However, when the theater chain announced their re-opening, they didn’t effectively communicate to the public a detailed plan on how they would implement health and safety measures for audiences.
With that being said, the company recently posted on their website new health and safety protocol measures for all their 660 theaters across the U.S, and 244 theaters in Europe.
Here’s a quick run through:
Photo by Anna Shvets
Masks are required upon entry: Neck gaiters, open-chin bandanas, and masks with vents/exhalation valves are not permitted.
Whilst in the auditorium, you still need to wear your mask. However, if you’re eating or drinking, you can remove your mask.
Social distancing standards: following the directional signs throughout the theater.
Auditorium capacities will be at 40%.
Cashless Transactions.
Simplified menu selections: popcorn, Coca_Cola Freestyle, candy, nachos, hot dogs, and AMC Kid packs.
Hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes available throughout the theater.
Condiments are upon request.
Refills for beverages and popcorn is currently unavailable.
Daily health screenings for managers and crew.
Photo by Matilda Wormwood
Enhanced Cleaning Procedures
Extra time added for their staff to clean in between movies.
Auditoriums are disinfected before each show with new electrostatic disinfectant sprayers.
Every night, the company will be vacuuming carpeted areas using vacuums with HEPA filters.
Throughout the day, common areas and high touch points are routinely cleaned and sanitized: hard surfaces, including doors, handrails, recliner buttons, and tray tables will be disinfected before each showtime.
After reading AMC’s detailed safety plan, I feel a little bit more comfortable returning to their movie theaters. Hopefully, paying audiences will respect the new company policies, and will be respectful towards their fellow film neighbor.
What are your thoughts? With a detailed safety plan, are you willing to return back to AMC theaters?
Did you have a current project that was scheduled to be filmed in L.A. during COVID, and now you’re scrambling for a contingency plan?
Most producers usually have a contingency plan in case of an emergency. However, no one could have foreseen or planned for the COVID pandemic. We live in unprecedented times, and the world we live in has forever changed.
All film sets now have strict health and safety guidelines for all creatives in the film industry. To ensure everyone’s safety, The L.A. County Department of Health and Safety has implemented strict guidelines for filming.
Here is some key guidelines for film sets:
All film sets need to hire a COVID-19 Compliance Officer (C19CO). The C19CO is responsible for establishing and enforcing COVID-19 safety protocols, training staff on protocols, and monitoring compliance.
Workplace provides all personal protective equipment (PPE) and infection prevention supplies needed on the job, including face coverings, hand sanitizer, disinfectants, and (when needed) gloves, mobile handwashing stations, and other equipment and supplies.
All employees and visitors are required to wear cloth face coverings whenever they are in contact with others unless the production activity does not allow for the wearing of a cloth face covering.
There is regular, periodic testing of the cast and crew on a given production to mitigate the risk of the spread of COVID-19.
Employee screenings are conducted before employees may enter the workspace. Checks must include a check-in concerning cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing and fever or chills and if the employee has had contact with a person known to be infected COVID-19 in the last 14 days.
Employees (including staff, cast, crew, vendors, and clients) who have contact with others are offered, at no cost, an appropriate face covering that covers the nose and mouth.
Employees are instructed to wash or replace their face coverings daily.
All workstations are separated by at least six feet.
Break rooms, restrooms, and other common areas should be disinfected frequently: Distribution area, Make up/ Hair and Costume areas, Cast Green Rooms or trailers, Break rooms, and Restrooms
All shared equipment, microphones, and tools must be disinfected after each use.
All shared clothing must be cleaned after each use.
All wigs or other shared prosthetics must be disinfected after each use.
Only essential cast and crew should be on or near the set at any time.
Where feasible, all workspaces shall have one directional traffic (separate entrances and exits) to prevent contact or crowding near doorways.
All staff, cast, crew, musicians, vendors, clients and other visitors have been instructed to maintain at least a six (6) feet distance from each other at all times, except when specific tasks require closer work.
In offices, film and sound editing areas, employee workstations are separated by at least six (6) feet and common areas are configured to limit employee gatherings to ensure physical distancing of at least six (6) feet.
All contracts, scripts, music sheets, and any other documents that are normally shared are either distributed digitally, or are printed and individually assigned to cast, crew and musicians to avoid sharing.
All visitors, are instructed that they must wear cloth face coverings over their nose and mouth at all times in the facility unless they are alone in a closed office.
All props, costumes and set materials must be disinfected before first use on the set, and between uses by different actors.
All cast shall wash or sanitize hands when beginning the filming of a scene and not touch their face during the filming session. Any crew that must interact with the set or cast must also wash or sanitize their hands.
Any work, including scenes, requiring cast or crew to be closer than six (6) feet must be as brief as possible and cast must be as silent as possible to avoid spreading droplets through talking.
Large crowd scenes should be avoided.
All on location filming must adhere to operating hours between 7am and 10pm whenever feasible.
All actors and crew shall wash or sanitize hands before handling any food.
No buffets allowed.
No communal food or drink service (no coffee pot, no single service coffee maker).
All food and drink must be single serving only.
Sit-down meals: either require eating in shifts, or seating areas large enough to allow for physical distancing of six (6) feet or more.
All on location filming must adhere to operating hours between 7am and 10pm whenever feasible.
If you would like to read or download the entire PDF of The County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health and Safety, then please visit https://www.filmla.com/covid-19/
After reading the long detailed guidelines, you might feel like wearing a “bubble suit” to protect yourself. It’s no wonder so many filmmakers are either pushing back their shoot dates, or moving their film location to another state/country.
For example the state of Georgia does have COVID guidelines for film sets and locations, but they’re not as restricted as in California. Therefore, a plethora of filmmakers are moving their film sets/locations to Atlanta: less restrictions, cost-effective, and a competitive lucrative tax credit from the state.
If you had a film that was scheduled to be filmed in L.A. or California, would you wait until the COVID virus subsided, move the film location to another state/country, or would you all together the cancel the shoot?
Do you need a little inspiration during this uncertain time of COVID? Then, I would recommend watching, “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind.”
The Netflix original is based on the 2009 novel written by Bryan Mealer and Kamkwamba.
Based on a remarkable true story, 13 year old William Kamkwamba builds a wind turbine to save his Malawian village from famine. Overcoming all odds he produces his own electric energy by constructing a windmill with guidance from an out-of-print textbook donated to the village library. This film is a moving and compelling account of how one boy overcame incredible odds and transformed his life.
Trailer
If you’re facing difficulties yourself, or just want inspiration for just how resilient the human spirit can be, this is the perfect film to watch.
The film is directed and stars BAFTA winner and Golden Globe nominee, Chiwetel Ejiofor.
Do you have any inspiring family-friendly film recommendations during this COVID season? If so, we would love to hear them!
Do you remember going to the Drive-In theater with your entire family as a child, and watching a double feature in the luxury of your station wagon? Those were the days when you could pile in all the kids in the back of the car, and only get charged for two people.
During this COVID pandemic, parents across the U.S. are tired of being cooped up with their rambunctious kids for 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They’re desperately looking for a family outing.
Well, fear not, the Drive-In theater has made a resurrection in American culture. Hundreds of pop-up Drive-In theaters are making a comeback, and they’re fulfilling that void that is desperately needed for families during this pandemic.
Here in Los Angeles area, numerous companies have creatively partnered together. For example, the Rose Bowl in Pasadena has partnered with Tribeca Enterprises, and they’re showing old movie classics. From Jaws to the Wizard of Oz, there’s something for the whole family.
In addition, Ontario International Airport has partnered with Street Food Cinema, and is offering a free Drive-in experience for families. Movie-goers are encouraged to bring canned or boxed food items that will be donated to a local food bank.
The Drive-In theater has been a god-send for families across the U.S. Not only are they an economical source of entertainment for the family, but they bring back nostalgic memories from our childhood.
Do you have fond memories of going to the Drive-In theater as a child? If so, what films do you remember watching? Comment below, and we can discuss all our crazy shenanigans we had as kids!
Seni Studios 