COVID-Related Production Updates
Updated September 22
iatsecares.org — September 21, 2020 — Los Angeles, CA —The unions representing casts and crews today announced they have reached an agreement with the major studios on protocols to allow the industry to safely re-open. The protocols pave the way for creative workers, who have been hard hit by the pandemic, to resume their crafts and livelihoods in workplaces redesigned around their health. Guiding principles include strictly enforced testing regimens and safety protocols, a zone-based system, and diligent use of personal protective equipment (PPE). The new measures will be implemented by employers in order to minimize the risk of transmission. To ensure workers’ livelihoods are not burdened with added uncertainty during the pandemic, the agreement also includes COVID-19 sick leave and quarantine pay.
Updated September 18, 2020
Alabama Notice of New Employer Requirement
Excerpt from Alabama Department of Labor official document:
In accordance with the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (Pub. L. 116-127) and guidance from the United States Department of Labor, in addition to posting printed notices as outlined under Alabama Department of Labor Administrative Code Section 480-4-2-.19, all Alabama employers are now required to provide notification of the availability of Unemployment Compensation (UC) to employees individually at the time of separation. This is effective immediately. The Alabama Department of Labor is currently working to amend the Alabama Administrative Code to reflect these new requirements.
Click here for the full document.
Updated June 30, 2020
Reopening New York: Media Production Guidelines for Employers & Employees
These guidelines apply to media production businesses/activities in regions of New York that have been permitted to reopen. For the purpose of this guidance, “media production activities” encompass all activities undertaken in motion picture, music, television, and streaming productions on set, on location, or at any production or recording site. See “Interim COVID-19 Guidance for Media Production” (below) for full details.
NY State, Interim COVID-19 Guidance for Media Production
Updated June 16, 2020
British Film Commission, June 5, 2020 – Download the 44-page guidelines: Working Safely During COVID-19 in Film and High-end TV Drama Production
Updated June 11, 2020
Webinar: June 4, 2020, AICP Presents: A Look Forward – Crew Safety and Filming, Sponsored by AICP Midwest
Webinar: May 14, 2020, AICP Presents: A Look Forward – Partners in Production: Agency, Production, Post, Sponsored by AICP Midwest
Updated June 9, 2020
Local 600 Principles, Key Recommendations and Recommended Departmental Protocols, from The International Cinematographers Guild.
These are in addition to the Interim Guidelines / Health and Safety Protocols for Motion Picture, Television, and Streaming Productions During the COVID-19 Pandemic proposed by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers Industry-Wide Labor Management Safety Committee Task Force. See link below, added on June 2nd
New York Production Alliance Phase Tracker, from NYPA.org.
The document is NYPA’s best estimate of when each region of New York state will enter each new phase, based on the latest information from the Governor’s Office. Current guidance is roughly 14 days in each phase without any setbacks.
To view permitted activities under each Phase, please refer to the New York Forward Business Reopening Lookup Tool
Updated June 5, 2020
COVID-Safe Guidelines from the Australian Screen Production Industry, Version 1, 28 May, 2020
Updated June 2, 2020
Industry-Wide Labor-Management Safety Committee Task Force Production Health and Safety Guidelines
The 22-page white paper from the Task Force was submitted to Governors Newsom and Cuomo on June 1st. Download it here.
Excerpt:
The proposed recommendations were developed by the Task Force at the request of and in collaboration with the various unions of the motion picture and television industry and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which collectively exercised final control over their content, based on the input provided. The Task Force consists of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) and its West Coast Studio Local Unions, as well as its New York Local Unions, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters as well as the Basic Crafts Unions, the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, the Directors Guild of America as well as the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and other representatives of the producers. The guidelines are based on discussions with health experts, guidelines issued by U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and input from industry participants familiar with the working conditions of motion picture and television production. The participants in the Task Force are listed in the Appendix.
Read SAG-AFTRA’s Statement about the Guidelines
March 16, 2020
At Extreme Reach, like all of you, we are closely monitoring developments related to COVID-19 and making real-time decisions about the safety of our team members, our clients and the continuity of our business together.
Be assured, business continuity has always been a key focus as our business has grown.
- Our technologies are cloud-based and fully redundant.
- Our entire Engineering team is able to work remotely, which means that monitoring, managing and servicing any issues that may arise will continue without interruption.
- Our IT team performs regular Disaster Preparedness & Recovery tests throughout the year.
- You will continue to have access to all of the resources you currently use – AdBridge, LINX, Luca, etc.
- Regardless of location, our service and support teams are able to work without disruption to our clients.
Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at psinfo@extremereach.com.
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Client FAQs
In anticipation of questions from clients and vendors related to COVID-19, we have prepared an FAQ about Extreme Reach’s readiness in the event that any regions of the U.S. experience a widespread community transmission.
What is your plan for keeping your specific application/system running if we have a widespread community transmission?
Our technologies will not be impacted. Our entire Engineering team is able to work remotely, which means that monitoring, managing and servicing any issues that may arise would continue without interruption.
In-office work functions are being reviewed to ensure business continuity in the event of quarantine.
Will there be any changes to the way users interact with the LINX, Luca or AdBridge?
There will be no changes to the way users will interact with any of our technologies.
Are plans in place to troubleshoot applications/systems if they go down?
Yes. We continually review our Disaster Preparedness and Recovery plans, and test throughout the year. Our team of Engineers, who are fully able to work remotely, will monitor, manage and service any issues that may arise.
Will our requests for troubleshooting service still be addressed in the same manner?
Yes. client and vendor requests for troubleshooting service from Extreme Reach will be addressed in the same manner.
There will be no interruption in service for our support phone line as the team is equipped to respond to all queries remotely.
Does Workers’ Comp insurance cover COVID-19 / Coronavirus
While we recognize that this is a serious health issue, an incidence of coronavirus would typically not qualify as an insurable event under Workers’ Compensation insurance. It is important that all members of our community adopt the CDC’s recommended practices to prevent the exposure and spread of COVID-19, which are available at this link.
