After days of our best efforts to get clarity from DSAC and other
government departments, some of the fog of confusion seems to have lifted
following a directive published this evening (see attached). However, we
caution members that the situation is fluid and that we are working with
information that is sometimes hard to interpret. We are doing our best to
navigate through these tricky waters, and we will keep you updated as new
information / clarification come to light.
Our understanding at this time is that Productions commissioned by
broadcasters are permitted to return under level 4 - subject to the directive.
Productions that wish to resume must adhere to these directions and speak to
their respective broadcasters regarding the protocols to be followed, which broadcasters
must approve.
The directive expressly states: Each broadcaster must work
closely with the respective production companies and the relevant industry
bodies to determine the most appropriate “return to production” strategy and
feasible implementation dates. Implicit in this is that return to
production should not commence until the above has taken place.
We commend government for recognising broadcasters’ responsibility under
these circumstances and, by implication, the support they must offer
productions to be able to function properly and safely under these conditions.
What is not clear in this directive is the status of projects that may
not have a broadcaster attached. It is possible that this is because this
particular directive is from the Department of Telecommunications and Postal
Services, formerly DOC, so might only speak to film/TV issues in respect of
broadcasters. It is also possible that further information might be forthcoming
in Minister Mthethwa’s briefing tomorrow at 11:00 on the status of the DSAC’s
Relief Fund.
If not, we will continue engaging with DSAC to get clarity on the way
forward for the rest of the industry.
Tomorrow we will distribute and post on our website the Health
& Safety Protocols that have been developed in association with
SASFED and its member bodies, as well as indemnity and privacy template
documents. We encourage members to get them signed by your freelancers.
They have been drafted on a pro bono basis by Janet Mackenzie and her team at
Baker Mckenzie and we are very grateful to them.
Together with the indemnity, we encourage members to share these
protocols for maintaining safety on set. It seems only fair that if we are
asking people to indemnify productions that we have to, at the same time,
commit to keeping them as safe as is practicable.
We know this is a difficult time for everyone and hope you are all
managing as well as possible.
Your IPO Exco
