UK SCREEN ALLIANCE LAUNCH GUIDANCE FOR COVID-19 SAFE WORKING IN VFX AND POST-PRODUCTION
UK Screen Alliance have published “Guidance for safe working in Post-Production and Visual Effects during the COVID-19 Pandemic”, in consultation with companies from the post and VFX sectors, several US Studios and industry bodies BFI, BFC, Pact and BECTU and the UK government. You can read more about it on their website and download the document here.
BECTU continue to be involved in other ‘Back to Work’ guidelines covering all areas of the industry which can be found on their website and have recently published their Return to Work Terms & Conditions. It is worth reading up on Section 44 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 as it provides employees with the means to contest the adequacy and/or suitability of safety arrangements without fear of recriminations. BECTU also have a page dedicated to the furlough & job retention schemes here.
ScreenSkills have released a free Coronavirus Basic Awareness Training course on their website.
We have a couple of articles written by our branch members on working from home, first from the point of view of picture editors and secondly from post sound.
For more COVID related information please visit the dedicated COVID19 hub on the BECTU website and the UK Government’s Coronavirus page.
Many issues regarding employment have been highlighted in the COVID19 crisis. As a result of this BECTU are working on a ‘New Deal’ to ensure that freelancers and staff are on an equal footing when it comes to employment terms and conditions.
Zack Arnold of Optimize Yourself has written a fantastic article titled Dear Hollywood: We Don’t Want to “Go Back to Normal.” Normal Wasn’t Working. It addresses the idea that now is the time to change working practices as we slowly return to to the industry. It’s a must read for everyone in Film & TV. He also discusses this in our TRA Presents: Optimize Yourself webinar.