Page 30 - bon-dia-aruba-20200519

a30 people & arts
Tuesday 19 May 2020
TV cliffhanger: New season in jeopardy amid virus shutdown

afterlife. Movie and TV
mogul Tyler Perry may be
showing the way forward.
His studio in Georgia, one
of the first states to relax vi-
rus-related constraints, will
resume production in July
with two series for BET. Pro-
tective measures are to in-
clude testing and isolation
on the Atlanta lot for cast
and crew.
There are other options,
if even further afield from
the LA and NY produc-
tion hubs. Iceland plans to
ease its travel restrictions in
mid-June and is readying
filming guidelines, said pro-
ducer Leifur Dagfinnsson,
whose credits include "Star
Wars" films and TV's "Sense8"
and "His Dark Materials." He
touts the country's dramat-
ic landscapes, the London
CLOCKWISE:This image released by FOX hows Gabrielle Union,
left, and Jessica Alba in a scene from "L.A.'s Finest." This image studios that are a three-
released by FOX shows Kim Cattrall, left, and Aubrey Dollar in a hour flight from Reykjavík —
scene from "Filthy Rich" premiering on FOX in the fall. This image and Iceland's emphasis on
released by FOX shows John Slattery in a scene from "NEXT," coronavirus testing.
premiering this fall on FOX. There are also alternatives
Associated Press to traditionally produced
LYNN ELBER "As realistic as anything else series. CBS aired a socially-
AP Television Writer is at this point," he said. questions about the dis- A critical issue is the insur- distanced episode of its
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Gabrielle Union, who with ease, including whether ance that covers losses drama "All Rise" made us-
first new TV season of the Jessica Alba stars in and coronavirus antibodies due to production delays ing digital technology, and
coronavirus era is facing an produces Spectrum cable's confer immunity. or budget overruns, said late-night hosts are drawing
understandably shaky start "L.A.'s Finest," is among "No way," Baer said. "I'm not Carolyn Hunt, a veteran kudos for their homemade,
that comes with a tacit those awaiting guidance going to put people poten- entertainment lawyer in YouTube-like episodes that
disclaimer: No one is sure on how actors and crews tially in harm's way" given Los Angeles who handles boast family as supporting
when it will arrive. can safely return to work. the unknowns. film and TV financing deals. players.
Studios, guilds and trade The police drama com- While the Alliance of Mo- She said virtually all policies That's not the future envi-
groups are huddling to bines shoot-'em-up action tion Picture and Television are excluding coverage of sioned by Laura Kennedy,
find ways to ease a near- with more intimate scenes, Producers spearheads the COVID-19-related issues. CEO of Avalon, a U.K. and
complete production shut- both tests of how social dis- broad industry effort to "That makes things very U.S.-based management
down, among the nation- tancing and story demands work with health and gov- tricky, so a lot of people are and TV production com-
wide efforts to curb the will co-exist. ernment officials on safety waiting to see what hap- pany whose shows include
pandemic. While streaming "When we all are given the protocols, there are also pens there," Hunt said. HBO's "Last Week Tonight
services parcel out series green light to go back, we what one executive called Meanwhile, networks are with John Oliver" and the
year-round, broadcast TV just have to be flexible and impromptu "think tanks" to cobbling together sched- FX comedy "Breeders."
still relies heavily on a Sep- open to this new normal, find solutions. ules and, in true Hollywood "It really is an industry that
tember filled with fanfare whatever that's going to "Some have attorneys and fashion, hoping for a happy begs team effort and per-
and high-profile scripted look like," Union said. doctors involved. I do a ending. sonal reaction, including
shows. Just four months before the weekly panel that a cin- When Fox announced its writers' rooms where peo-
How that will happen is a Sept. 20 Emmy Awards kick ematographer put togeth- fall schedule, it included a ple riff off each other," Ken-
cliffhanger only a masoch- off the TV season's tradi- er, and we keep adding recycled season-one run nedy said.
istic screenwriter would en- tional start, the uncertain- people who run production of "L.A.'s Finest," along with A secure return to work is
vision. ties swirling around CO- companies, sound stages," two series that the network something exciting to look
ABC, CBS and NBC are VID-19 are daunting. Even said Matt Birch, co-head of originally intended to de- forward to, said "This Is Us"
holding back their 2020- streaming services like well- physical production for the but this spring, "Filthy Rich" star Mandy Moore. She and
21 schedules which, in an stocked Netflix or premium multinational talent agen- starring Kim Cattrall and others in the NBC drama's
ordinary year, would have cable channels like HBO cy APA. tech thriller "neXt" with John cast reconnected with a
been unveiled earlier this with fully produced new Visual effects supervisors Slattery. Zoom call recently as they
month in elaborate presen- series in hand must keep a and producers are in high The reason the trio of series await word on when sea-
tations to ad buyers in New wary eye on a prolonged demand, Birch said, to cre- earned a coveted spot on son-five production will be-
York. Another broadcaster, disruption. ate what can't be filmed. a network's fall schedule: gin.
CW, said it's aiming for a Neal Baer, a physician Among the steps industry They were in the can and "It's the opportunity of all
January start to its new sea- and a veteran TV writer members say are being ready to air. The same holds our lifetimes to be a part of
son, based on production and producer ("ER," "Des- mulled: scenes shot with true for CW's fall placehold- this show and to do work
resuming this fall. ignated Survivor"), had a fewer actors and crew, er shows, including "Swamp we're all so proud of, but
CW's chairman and CEO, succinct reply when asked shortened production Thing," canceled after one we also understand there
Mark Pedowitz, was asked if he would start a produc- schedules and more ani- season on streaming and are bigger issues in the
if even that was realistic. tion given the unanswered mated projects. now getting a pandemic world," Moore said.q