Movie lovers rejoice! The California state governor approved a move for Hollywood to resume movie production — but only with proper coronavirus prevention conditions. This new announcement covers the creation of movies, TV shows, and music.
However, if Los Angeles County proves it can’t handle making entertainment safely — without a significant rise in hospitalized Co-Vid 19 cases — production will once again cease. We hope Hollywood takes this warning seriously. We need new movies! Good entertainment will make the time of the pandemic easier to bear, and if we are careful as well, movie theaters can resume activities too. (Some theaters are actually opening, but this is a tricky time. We’ll have to see. 
Awesome! Which movies will get underway?
At this early point, there’s no news on which movies and shows will resume production.
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We can speculate blockbusters will jump to the head of the queue. Maybe the 5th Indiana Jones film will get back on track: I’d put that first. For one thing, YAY Harrison Ford! And for the other…um…Harrison Ford? He’s going to be too old to make effective action films if things don’t get started soon.
We can also bet that Marvel’s very full roster of MCU stories will be first in line. Personally, I think they should push up Thor 4: Love & Thunder, just because. It would be nice to have something light and fun to take our minds off the pandemic crisis.
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Other exciting films we’d like to see start production include James Cameron’s Avatar oeuvre, and The Matrix 4.
A lot of movies are already in the can, and we’d love to have their releases moved to this summer, instead of playing the waiting game this Fall with the pandemic. Of course, movie going will be radically different going forward, but if we’re careful and compliant, we could actually have new movies and the theater experience again soon.
What are the guidelines? The authoritative details
Here’s the quotes from respected sites to wade through, in case you want to follow the news closely.
On June 5, Screendaily reported:
California governor Gavin Newsom has declared film and TV production can resume no earlier than June 12 subject to approval by public health officers.
Earlier in the year (April 16), Newsom had suggested that live music shows may not be able to be held in the US state until a coronavirus vaccine has been developed. “The prospect of mass gatherings is negligible at best until we get to herd immunity and we get to a vaccine,” the governor said at a press briefing.
The Los Angeles Times adds this:
Recommendations included using individually packaged meals instead of buffet tables, allowing live audiences only when they wear masks and remain a safe distance apart, and requiring a COVID-19 compliance officer on every set.
Among the extensive, 22-page white report for this from the The California Department of Public Health:
Music, TV and film production may resume in California, recommended no sooner than June 12, 2020 and subject to approval by county public health officers within the jurisdictions of operations following their review of local epidemiological data including cases per 100,000 population, rate of test positivity, and local preparedness to support a health care surge, vulnerable populations, contact tracing and testing.
To reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, productions, cast, crew and other industry workers should abide by safety protocols agreed by labor and management, which may be further enhanced by county public health officers. Back office staff and management should adhere to Office Workspace guidelines published by the California Department of Public Health and the California Department of Industrial Relations, to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
Did you manage to read all that? We hope the movie studios do. Fingers crossed!
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Co-Creator of RunPee, Chief of Operations, Content Director, and Managing Editor. RunPee Jilly likes galaxy-spanning sci fi, superhero sagas, fantasy films, YA dystopians, action thrillers, chick flicks, and zany comedies, in that order…and possesses an inspiringly small bladder. In fact, that little bladder sparked the creation of RunPee. (Good thing she’s learned to hold it.)
Dan Gardner Administrator
I’ll bet the studios and actor agents are going through a mad scramble to reschedule shooting schedules. There are bound to be a huge number of scheduling conflicts. Consider a movie that was scheduled to start filming back in April when the shutdown began. Now that the shutdown is lifted they can start shooting, but it’s likely that some of the actors for that movie would already be under contract to shoot another movie.
During the best of times scheduling with actors and directors is a hassle. As an example, Emily Blunt would have been Black Widow instead of Scarlett Johansson except she had a scheduling conflict.
What was a nuisance before is going to turn into a cluster-f#&K going forward. Things won’t return to “normal” for years. Hoping for anything shorter is just wishful thinking.
Jill Florio Administrator
Yes, totally. Even after the writer’s strike things never quite recovered, and that was a small thing compared to this.
Hollywood is just going to have to be more creative. We could get big wins! Like getting Doctor Horrible during the strike, and Joss’ Much Ado About Nothing, filmed with friends in his home.
Like hiring talented unknowns for Star Wars Disney Plus shows, and the LotR shows, and CBS’s Picard show…not to mention The Orville.
Crisis is the mother of invention. And Hollywood is the ultimate mother in this case.
Emily Blunt would have been just as good as Johansson as Black Widow, IMO. I’m happy with how it turned out, but honestly don’t think it would have ruined things with another actress. Not like the fails of Hulk and Spider-Man actors before Ruffalo and Holland.
Brie Larson was suitable for Cap Marvel, but Blake Lively would have worked too. For example. Or an unknown, really. Classic Star Wars proved it can be done.
Honestly, only RDJ was absolutely crucial for the MCU to take off. But that’s an X factor: right place, right person, right time. Everyone built off his foundation. (Someone give him a lifetime Oscar before he dies, OK?)
Same with Hugh Jackman building the X-Men. Sorry, Sirs Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellan…Hugh is the undeniable face of the X.
Then with something as ubiquitous as James Bond, I think we’re at the point where almost any alpha male (or hey — female!) can do it. Any color, gender, race.
The ultimate definer: is this person super talented? Are they free to work now? Is the writing and direction top shelf?
I look forward to seeing adversity create genius.
Jill Florio Administrator
I did want to add that it’s probably a good time to be a Hollywood writer at least, what with people more or less homebound.