ITV

Tag: LA county

  • Covid effect: Warner Bros, Disney, Universal TV postpone LA-based shows

    Covid effect: Warner Bros, Disney, Universal TV postpone LA-based shows

    MUMBAI: Close to two dozen southern California-based television shows have been put on extended hiatus as Covid2019 infection rates continue to rise in Los Angeles county.

    Warner Bros TV has confirmed that series productions such as comedies Mom, B Positive, CBS’ Bob Hearts Abishola, and dramas Shameless (Showtime) and You on Netflix will not resume shooting next week as scheduled. The studio aims to return the week of 11 January but will evaluate as conditions get better.

    On a similar note, Universal TV has pressed pause on six comedies — NBC’s Mr. Mayor, Kenan, Good Girls and Brooklyn Nine-Nine, HBO Max’s Hacks, and Netflix’s Never Have I Ever. Universal is also eyeing a 11 January return date for most of its originals.

    Both Walt Disney-owned 20th Television and ABC Signature have extended production hiatuses on 16 shows: 911, Lone Star, American Crime Story: Impeachment, American Horror Story, American Housewife, Big Shot, Black-ish, Grey’s Anatomy, Last Man Standing, among several others. Reports stated that none of the Disney shows are expected to return to production floor before 18 January.

    Sony Pictures Television has also deferred The Goldbergs and Atypical; both of the shows were slated to resume production next week.

    The moves follow the decision Tuesday by CBS Television Studio to extend the holiday production hiatus after Los Angeles county suggested that shooting in the area be suspended amid a surge in Covid2019 cases.

    “Although music, TV and film productions are allowed to operate, we ask you to strongly consider pausing work for a few weeks during this catastrophic surge in Covid2019 cases,” public health department representatives wrote in a 24 December email, according to FilmLA. “Identify and delay higher risk activities, and focus on lower-risk work for now, if at all possible.”

    According to the reports, Los Angeles county on Wednesday hit a single-day high with 262 Covid2019-related deaths.

  • Entertainment production to stay on hiatus until mid-January: SAG-AFTRA

    Entertainment production to stay on hiatus until mid-January: SAG-AFTRA

    MUMBAI: SAG-AFTRA leaders have informed their members that most entertainment production houses will remain on hiatus through at least the middle of January. The details come a day after the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health requested the film and TV industry to consider pausing production for a few weeks during the ongoing surge in new Covid2019 cases throughout the county.

    SAG-AFTRA president Gabrielle Carteris and national executive director David White said, “We are closely monitoring the recent surge in Covid2019 infections along with the reported lack of intensive care unit beds throughout the state of California and particularly in Los Angeles County. This is deeply concerning to us all and we have taken immediate action to connect with our epidemiologists and public health experts regarding the surge in cities across the nation.”

    Production of films and TV shows will stay on hiatus until the second or third week of January if not later. This means that the number of its member performers working on sets right now will be reduced. They stressed adherence to safety protocols to ensure appropriate precautions for the holiday hiatus period, including additional time for testing prior to the resumption of production.

    “To ensure the utmost safety, we are in close contact with our sister unions and guilds, the industry, our expert epidemiologists, industrial sanitation specialists, public health officials, member leaders and staff. We remain focused on ensuring the safest possible work environment and protocols for SAG-AFTRA members,” Carteris and White stated.

    They added that SAG-AFTRA will continue to monitor the situation and its impact on production and employment in all contract areas, and take appropriate measures as needed to ensure the continued safety of members and others.

    In the meantime, studios have been urged to remain vigilant and adhere to the safety principles to protect themselves, their families, communities and colleagues.