Producers, the trade organization representing major studios including Disney, Universal, Paramount and Warner Brothers and top TV networks.
“This agreement establishes sensible, science-based protocols that allow members to come back to carrying it out they love,” said Gabrielle Carteris, president of Hollywood’s acting guild.
Filming in Los Angeles ceased in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic, and resumed at low-levels in late June. Activity currently remains at below half usual levels, according to FilmLA.
Other regions in america and abroad have benefited from the difficulty of filming around Hollywood itself.
The talks concluded Monday were national in scale and so are expected to effect on union members living and working abroad.
A reported sticking point in the talks had been the problem of sick pay. The offer announced Monday includes 10 days of COVID-19 paid sick leave, per producer, and quarantine purchase employees required to isolate, with limited exceptions.
In addition, it mandates regular “gold standard” virus testing - more frequent for actors struggling to wear protective equipment while filming and the ones in close connection with them - along with the existence of on-set coronavirus officers.
AMPTP, which did not immediately react to AFP obtain comment, has yet to verify the details.
Covid-19 has triggered massive disruption in Hollywood, with productions suspended and theatrical releases delayed - prompting further postponements to industry staples like the Oscars.
