COVID-19 Production Protocol
What to Expect on Set
As the coronavirus pandemic continues, every industry is faced with an urgent question: how can we adapt? On-set production is no exception. Here at Cowboy, we’re preparing to jump back into the saddle when it comes to wrangling a shoot —but we’re committed to keeping our clients, crew, and all support staff as safe and healthy as we possibly can.
If we have the opportunity to work together in the next several months—and we hope we do!—here’s what you can expect from us in terms of production safety protocols. Of course, we’ll integrate new guidance from the CDC and other public health experts as it comes to light.
Keeping our distance:
Except where prohibited by shot requirements, social distancing guidelines (6 feet or more) will stay in place.
Anyone who feels sick is required to stay home.
We’ll allow limited set/location access only to necessary personnel from client, agency, and production teams.
The set will only be accessible during designated call times.
We’ll allow for step-in/step-out times for each department.
We’ll plan for staggered call times for essential clients, crew, cast, etc.
We’ll plan for staggered lunch hours.
When possible/necessary, we’ll consider using remote access to the set via live streaming.
We’ll anticipate and evaluate providing alternative lodging to homeowners for the duration of a multi-day shoot.
We’ll anticipate the possibility of paying to board pets for the duration of a location shoot.
Before the shoot:
Tech scouts will be scheduled ASAP in the production calendar, allowing for extra time to prep the location.
Location selects may be limited or come at a premium.
On location for the tech scout, we’ll have as much conversation outside as we can.
During the tech scout, we’ll maximize space and airflow as we designate spaces for the shoot (craft services, lunch, equipment staging, monitor placement, etc.). We’ll consider whether we’ll have to relocate any of these elements at some point during the day in order to accommodate different camera positions.
One individual will put up and take down all location signs.
In the event that a location cancels or otherwise becomes unavailable, we’ll have backup options to consider.
We’ll rely more on locations repped by agents.
We’ll prepare for potentially longer shoots and shoot days, to allow for extra prep, cleaning, and transition time.
We’ll prepare for possible use of pre-light or prep days.
Equipment, surfaces, & shared resources:
We’ll maintain regular housekeeping practices—including routine cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces, equipment, and other elements of the work environment on set—whether in the studio or on location.
We’ll require frequent hand washing/hand sanitizing by all people on set.
We’ll limit the number of people who handle/have access to certain items on set, like equipment and craft services/meals.
Where possible, we’ll ask that all crew members put down an item that someone then needs to pick up, rather than passing it to them directly.
We’ll only serve individual pre-packaged items or orders, and use disposable serving items.
We’ll mandate using only one makeup brush, applicator, etc. per actor. Makeup artists will also mix foundation, powders, lipstick, etc. on a disposable palette for each individual.
Members of each department will disinfect gear during breaks in activity.
Additional gear may be required to minimize the number of people having to touch the same items.
Other on-set safety protocols:
We’ll utilize appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including but not limited to: goggles, face shields, masks that cover the nose and mouth, gloves, and finger cots (good for finger-only touchpoints).
Everyone involved in production is responsible to self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms and report any issues to the production manager.
A designated health/safety manager will be present on set.
Though we’ll have masks available on the day of production, we’ll encourage all shoot attendees to bring their own.
We’ll require pre- and post-shoot cleaning for each location.
Got questions about production with Cowboy Collective? Give us a holler.