Myth-busting and coronavirus policy changes provide backdrop for screen sectors returning to work  

“Myth-busting” and staying across changes to government guidance to stop the spread of coronavirus are the biggest challenges facing film, TV, advertising, post and VFX as they return to work.

A panel of industry experts outlined their approach and optimism about returning to work nearly 400 Bectu members on 16 July.

The panel, chaired by Bectu national secretary Spencer MacDonald, included:

Frith Tiplady – Moonage Pictures Founder and Executive Producer, Kevin Trehy – Warner Bros EVP Physical Production, Steve Davies – Chief Executive, Advertising Producers Association, Samantha Perahia MBE, British Film Commission Head of Production UK, Neil Hatton – CEO, UK Screen Alliance and Harriet Finney – Director of External Affairs, BFI.

Each of the panel discussed the challenges that COVID-19 has presented for the industry from their perspective and how they have been dealing with it.

 Creating guidance

One of the main policy challenges has been keeping up with changes to guidance and information being put out by the government.

An industry taskforce, overseen by the British Film Commission as part of the BFI’s Screen Sector Taskforce, created guidance for film and high-end TV to get back to work which many of the panel, including Bectu, were part of. Separate guidance for commercials overseen by the APA led by chief executive Steve Davies has also been published.

 “We were the first creative sector out of the traps to get guidance out there”, said Harriet Finney BFI director of external affairs. She highlighted that over £1bn worth of productions went “silent” overnight when the UK went into lockdown and government recognised the value screen sectors bring to the economy.

British Film Commission Head of Production UK, Samantha Perahia said the guidance, which was signed off at the highest levels of government, remains a live document and any changes that are made by government are reflected in the guidance.

The panel emphasised the role Bectu played in shaping the guidance and how departmental insight from Bectu members has created some of the most comprehensive guidance in the world.

Kevin Trehy, Warner Bros EVP Physical Production admitted that getting back to work has been a slow process. But added that the standards “UK PLC” had promoted through the pan-industry approach have put the UK in a good position.

Neil Hatton CEO, UK Screen Alliance, also spoke about the challenge of staying across the different updates that are being issued to ensure that people and companies in post, VFX and animation have access to the correct information.

Despite the huge changes and challenges ahead the panel were optimistic about returning to work.

Finney updated that government is currently assessing how it might address the insurance challenge to allow productions to resume, which would be a significant step forward for the industry.

 Myth-busting and protection

Frith Tiplady, Moonage Pictures Founder and Trehy both spoke about “myth-busting” to reassure people about returning to work and outlined the measures they are taking to get their productions up and running again.

Moonage Pictures will be resuming production within the next two weeks and new protocols have been put in place, Tiplady revealed.

Protocols include cohorts of crew, temperature checks and cast, supporting artists and a core crew of 20 people being tested for COVID-19 on a daily basis.

Trehy, who has responsibility for European productions, also sits on a taskforce for WarnerMedia and getting back to work.

Warner Bros is looking to start up production of Batman and Fantastic Beasts again.

One of the issues productions are grappling with as they return to work is schedules, Trehy continued. “No-one knows what a schedule looks like in the new normal”. He highlighted that there is a need for a longer prep period and that productions have to be able to “pivot” around what is working and what isn’t.

Trehy outlined that Warner Bros has become “our own strictest police force” in dealing with the spread of coronavirus. The company has hired medical consultants, taken time to listen to crew and put in place an anonymous reporting mechanism for malpractice that anyone witnesses, he explained.

Davies said the role of the APA has been to encourage brands to keep advertising. “There has been a surge in demand, more work is getting made, but it still hasn’t gone back to normal”, he said. He also touched on the fact that businesses are made up of people and nervousness needs to be overcome for things to resume.

As these elements of the industry look to gear up again, Hutton said people working in post, VFX and animation are now looking at their pipeline of work drying up. Part of the industry is looking at a “protracted hiatus” after a “gargantuan” effort had been made to relocate thousands of workers to home working, he continued.

The panellists also acknowledged that there is a need for broader change in the industry as people return to work and that family commitments shouldn’t be a barrier for progress and retaining talent.