New reporting reveals how movie and TV productions may handle the coronavirus pandemic when production resumes. Entertainment fans would be hard pressed to find a current TV show or movie not affected by COVID-19 in some way. It's had a sweeping impact across the industry, with movies and TV shows delayed due to theater closures and the inability to complete post-production. Productions filming overseas were hit first, with those in North America soon following suit. All told, hundreds of TV shows and movies were forced to stop filming in March, either because of direct contact with the virus or as a result of social distancing rules.
As the pandemic hit just as TV shows were wrapping up filming this season, several were forced to end with episodes not intended as finales. Most shows were just a couple episodes shy of fulfilling their original orders. Some series with more intense post-production needs were also not able to air finales as planned. The Walking Dead, for example, finished filming but wasn't able to complete production with people working from home. The CW's Arrowverse was also affected by the virus, with The Flash, Batwoman, and Supergirl all forced to end work early in Vancouver.
Though the coronavirus is far from contained, many in the industry are already working on solutions for how to resume production when the time comes. Per THR, many decisions will depend on the size of the movie or TV show, with smaller ones probably starting before bigger productions. Studios may also pivot to more filming on sound stages vs. outside locations. As expected, romantic scenes between characters will be a unique challenge, with some in Hollywood even suggesting actors film those scenes separately, with post-production putting them together. Craft services, where cast and crew get meals and snacks during breaks in filming will also have to be changed, as buffet-style food will be a thing of the past.
Per Variety, Warner Bros. TV is looking at its productions individually and how they'll have to change. The studio recently hosted a call with its shows' higher-ups, informing them of possible alterations to how filming is done. Warner Bros. is contemplating a different approach to romantic scenes by getting rid of them all together, or at least heavily changing them. Since the studio is home to the Arrowverse and other action series, those in charge are also devising a plan for fight sequences, which will need to adhere to the suggested six feet rule. Crowd scenes will also likely be axed, and actors filming in Vancouver, as many of the WB shows do, will likely be told not to fly back home during filming breaks.
Though entertainment fans are currently missing many of their favorite TV shows and movies, they should feel reassured that higher-ups in the industry are already thinking about how to approach filming when it's safe to do so. It's also worth noting that some of these measures may not wind up being put in place, as Hollywood as a whole is still very much brainstorming what to do. It will also depend on the condition of the coronavirus pandemic when TV and movie productions resume, as well as whether a vaccine exists at that point. For now, entertainment fans can at least know that productions will be ready to start work the minute they're able to.
Source: THR, Variety