Shutterstock / Fer Gregory

As Hollywood contemplates the risks and uncertainties around going back into production in the coming months after coronavirus-imposed shutdowns, strategies for scaled-back sets are beginning to emerge. Producers Brian Kavanaugh-Jones and Chris Ferguson — from the companies Automatik (“Honey Boy,” “Bad Education”) and Oddfellows (“Child’s Play”), respectively — have created a proposal titled “Isolation Based Production Plan,” which Variety has obtained.

Source: Variety | Kate Arthur
April 24, 2020

Jasin Boland/Netflix via AP

The Russo Brothers are masters of subversion.

Cleveland-born filmmakers Joe and Anthony Russo love playing with moviegoers’ expectations: from taking over a Marvel superhero franchise and turning it into an homage to 1970s conspiracy thrillers in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” to lopping off the villain’s head and time jumping five years into the future within the first 20 minutes of “Avengers: Endgame.”

Source: Cleveland.com | Joey Morona
April 24, 2020

Sweden Coronavirus
Janerik Henriksson/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Film and TV shoots could soon be back underway in two Euro countries, Sweden and Denmark, with a local producer penning a guide that it says allows production to resume.

Hobby Film, which specializes in commercials, published the notice, titled “The New Rulebook: Guidelines for Film Production in Sweden and Denmark,” on its website. The company said that at present there were no specific government guidelines in place for the film and TV industries regarding resuming shoots, but that its guide was compiled from broader applicable rules that apply to all work environments in the countries.

Source: Deadline.com | Tom Grater
April 22, 2020

Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images; Jim Spellman/WireImage
Warner Bros. CEO Ann Sarnoff, AT&T president and WarnerMedia CEO John Stankey

Warner Bros. late Wednesday reaffirmed the studio’s commitment to the cinematic experience in hopes of clearing up confusion over comments made to investors by WarnerMedia boss John Stankey earlier in the day about the future of the theatrical model.

“We are committed to — and are excited about — releasing Tenet in theaters this summer or whenever theaters reopen. We remain supportive of the theatrical experience and our exhibition partners, and are confident that our tentpole titles, including Tenet and Wonder Woman 1984, are exactly the type of films that will have people eager to return to theaters,” Warner Bros. CEO Ann Sarnoff said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter | Pamela McClintock
April 22, 2020

Photo by Fremantle Media/Shutterstock

As Hollywood begins mounting an industrywide effort to create protocols for films and TV shows to safely return to production, there will be a test case to draw upon.

Australia’s long-running soap Neighbours will resume filming next week after a monthlong production shutdown because of the coronavirus pandemic. It is believed to be the first suspended TV drama in the English-speaking world to restart production.

Source: Deadline.com | Nellie Andreeva
April 21, 2020

Since becoming known as the directors behind the biggest film of all time, having worked with Marvel from Captain America: The Winter Soldier all the way through Avengers: Endgame, Joe Russo and Anthony Russo have been hard at work with their AGBO Films productions. Next from the brand is Extraction, a Chris Hemsworth-lead action thrill ride on Netflix, which will be followed by Spider-Man actor Tom Holland getting in front of the camera again with their direction for Cherry. The film is almost complete with a first look expected sooner than later but some distribution elements remain up in the air as theaters are currently closed down.

Source: ComicBook.com | Brandon Davis
April 19, 2020

Ohio Citizens for the Arts (OCA) is calling upon the arts community to Advocate for the Arts.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Ohio Citizens for the Arts is asking the Ohio Arts and Creative community to reach out to your legislators regarding the Ohio House 2020 Economic Recovery Task Force. Help to ensure that people working in the arts receive the support they need during the COVID-19 crisis.

Some of the ways you can help:

•  Ohio speaker Larry Householder named 24 legislators to a bipartisan task force that will study ways the Ohio House can lay the foundation for economic recovery from the pandemic. At the bottom of this post, you will find the list of elected officials named to the Ohio House 2020 Economic Recovery Task Force. OCA urges you to reach out to these legislators and ask them to include arts and cultural concerns in their considerations. You can use the messaging provided below as a template, or personalize your own message:

Dear Representative,
Ohio’s Arts and Creative industries account for more than $41B in economic activity and employ nearly 300,000. Now, more than ever, Ohioans rely on the Arts to help them cope and survive during this trying time. And now, more than ever, Ohioans working in the arts and for arts organizations and businesses statewide – real people, working real jobs – need your help and the support of all Ohioans to survive.

•  Check out the Ohio Citizens for the Arts comprehensive list of Arts and Creative Sector and COVID-19 Talking Points

•  Ohio Citizens for the Arts has launched an #OhioArtsStrong campaign to showcase the resilience and strength of Ohio’s arts community. They encourage you to use the hashtag in your social media postings to help elevate Ohio’s arts community. They are grateful for the many artists and organizations that participated in their #OhioArtsStrong video (below) and have kicked off the movement on social media.

Ohio House 2020 Economic Recovery Task Force

Chairman Paul Zeltwanger (R-Mason) | [email protected]

Vice-Chairman Terrence Upchurch (D-Cleveland) | [email protected]

Brian Baldridge (R-Winchester) | [email protected]

Rick Carfagna (R-Genoa Township) | [email protected]

Jack Cera (D-Bellaire) | [email protected]

Jon Cross (R-Kenton) | [email protected]

Jay Edwards (R-Nelsonville) | [email protected]

Tavia Galonski (D-Akron) | [email protected]

Dave Greenspan (R-Westlake) | [email protected]

Brett Hillyer (R-Uhrichsville) | [email protected]

Adam Holmes (R-Nashport) | [email protected]

Don Jones (R-Freeport) | [email protected]

Laura Lanese (R-Grove City) | [email protected]

George Lang (R-West Chester) | [email protected]

Jeff LaRe (R-Violet Township) | [email protected]

David Leland (D-Columbus) | [email protected]

Jessica Miranda (D-Forest Park) | [email protected]

Jena Powell (R-Arcanum) | [email protected]

Michael Sheehy (D-Oregon) | [email protected]

Dick Stein (R-Norwalk) | [email protected]

Reggie Stoltzfus (R-Paris Township) | [email protected]

D.J. Swearingen (R-Huron) | [email protected]

Nino Vitale (R-Urbana) | [email protected]

Thomas West (D-Canton) | [email protected]

2ND UPDATE, 8:50 AM: The on-again, off-again EDD unemployment insurance webinar to answer entertainment industry workers’ questions about filing for benefits during the COVID-19 shutdown is back on again. The California Employment Development Department, which canceled Thursday’s webinar a day after it was announced, has rescheduled it for 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 14.

A coalition of Hollywood guilds and unions is encouraging their members to take part. Ken Gomez, deputy division chief of the EDD’s Los Angeles Workforce Services Division, will be fielding questions.

Those who want to watch must re-register here.

Source: Deadline.com | David Robb
April 10, 2020