• by Richard Whitman , Columnist, April 22, 2020

With Tennessee (among other states) lifting non-essential business shutdown orders at the end of April, Nashville-based production house Taillight has put together a plan for returning to work in May.

The Tennessean reported on Monday that COVID-19 continues to spread in Tennessee, but that “The daily growth of new cases has reached its lowest levels since the outbreak began.” Total reported cases in the state is around 7,500 while the daily growth rate has been under 10% since early April, according to the paper which cited data from Tennessee Department of Health. As of April 21 COVID-related deaths in the state totaled 157.

Taillight has established a set of “preventative measures” to reduce the spread of COVID-19 on production sets.

“While no one can guarantee that they will not become infected with COVID-19, these procedures are intended to minimize risk and ensure a safe work environment as guided by OSHA and the CDC,” stated Tom Forrest, president of Taillight.

The measures include:

• Pre-Production meetings can be conducted virtually via Zoom or agency’s preferred service.
• Production books will be delivered digitally.
• All casting/call backs can be done virtually.
• We will encourage all vendors to establish their own ‘Best Practices’ documentation and provide this to production.
• Production will work with vendors to ensure all equipment is properly sanitized prior to its arrival on set.
• Crew members may only be permitted to work if they have been illness free for over 72 hours per CDC guidelines.
• Crew may be subject to an infrared temperature check upon arrival.
• A designated Sanitary Supervisor will be on set to insure clean and safe conditions are maintained throughout the production.
• Every person on set will be required to wash their hands upon arrival.
• Portable hand washing/sanitizing stations will be provided.
• Signs will be displayed throughout the location to remind crew to frequently wash their hands.
• It is discouraged to use other workers’ personal property, work tools and equipment, when possible. 
• Use respiratory etiquette, including covering coughs and sneezes. Use a tissue and immediately dispose of it followed by thorough hand washing. If you are not able to use a tissue use your elbow to cover coughs and sneezes.
• Clients and crew will be provided with state recommended PPE, which include masks and gloves.
• To minimize the number of clients on set, we may utilize a “Virtual Video Village” via Zoom or agency’s preferred service
• Every person on set will be required to sign a liability release.
• Catering will provide individually prepared/boxed lunches.
• Production will mark 6ft lines to encourage safe distancing in the lunch line.
• Crew will break for lunch in increments to reduce crowding.
• Craft Service will come in the form of pre-packaged snacks.
• Talent arrives on set Hair and Make-up ready.

There’s probably no close talking, hugging or kissing by talent as part of the creative execution on the set either but that’s just a guess and not spelled out in the guidelines. Maybe that's all fine and good with a temperature check. 

If you have any suggestions on how to better minimize the risk, Taillight would like to hear from you. You can give them a tweet here. And you could post a comment right here. I’d be interested too.