Governor Gavin Newsom issued California's second lockdown this week, following a rise in coronavirus (COVID-19) cases. However, TV and film productions are beginning to open back up with strict protocols and required testing.

While many Hollywood productions have already been preparing to film internationally, domestic productions are beginning to gear up. According to an official California state document, workers "supporting the entertainment industries, studios, and other related establishments, provided they follow COVID-19 public health guidance around physical distancing" are considered "essential workers." Though many Hollywood productions remain on the ground, a few small-scale projects are up and running. FilmLA, which tracks production permits, has stated that it receives around 60 applications a week, predominately from the advertising and commercial sector.

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Atlanta, New York and Chicago have also begun to move forward with several productions, having taken steps to ensure that current health and safety guidelines are adhered to. Georgia film office director Lee Thomas stated, "We are very grateful for the commitment recently made by industry leaders to get back to producing more films in Georgia, and it's gratifying to see our productions begin to get safely off the ground." Meanwhile, New York is allowing film projects "as long as they don't have more than 50 people, interfere with hospitals or testing centers, block streets or get too close to restaurants with outdoor seating without permission from the establishment." Chicago has a plan to reduce risk by having two separate production crews.

While the California government has declared it safe for a majority of projects to resume, many productions remain at a standstill as unions are taking a more cautious approach. Guilds and labor unions such as The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees are still in negotiations with studios about on-set safety protocols. The main details being debated include the frequency and type of testing, 10-hour workday caps for a more expedient sanitation schedule and sick day compensation.

Most major studios are aiming to resume productions in late August, though insiders suggest that September is a more realistic timeline.

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(via Hollywood Reporter)