As announced by the Prime Minister on Monday 4 January 2021, national lockdown measures are now in place across England. Following the announcement, it has been confirmed that film and TV production can continue, while adhering to safety protocols.

At OH! Films, Cambridge based video and film production company, we make the health and safety of our crews and clients a priority, without affecting the quality of the content we produce. We have implemented precautions in light of the coronavirus pandemic and government guidelines that allow us to continue to film with small crews in safe, controlled environments.

The UK government has confirmed that film and TV production can restart with social distancing in place. We will be following new guidance from the Advertising Producers Association on all our shoots. Some of the procedures include:

• Travel is limited and avoids public transport.
• People working on the shoot are kept 2 metres apart.
• Crews are operating with as few people as possible. Most interviews can be recorded with a skeleton crew of just one or two people.
• We will not be shooting crowd scenes or in public places.
• Some of the studios in our network remain open, and we can film there with skeleton crews, or in clients’ homes or offices.
• All crew members will wear personal protective equipment (such as masks) when appropriate, and hand gel will be provided to all cast and crew.
• All productions undergo extensive risk assessments, and the social distancing of crews, clients and on-screen talent will be at the front and centre of those risk assessments for the immediate future.

What can be done in businesses that are closed

As well as specific exemptions as set out in their relevant section, any closed premises can open for the purposes of:

• providing essential voluntary or public services (including the provision of food banks or other support to the homeless or vulnerable, hosting blood donation sessions, or support in an emergency)
• making a film, television programme, audio programme or audio-visual advertisement
• voting or related activities (except for in closed shops)
• enabling access by the site owners or managers, staff or people authorised by them (including volunteers) for maintenance where this is reasonably necessary. This may include exhibit maintenance, animal or plant feeding, or repairs. Other work to ensure readiness to open, such as receiving deliveries of supplies, may also go ahead

  Full list of guidelines can be found on UK Government’s website here.