WINNIPEG — On Screen Manitoba announced today the government of Manitoba is allowing the province’s media production industry to resume full operation with physical distancing and other Covid-19 safety measures in place, effective midnight on February 12.
Previously, the provincial government’s most recent public health orders had allowed companies producing television shows or movies to operate only if filming had started before November 12, 2020.
“On Screen Manitoba appreciates the Government of Manitoba’s confidence in our industry. From June through December 2020, the Manitoba media production industry worked safely and responsibly following strict Covid-19 protocols. Our industry looks forward to once again contributing to the provincial economy,” said Nicole Matiation, executive director, in the association’s press release.
Manitoba was one of the first provinces to reopen production last June following a global media production industry shutdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic starting in March 2020.
To ensure worker safety when the industry reopened in June, the On Screen Manitoba producer committee developed the Manitoba Media Production Industry Covid-19 Safety and Health Guide (last updated October 7, 2020) through the research of best practices in other jurisdictions, interviews with crew members and reviews of local industry stakeholders, including IATSE 856, the Directors Guild of Canada, ACTRA, the City of Winnipeg Film and Events Office, Manitoba Film & Music, and Film Training Manitoba through the Manitoba Media Production Industry Working Group. The guide was endorsed by 17 local media production companies, says On Screen Manitoba in its release.
Productions used the guide as a basis for developing the specific protocols required to safely film their projects, says the release.
“Last year, I had the honour of directing several episodes of Burden of Truth, coproduced by Eagle Vision for CBC. The Covid-19 protocols were rigorous and we all had to adapt our way of working, but I felt as safe on set as I did in my own home because everyone worked together to ensure protocols were followed,” says Madison Thomas, filmmaker and co-chair of On Screen Manitoba.
More recently, the Manitoba government reached out to the media production industry through On Screen Manitoba to review and update existing industry guidelines in preparation for reopening production, says the release.
“Once again, we pooled our collective experience, bringing together our membership, production companies, unions, guilds and other industry professionals to review, clarify and enhance the existing and highly effective media production industry Covid-19 protocols. We all look forward to getting back to work safely,” says Jen Beasley, development executive of Buffalo Gal Pictures and co-chair of On Screen Manitoba.
On Screen Manitoba posts updates to provincial and sector guidelines on the association’s Covid-19 safety and health resource and information webpage here.
