Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1335010
Dear Diary - b y D e v e n d r a C l e a r y C A S INTRODUCTION This has been one of the most complicated and stressful times of my career. When I started to document the experiences discussed here, which span three months, I wasn't sure where they would lead. Not everyone's experience with returning to work amid these challenging times has been diffi cult. Some productions seemed to be going smoothly, implementing strict protocols, having favorable situations, and a lot of good luck. Others have had similar experiences as I and have gone through this "new normal" of knowing that some of your colleagues are testing positive, but not knowing who. Questions are sometimes revealed because of contact tracing, but having this shroud of mystery on one hand and open discussions of people's health on the other is a diffi cult balance. There are others like me who have had their shows shut down after only a few weeks of fi lming and some after only a few days of fi lming. As of this writing (late December), COVID-19 is spreading at a faster rate than at any time this year. Los Angeles County has especially seen an escalation and is a major hot spot. And here we are fi lming and being considered "essential workers." As such, I am here to share my experiences on the ground about what it's like to fi lm during this "unprecedented time." My production diary will explore the encouraging and collaborative nature we are displaying that makes me feel good about the problem-solving posture across all crafts. Sadly, it also documents the disappointing scenarios that can emerge when a trifecta of unfortunate points leads to a virus-leaky set which then leads to scary memos. Suddenly, missing crew members and a multi-week shutdown with a lot of questions arises. That trifecta is this: the imperfect nature of COVID safety protocols, a huge L.A. County case surge, and plain old bad luck. DEAR DIARY: It's Day One of Filming! The beauty of this "Day 1" was it was actually a "Day 0." Sometimes that is not an ideal way to start a show. Some projects try and cram a full day's work into a "Day 0." However, without it being a full production day with all the resources in place, it can feel unsafe even during pre-COVID times. Thankfully, this was not the case here. Our Day 0 consisted of three shots to complete, which were of the simplest variety in a controlled environment. We wrapped about an hour after lunch with a feeling of smooth operation within the parameters of this new world. Everyone fi nished the day feeling optimistic about what was to come. DEAR DIARY: This Isn't So Bad. As the days turned into weeks, I started to realize that things really didn't feel much different from the "before time." Other than wearing masks and the fancy red badge allowing me in "Zone A," things felt the same. At fi rst, I sought comfort in this. I thought: "Hey, this isn't so bad. We just do our thing, we're tested a bunch, we wear a mask all day, and we make it happen." Cases were not exploding in California at this particular point in time, so it felt like any precaution was just stacking the deck. I'm Working Production Sound During A Pandemic…