On July 7th, the UK Government announced an exemption to the quarantine requirements for film and high-end TV cast and crew. The exemption relates to those working on productions which qualify as British under one of the Government’s cultural tests or official co-production treaties.
This result is partly testament to the hard work of colleagues in the Screen Sector Task Force, who have campaigned for the change. The British Film Commission have issued further guidance via the Covid-19 section of their website. It is as follows:
British Film Commission – Working Safely During COVID-19 in Film and High-end TV Drama Production
This document is intended to provide high-level guidance to manage COVID-19 specific risk in producing film and high-end TV drama in the UK. It has been prepared in consultation with the Department for Digital, Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) with input from crew and crew representatives, industry bodies, unions and the devolved administrations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and in consultation with Public Health England (PHE) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
This guidance should be read in conjunction with the latest UK Government guidance. Productions based in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales should additionally check for the relevant devolved Government guidance as it may differ.
- Download British Film Commission – Working Safely During COVID-19 in Film and High-end TV Drama Production guidance here.
Current version: V.2.0 Published 6th July 2020
For optimised viewing, please open the PDF through Adobe Acrobat Reader or Google Chrome. If you read the PDF using Safari or Apple Preview, links to certain sections of government guidance may not work but Apple Mac users can access an adapted version of the guidance here.
- Download Travelling to the UK for work in Film or High-end Television Drama Production During COVID-19: Self-isolation (“Quarantine”) Exemptions guidance here.
Current version: V.1.0 Published 6th July 2020
For optimised viewing, please open the PDF through Adobe Acrobat Reader or Google Chrome. If you read the PDF using Safari or Apple Preview, links to certain sections of government guidance may not work but Apple Mac users can access an adapted version of the guidance here.
Always make sure you are working from the current version.
- The UK TV industry has produced guidance for managing the risk of COVID-19 in programme making which applies to all TV production and can be found here. In the case of high-end TV drama productions, this guidance should be considered alongside the UK TV industry guidance.
- Guidance for Safe Working in Post-Production and VFX, produced in consultation with, and endorsed by, the British Film Commission Recovery Group, is available here.
- ScreenSkills, are adapting and developing training initiatives to support the film and HETV industries’ recovery efforts.
- Read law firm Wiggin’s Returning to Production Employment and Data Protection FAQs here.
- For additional industry advice and guidance on Coronavirus COVID-19, see BFI info here.
Source: Production Guild, British Film Commission
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