February 22, 2021

NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo Gives Greenlight To New York City Cinema Reopening March 5 At Reduced Capacity

(deadline.com)

UPDATE AFTER EXCLUSIVE: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday said movie theaters in New York City will be brought into line with the rest of New York state as of March 5, when they will be allowed to reopen at 25% capacity with no more than 50 people per screen, masks, social distancing and other protocols.

The guidelines include air filtration and purification standards previously specified by the Department of Health.

Officials at Cuomo’s press briefing today said no Covid-19 testing will be required, as is the case for large arenas like Madison Square Garden and Barclay’s Center that can reopen later in February. Cinemas in New York City will follow the same guidance put in place for movie theaters in the rest of New York state back in October.

By: Anthony D’Alessandro & Jill Goldsmith

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Producer Gary Foster On Why Abusive Set Behavior Happens & How The Industry Can Stop It – Guest Column

(deadline.com)

My dad always used to tell me: “Be nice to people on your way up, because people like to kick those who bullied them when they are on their way down.” We’ve all heard some version of this advice. He wasn’t really telling me to be nice. He was warning me about the bullying, kicking and knocking down that everyone in this industry has experienced.

I’ve learned a few things as I have made my way, most importantly, to be kind and treat all humans on set with respect. It’s simply not true that you have to be a jerk [asshole] to get ahead. People who treat others badly always pay a price for it, one way or another—on the way up or on the way down, out of their pockets or out of someone else’s. Yet, treating people well has not hampered my career at all. In fact, on every set, I’ve been able to get people to perform above and beyond because everyone I’ve ever worked with actually wants to do a great job—at least until someone starts kicking them.

When the film Short Circuit was greenlit in 1985, I was given my first producing role, suddenly in charge of hundreds of cast and crew members. As with any production, issues arose—including interpersonal conflicts, inappropriate behavior, and problems around unaddressed unconscious or conscious biases. I had no warning that the role I would be stepping into went beyond making the film, but in fact – I discovered that, along with filmmaking, I was also stepping into a much more critical position, charged with responsibility for the crew, cast members and their well being. I had never taken a class in people management, conflict resolution, nor had I (or most producers on set) been trained on how to be a de facto HR executive, which it turned out is a significant part of the job. I had controlled a script that someone wanted to finance. Those were my credentials. I was qualified for the job of Associate Producer… not Associate Leader.

By: Gary Foster

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How to Reopen Your Office Safely, According to a Hollywood Covid Compliance Officer

(inc.om)

Almost a year after Covid-19 shut down offices across America, many physical workplaces remain in stasis. But six months ago, Demerie Danielson was hired to help bring at least one industry back to working in person: the film industry.

Danielson, a registered nurse, left her job at an Albuquerque hospital for a brand-new position: Covid Compliance Officer for VIP StarNetwork, a health care contractor for major local movie and TV sets. It’s a subsidiary of Inverse Medical, a medical equipment supplier. With her medical expertise in her back pocket, Danielson learned how to safely reopen a workplace on the fly–and has since done so for seven Netflix and Amazon Prime productions, including the upcoming film The Harder They Fall, starring Jonathan Majors and Idris Elba.

Her experience could prove crucial for America’s business owners, especially those pondering their own return to the office amid the country’s vaccine rollout. Here are Danielson’s top four recommendations.

By: Cameron Albert-Deitch

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Coming Soon: The Film Academy’s “Inclusion Standards” Form (deadline.com)

A word to wise film producers: Start tracking the racial, gender and disability status of your employees now. The film Academy’s Aperture 2025 inclusion program is closer than you think.

Because once again, an important point is tucked in the fine print.

When the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced its plan to require that Best Picture contenders meet at least two of four inclusion standards aimed at increasing screen depictions or employment of underrepresented groups—women, specified racial and ethnic groups, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with cognitive and physical disabilities, and those hard of hearing—it was careful to put full implementation far in the future. New standards will be imposed for the 96th Academy Awards. Those occur in 2024. Given more immediate concerns with the Covid-delayed 2021 Oscar show, it all seems very distant.

By: Michael Cieply

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Wexford film studio on hold as objection filed

(irishtimes.com)

Plans for a €20 million film studio in north Wexford have to be put on hold following an objection against the scale of the project in a quiet rural area.

Tara Studios will have to wait another four months to find out if it has been successful in seeking approval for its plans to develop what it claims will be one of the largest film production facilities in Ireland at Borleagh Manor around 5km outside Gorey, Co Wexford.

The company which was established by the former chief executive of Pinewood Studios, Ivan Dunleavey and film financier, John Gleeson, plans to construct seven sound stages, ten workshops and associated production facilities within the grounds of Borleagh Manor, a listed 19th century Georgian building on 160 acres of woodland.

By: Sean McCárthaigh

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