News

Please be advised that this event has been cancelled. 

As the campaign trail heats up, it's been interesting to observe which parties recognise the importance of the screen sector.

With only two confirmed parties, we believe that the conversation will be one-sided and would not provide a broad enough representation to conduct a robust debate, and we have made the tough decision to cancel the event.

We're now focusing our intentions towards continuing to collaborate with representatives from the pan-sector body steering committee, to create a brief to an incoming government about the value and needs of the screen sector.

The brief will cover the who, what, where, and how of the sector, as well as a timeline of what's happened over the last three years, the pressure points, and the challenges that we face in terms of both domestic and international production.

We thank you for you understanding and continued support.

Ngā mihi

Amber Wakefield | Executive Officer
Film Auckland

The rule for small crew shoots had always been "Please check with Screen Auckland (SA), but if it’s 9 or less you are unlikely to require a permit". Around the same time that Covid hit our shores, this changed to all shoots regardless of impact and size being required to go through the full permitting process. Covid was not the primary motivation of this change, it was also due to several stakeholders, such as AT and Regional Parks, having their management plans and bylaws assessed concurrently and identifying multiple locations now as sensitive, due to either ecological or cultural reasons. SA have now adopted a general policy of "come to us for all shoots, and we'll advise on if its sensitive, and permit it like we would anything else".

Sketch comedy extraordinaries ‘Viva La Dirt League' had their studio opening earlier this month. It was fantastic to hear how the YouTubers in the Comedy / Gamer Parody / Fantasy genre space, established a GoFundMe campaign with a $1 million fundraising target and they raised $3 million more than that! Their enthusiasm is contagious, and once the dust has settled on their new studio space, we are looking forward to seeing what space they grow in to.

The survey results make for some sobering but unsurprising reading. If you haven't read André Chumko's article in Stuff's The Post, which does a good job of encapsulating the results, you can find it here. According to Patricia Watson from WIFT, their research shows that there are certain areas of concern regarding pay parity in our sector; and it is now their priority to highlight the particularly troublesome examples and to work towards better parity across the board. Click here to read the survey in full.

Final policy details of changes to the NZSPR have been released, concluding the review. Details announced included the policy settings for the redeveloped international Uplift, and a few additional technical changes to the domestic criteria alongside the change to allow all types of productions to access other government funding alongside the rebate. The changes will take effect over coming months. You can read a summary of the changes here.

The Auckland Screen Taskforce is set to launch with it's first meeting to be held in mid September. An initiative of Screen Auckland in association with Film Auckland, the Taskforce is intended to engage at a strategic level within the sector and the region with a panel made up of a wide range of screen industry and Council Owned Organisation representatives that interact with the screen sector with the aim to create better outcomes for the sector.

Thanks to The Screen Guild, MSD now have staff dedicated to assisting anyone who have been affected as a result of the SAG-AFTRA Union (US) Strike. The team can asses your eligibility for temporary financial support, and can also help you access free and anonymous, phone based counselling. Here is a link to the contact form. MSD will get in touch with you directly, or you can email your question here.

The Traffic Light system is designed for living with COVID-19 in the community. This is of course a huge mind-shift for everyone, but it is built on the foundation of one of the highest vaccination rates in the world.

Overall, the intent of the new system appears to be:

• Encourage everyone to get vaccinated so that we can safely reopen the country
• Reduce stress on the health system and protect the vulnerable
• Ensure certainty and business continuity by incentivising businesses that use the vaccination passport system

The Traffic Light System will offer businesses much more flexibility and more certainty in regards to business continuity. COVID-19 restrictions within each level of the Traffic Light system are designed to encourage businesses to use vaccination passports, where only vaccinated staff, contractors and customers are allowed into a business or work site.

For productions using vaccination passports there are no restrictions on numbers on a work site. And Close Proximity work (make up, stunts, actor interaction, etc.) can happen at all levels, although with increasing risk minimisation tools (PPE, hygiene measures, testing, etc.) in place when moving to the higher levels. 

Productions choosing NOT to enforce a vaccination passport system may have restricted access to some council and private locations, and some locations may not be available to those productions. Close Proximity work is only allowed in the green level.

We STRONGLY urge you to familiarise yourself with the new protocols. And in the next week we hope to also publish department specific guidelines for the new system.

Thank you to the NZ On Air and the New Zealand Film Commission for funding the review of these protocols. 

Full release here of the key updates.

ScreenSafe COVID 19 Health and Safety Protocols Review - Traffic Light System Documents:

ScreenSafe COVID 19 Health and Safety Protocols for the Traffic Light System Guidance - updated 14th December 2021

ScreenSafe COVID 19 Health and Safety Standard

These documents need to be read and utilised together.  These documents are intended to give Production Companies and HOD’s guidance and forms to manage Covid 19 on a working production.  

Vaccination Passport Productions Traffic Light System Guidance – updated 14th December 2021

Non-Vaccination Passport Productions Traffic Light System Guidance – updated 14th December 2021

Surveillance Testing information sheet here updated 14th December 2021

Each production is required to register with ScreenSafe – please read about these requirements carefully in the Protocols. 

ScreenSafe Production Registration link

ScreenSafe COVID 19 Health and Safety Department Roles (these will be updated in the coming week – 14th December 2021)

A very big thank you to the ScreenSafe COVID 19 Health and Safety Group for all of your hard work putting these documents together.

Ngā mihi,
Kelly Lucas,
EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Screen Industry Guild Aotearoa New Zealand Inc.
(Previously the NZ Film & Video Technicians’ Guild Inc.)

7th September 2021 – SCREEN INDUSTRY DISTRIBUTION

Kia ora koutou katoa to all in the Screen Industry, hoping you are all staying safe in your bubbles!

Please note the ScreenSafe COVID-19 Health and Safety team is currently looking at what Protocols need to be reviewed, particularly in light of the new Delta variant.

For now, please refer to the ScreenSafe website – https://screensafe.co.nz/covid-19-coronavirus/ – particularly the Protocols and Summary Guidelines around L4, L3, and Level 2.

These are still a really great guide for what is allowed at each level.

You can download today’s update in PDF here.

For the avoidance of doubt, please note the following:

Level 4: NO filming is possible/other than registered news organisations and essential programming.

Level 3: Very limited production activities may be possible. Please carefully assess whether your activities can be postponed to L2. If not, please carefully assess each action and whether it complies with the guidelines and works to minimise risk at all points.

The key issue to consider for Level 3 is physical distancing. For instance – location scouting, with appropriate PPE, and in controlled circumstances, can be undertaken – depending on the ability to minimise contact / risk / avoidance of breaking bubbles.

Any activity needs to be able to adhere to physical distancing guidelines. This limits both prep and filming activities – e.g. close contact between crew such as a camera team who cannot be physically distanced, or performers and makeup/hair. Please see L3 guidance for full details.

Yesterday the government made some more changes to the COVID-19 rules. The below changes will be reflected in the updated Protocols, but since we know a lot of you are preparing for filming in Level 2, the below will hopefully answer your most pressing questions for Level 2 filming.

Level 2 / Mask Wearing

Mask wearing is now mandatory for anyone aged 12+ in indoor public places like shops, malls and public spaces: https://covid19.govt.nz/alert-levels-and-updates/alert-level-2/#work-and-business.

For screen work, ScreenSafe highly recommends mask wearing at Level 2. And some productions may require it.

Level 2 / Restrictions on Gatherings

Gatherings (social gatherings, concerts, hospitality businesses, etc.) are now restricted to 50 people for indoor venues and 100 for outdoor venues.

However, work sites like film productions do NOT adhere to number restrictions, PROVIDED they are a working in a fully controlled environment (with contact tracing and health questionnaire for everyone on site, and with all necessary hygiene and PPE measures in place).

Note: Due to the aggressive nature of the Delta virus, productions are advised to take careful consideration before filming with extras and/or large crew numbers during Level 2.

Level 2 / Physical Distancing in Public Spaces

Physical distancing in public places, e.g. retail stores, libraries, gyms and museums will be 2 metres.

However, for work sites like film productions the physical distancing requirement is still 1 metre, PROVIDED they are a working in a fully controlled environment (with contact tracing and health questionnaire for everyone on site, and with all necessary hygiene and PPE measures in place).

Note: Close Proximity work (work within 0-1 metres) like hair and make up are still allowed for, and for screen work is specifically addressed in the Close Proximity Environment sections of the Screen Industry COVID-19 Protocols.

Travel Out of Auckland – Current

While Auckland remains in a higher COVID level to the rest of the country, essential workers traveling out of the Auckland region will need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test from the last week. Note: Only news and media outlets are classified as essential work, so for most of Auckland screen workers regional travel is not allowed until Auckland is in Level 2.

Delta / Other Likely Updates to the Protocols:

As per the updated Government guidance – some recommended guidelines are now mandatory or should be applied in all circumstances, namely:

Check-In/Contact Tracing – while everyone seemed to be doing well on this before, it is now mandatory in all circumstances for all sites, so ensure this is very closely adhered to.

Risk Minimisation – e.g. Hygiene Procedures, Airflow, Contact Minimisation. Look to assess your pre-production, shooting (when allowed), and post production, around how you can increase hygiene and minimise contact. From wearing PPE, to limiting numbers and increasing airflow. These are all our tools to help minimise the risk of exposure and spread.

Testing/Vaccinations/Privacy & Health Concerns – our revision is also likely to contain further guidance in this area. Until clarification is provided, please follow current MBIE guidance and ensure that human rights and privacy rights are respected at all times.

Registration with ScreenSafe – please also ensure every production continues to register with ScreenSafe –
https://screensafe.co.nz/covid19/registration/.

Any specific queries or concerns, please reach out to ScreenSafe at info@screenguild.co.nz or your industry organisation.

Ngā mihi,
SCREENSAFE NZ