Keeping Talus sets safe has always been a top priority and remains even more so during the COVID-19 pandemic. We’ve thoroughly examined all the guidelines published by the City of Chicago, State of Illinois, AICP, The Safe Way Forward joint report (from DGA, SAG-AFTRA, IATSE and Teamsters), and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers task force in order to formulate our own set of Talus Films protocols to ensure safe productions during this time.
Here’s what we’re doing to keep everyone safe!
A New Health & Safety Department
We will be mandating a new department on all of our sets - the Health & Safety Department. This department will consist of at least a Health & Safety Supervisor and, when crew size necessitates, a Health & Safety Manager along with additional hygiene crew.
This department will be responsible for staying up-to-date with all developing COVID-19 related news, city/state/federal guidelines, and changing protocols. They will be present on set at all times and will oversee all COVID-19 safety including but not limited to physical distancing, PPE use and distribution, regular and routine sanitization, conducting health screening checks, and ensuring proper signage is posted around the set.
This individual/department will be the go-to for all things related to COVID-19 safety.
Limited Cast/Crew Sizes & Physical Distancing
The number of folks on set will be limited to ensure maximum safety. When and where we can, cast and crew head counts will not surpass 10 individuals. When this is not possible, we’ll use the local regulations on the maximum number of people able to gather as our guideline. All indoor spaces will be limited to 50% capacity.
If more than 10 individuals are needed for a production, separate zones or off site holding areas will be distinguished for the additional people to stay until they are needed on set.
In all areas, strict social distancing of 6 feet or more will be enforced. Physical distancing will also be “baked” into scripts as much as possible to allow for maximum distancing
Also, in the interest of safety for our cast and crews, we’ll be shortening our regular production days so they don’t exceed 10 hours.
Thorough Sanitation & Personal Protective Equipment
When cast and crew report to set, they’ll first check in at the medical checkpoint station. This is where they’ll find sanitizer and masks. And multiple hand-washing, sanitizing, and disinfecting stations will be available and adequately stocked on every set all day long.
All production areas will be sanitized before
production begins and after production ends for the day. Special care will be taken with “hand hot spots” such as doorknobs and light switches which will be sanitized every three hours.
Masks worn properly - adequately covering mouth and nose - will be required at all times. The only exception to this rule is for on-camera talent. Talent may remove their masks only when in front of the camera or when having make-up applied/touched up (if applicable).
Multiple Health Screening Checks
As previously mentioned, all cast and crew will check in at the medical checkpoint station when they arrive to set. At the beginning of the day, they’ll be required to answer several questions pertaining to their current health, recent contact with others, and recent travel to neighboring states. And at the end of the day, they’ll once again report how they’re currently feeling.
If any changes to a person’s health occur during the course of the day, they'll be required to report to the Health & Safety department immediately.
Within 2 to 2.5 weeks of the end of production, all cast and crew will be contacted once again by the Health & Safety Department. This will be an additional check-in to see how each individual is feeling since being on set. If someone has symptoms or has tested positive for COVID-19 within this timeframe, all other cast and crew members will be notified via email immediately - regardless of if they were on set with the individual or not. The individual’s identity will not be released to the broader cast and crew without their consent.
Going Virtual
Like much of the world right now, we’ll be going virtual when and where possible. This means castings will be held remotely through self-tape consideration, pre-production and post-production meetings will be held virtually, and all location scouting will be done via video conferencing.
We’ll also limit the amount of paperwork on-set and work off personal digital devices, as much as possible, when referencing production paperwork like call sheets, reports, scripts, shot lists, and schedules.
Our Eco Mission
With everything we do, our eco-conscious practices are paramount, and while some of these new COVID-19 policies might open the door for more potential waste on set, other changes actually decrease it. Rest assured that we are actively striving to find the perfect balance between safety and sustainability with each new production.
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Also, if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to CONTACT US! Our policies are ever-evolving and are shaped primarily by our clients, casts, and crews.
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