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The South African film and television industry got the green light to reopen, but as the cameras start working and the lights blink, it won’t be the same as always.
After the country’s film and television business halted for more than five weeks during the shutdown, except for the ongoing production and broadcast of current television news and programming, there is new hope.
On Sunday evening, May 3, the South African government issued amendments to the regulation under the Covid-19 Level 4 closure situation, paving the way for the reopening of the local film and television industry that has been affected by the period of national closure.
Filming on set is slated to resume on Monday, May 4 at the Sasani Studios batch in Johannesburg on SABC2’s 7de Laan produced by Danie Odendaal Productions, SABC1’s Skeem Saam, kykNET’s Binnelanders at Stark Studios, and several others, with more shows across the country, including Cape Town and Durban, to be prepared during the week.
However, the reboot will primarily focus on the series of locally produced drama series and soaps seen in primetime on SABC1, SABC2, and e.tv, as well as M-Net’s Mzansi Magic, 1Magic, and kykNET channels. Some of them have already run out of their stored episodes in the past two weeks, while the episodes available for replay in the closet of the rest of the video stack are dwindling.
Other shows that will come back to life on a limited basis with new episodes include studio-based local magazine shows on SABC, SuperSport and M-Net channels like Kwêla on kykNET, produced in Cape Town, which has already come out with a newly recorded episode. Sunday night.
While filming scenes in feature films and location filming can technically occur on-site, it is highly unlikely due to the expensive overall cost of production to start only certain scenes. Cinemas from Ster-Kinekor to Nu Metro, including independent cinemas across the country, will remain closed.
EXTREMELY STRICT RULES
However, the restart will come with extremely strict rules. Film and television crews working on shows already connected to a station and making use of local casts and crews can return to work and study.
This includes the postproduction team, for example, editors, and anyone who works on sound and special effects, animators, or anyone who finishes material in specialized studios.
The South African government is assigning responsibility for the reopening of the studio doors to broadcasters: SABC, MultiChoice Group, including divisions such as M-Net and Supersport, and eMedia Investments.
They may “choose to resume content production based on risk assessment” and are cautioned to only restart programs “that can occur with minimal risk,” for example soap-opera shots and soaps in a studio setting that are easier to handle than location shots.
“Broadcasting organizations should identify solutions to ensure the protection of performers and production teams” according to the Government Gazette, and should “retain, to the extent possible, a working approach from the home”.
“Each broadcaster should work closely with the respective production companies and relevant industry agencies to determine the most appropriate return to production strategy and feasible implementation dates.”
STUDIES: PREPARING FOR THE PREVENTION OF THE DIFFUSION OF GERMANY
Although studio teams will use them, local casts of TV soaps won’t immediately appear on screen with facial covers, if they ever do. Gone are extras and studio audiences for shows like games, reality talent competition shows and talk shows.
There are three reasons why soap stars aren’t immediately seen wearing plastic masks and shields on screen: Soaps and soap operas will continue to film closed scripts and arcs from stories already written and on the production pipeline before Covid-19 blockade stories that do not include the coronavirus pandemic will begin.
Second, the newly filmed episodes will take a few weeks to show.
Lastly, while most soaps can incorporate elements like health and work tips in Covid-19 messaging into dialogue, as they collectively reach an audience of millions of people and to some extent reflect real-world issues, its purpose is escapism.
Viewers tune in primarily for a dramatic respite from the entertainment of the day’s troubles and the issues that dominate the news headlines.
Soaps and soap operas will start to look different; with more close-up shots and bare backgrounds. They will reduce the use of extras: those roles without talking in the background.
Studio audiences where they have been used are also, for now, a thing of the past, for example, the upcoming studio-based finale of the second season of The Bachelor SA on M-Net.
Sasani Studios in Highland North in Johannesburg, where the soaps of 7 de Laan, e.tv Rhythm city produced by Quizzical Pictures, Scandal! produced by Ocher Moving Pictures, The Venda soap Muvhango on SABC2 and Skeem Saam on SABC1 are filmed, it is a good example of what will happen in television productions and studios across the country, including Cape Town and Durban.
The Sasani Studios facility management team along with the television series produced there are temperature and projection at the door before entrance to the studio facilities is allowed, with face masks and shields provided to members the cast and crew.
No one can enter the site or roam the study lot without it. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers have been established at various points, and a record is kept of all actors and equipment, including a record of daily temperatures and possible symptoms. The cleaning and disinfection process has also been intensified.
TO 7of Laan specifically, only a third of the cast and crew are now allowed on-site, as staff rotates and others continue to work from home. Employees now make meetings and conference calls via Skype and Zoom, while extras will only be used if “absolutely necessary”.
Only essential equipment will be on set during filming, wearing their face masks and shields. There will no longer be scenes of intimate or close contact between actors.
Makeup crews will wear plastic face shields at all times, and while each actor has always had their own makeup brushes, they will now be disinfected after each application. All jewelry will now be disinfected prior to delivery to an actor.
Objects that are handled by more than one person, with special attention to accessories handled by the crew and actors, will be disinfected between team activities.
THOUSANDS OF FREELANCERS LEFT WITHOUT INCOME
The abrupt closure has already seen an as yet unmeasurable number of job losses that clearly number in the thousands in the South African film and television industry.
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) told Channel24 over the weekend that it is impossible at this time to give a number on job loss or how many people within the fragile industry will be affected.
The NFVF will work with various industry organizations to initiate a process of quantifying how many people have lost their jobs and are affected by the closure.
Although impacted, broadcasters like SABC, e.tv, and MultiChoice are better positioned to weather the Covid-19 storm, but the blockade has been causing devastation for independent production companies and producers, as well as freelancers or so-called “contractors” independent. “
It is these people, from cameramen to makeup artists, video editors, lighting technicians, location scouts, craft services and many more in specialized jobs within the industry, who suddenly ran out of jobs and the cancellation of upcoming projects. but also without a lifeline or any financial support from the South African government for which they do not qualify.
“Freelancers in our industry are not only left without income due to the closure, but without any income relief,” said Jack Devnaraian, president of the South African Actors Guild (SAGA) in an interview over the weekend.
“It is blatant and unforgivable oversight by the government to have a whole sector of people who pay taxes who work in the industry, who just keep their own devices, hoping that something falls from the sky.”
