The 48 Hour Film Project

48HFP Safe Set Guidelines (Updated for 2022)Friday, July 30, 2021

Two full years and the pandemic still continues on. With the emergence of different deadly variants of covid, staying safe wherever you are should remain your top priority. And with slowing vaccination rates around the world, it looks like the virus will be around well into the foreseeable future.

However, there are many ways to protect yourself, your family, and your fellow filmmakers from the coronavirus. First, if you haven't yet gotten your vaccine, we strongly encourage you to do so.  If you have, you should also get boosted, to make sure that it's effective.  

Second, if you haven't reviewed the Safe Sets protocols, we recommend you do that and follow these guidelines during filmmakers to keep your cast & crew as safe as possible.

All of us with the 48 Hour Film Project believe health and safety are paramount and should never be compromised. 

And while the world has creeped back to some sense of normalcy, we are far from seeing the end of the pandemic. We are depending on team leaders and team members to follow ALL local guidelines and laws in their communities. While it is impossible to monitor each team's actions, we can ensure you have adequate knowledge to run a film set that not only is safe, but makes people feel safe. And one thing that will probably make most of your film crew, actors, friends, and community feel safe is to know that you are doing what you can to ensure the health and safety of everyone that steps onto your film set.

Here are two actions that can be done to prepare:

1. Complete the Safe Sets Certification (takes less than 30 minutes) https://practicesafesets.co/certificate 
2. Read and follow the 48HFP Guidelines for Clean, Healthy Sets (below) 

 
Safe Sets Certification

Safe Sets International has partnered with medical and film industry leaders to provide resources for filmmakers to create safe production environments. They offer a free certification that is obtained by reading information and passing a quiz with a score of 80% or better. The entire process takes less than a half-hour and, upon successful completion, individuals are immediately given a digital certificate.

Additionally, the 48HFP has created guidelines for Clean, Healthy Sets -- see below.

 
Recommendations for Clean & Healthy Production Sets 

The health and safety of 48 Hour Film Project (48HFP) filmmakers is a top priority of the 48HFP. To that end, below are suggestions to help ensure clean and healthy sets. We encourage individuals to take personal responsibility and take an active role in maintaining a clean and healthy set. The suggestions include the following but are not limited to the recommendations below. Be sure to review local guidelines to ensure you are following any other mandates.

GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS
•    Discuss coronavirus safety measures such as mask wearing and physical (i.e., social) distancing with your team on set. If cast or crew arrive at staggered times, review the safety measures with them upon arrival.
•    Ask teammates to let you know if they could have been exposed to illness recently.
•    All cast and crew must self-monitor for signs or symptoms of illness and report if feeling ill.
•    Require anyone who is sick to stay home.
•    Cover your mouth (not with hand) for coughs and sneezes.
•    Limit number of people in all areas to essential teammates only.
•    Maintain physical distancing of no less than 6 feet whenever possible.
•    Make 6-foot distance markings on the floor in environments where people need to line up.
•    Require frequent hand washing by all on-set personnel.
•    If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer or sanitizing wipes.
•    Provide hand sanitizing stations and/or hand-washing stations throughout set area.
•    Assign someone to assist with sanitizing and reminders.
•    Refrain from handshakes, hugs and kisses to say hello.
•    Crew must wear masks and should be worn at all times on set.
•    If possible, provide backstage area divided into sections so that teammates can maintain physical distancing.
•    Do not use other people’s phones or personal work tools.
•    Frequently clean and disinfect surfaces, equipment, and other elements of the work environment using alcohol-based sanitizing wipes.
•    Assign one individual to be responsible for constant wipe-downs of surfaces.
•    Identify who may effectively be able to work from home for prep, shoot, wrap.
•    While at a location, have as much conversation and as many shots outside as possible.
•    Once production starts, the director should limit takes to make sets more efficient and result in less standing around/congregating time.
•    When filming in-doors, limit those on set to essential teammates only.
•    Consider alternate shot set-ups, camera angles, lenses, etc. to maintain physical distancing.
•    Do not share scripts.

CASTING
•    Castings should be done remotely via Facetime, Zoom, Skype, etc.

ON-SET PROTOCOL
•    Each department should individually set up the filming area and leave sequentially, so as not to cross contaminate personnel crew.

HANDLING OF EQUIPMENT
•    Members of each department should disinfect gear during breaks in activity.
•    Minimize the number of people having to touch the same items.
•    Strive for consistency regarding which pieces of equipment are handled by whom.
•    All crew that requires tools should bring their own and not allow sharing.

STAFFING
•    Anticipate inefficiencies due to new procedures.
•    When possible, call times should be staggered to avoid large groups converging on a single area at one time.
•    Build in time for one department to “step in, step out” at a time.
•    Be prepared with back up crew in case of illness during filming.

LOCATION
•    Give consideration to size and space when deciding among location options.
•    Try to maximize space and air flow when designating spaces for a shoot.
•    Sanitize locations thoroughly before and after use.
•    Choose disinfectants carefully in order to avoid damage.
•    Permit applications should go in as early as possible in case of new regulations.
•    Consider backup locations in the event that a location pulls out or otherwise becomes unavailable.
•    Increase space for social distancing during lunch.
•    Ask owner of the location to reduce personal items until after wrap.

HAIR AND MAKE-UP
•    Consider having the actor(s) show up having done their own make-up/hair.
•    Avoid on-set hair and make-up for secondary actors.
•    Masks must be worn for the duration of person-to-person contact.
•    Talent and make-up artist should wash their hands with soap before and after session.
•    If possible, use disposable make-up kits and brushes and dispose of the kit after each application.
•    Mix make-up on a disposable palette and use only one brush, applicator, etc. per actor.
•    Clean hairbrushes and combs and reusable make-up brushes with appropriate disinfecting solutions.
•    Possibly assign brush / combs to each actor so not to cross contaminate.
•    Avoid touch ups unless absolutely necessary.

WARDROBE
•    When possible, actors should arrive in their own wardrobe.
•    Disinfect jewelry and glasses in between use.

CAMERA
•    Only camera personnel should handle camera gear including carts, cases, tape, etc.
•    Personal equipment should be wiped down upon arrival and before departure each day.
•    Each camera crew personnel should have their own non-sharable camera kits.

SOUND
•    Disinfect equipment before and after each use.
•    Label mics with the name of the user.
•    Disinfect mics and transmitters before and after each use.
•    Replace mounting components that cannot be thoroughly cleaned.
•    Masks should be worn for the duration of person-to-person contact.
•    Utilize boom-only audio when possible.
•    Some multi-talent scripts may require a second Boom Operator.

CRAFT SERVICES
•    Only buy individual, prepackaged portions.
•    Everyone must wash or hand sanitize their hands before entering the craft services area. Hand sanitizer stations should be present.  Craft services table should include hand sanitizer and/or sanitizing wipes.
•    When possible use disposable, ecologically friendly flatware, plates, and cups, and utensils should be individually wrapped in plastic (or similar).
•    Craft services should have capability to refill an individual’s reusable water bottle brought to set.
•    Community drink dispensers should not be used.
•    Eliminate self-serve of lunch items.  Eliminate any self-service snacks or fruit bowls.
•    Consider staggering lunch to ensure physical distancing.
•    Seating should adhere to 6-foot rule
•    Encourage) cast and crew to bring their own food and/or eat in their car.

POST PRODUCTION
•    Maintain physical distancing of at least 6 feet.
•    Wear masks.

These recommendations are not intended to be the only possible recommendations for this situation or even a complete list. These recommendations are not intended to be medical advice. We strongly encourage all cast and crew to review the following organizational resources for more information.

CDC:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html

World Health Organization:
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

As a reminder, here are the two steps to follow up on:

1. Safe Sets Certification: https://practicesafesets.co/certificate/
2. Review the 48HFP Guidelines for Clean, Healthy Sets (see above).

Thanks,

-- The 48 Hour Film Project team