ScreenSafe – Screen Industry Guidance – COVID-19 Protocols V4.0

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Friday 1 July 2022

This is a reminder to all of the New Zealand Screen Sector that the ScreenSafe COVID-19 Protocols are still in place to make sure you keep each other safe on set.

We understand that it is tough keeping productions going under the current climate but we want to remind everyone that your health and safety is important. COVID is impacting on our sets around the country so please if you are unwell โ€“ please donโ€™t come to work. Even if you are testing negative and you have symptoms we advise you to please stay at home.

Please continue to register your production on the ScreenSafe website registration form.

Here are the links to all of the information you need to follow the protocols:

ScreenSafe COVID 19 Toolkit

ScreenSafe Department Roles

ScreenSafe COVID 19 Production Registration Form

The key updates are:

No Requirement to Use QR Codes or to Contact Trace

Businesses no longer have to display a QR Code poster, although some businesses may still choose to use them. Productions are still encouraged to have contact tracing of some sort in place to prevent a wider production outbreak, but it is no longer a Government requirement.

No Requirement to Use My Vaccine Pass

There is no longer a requirement to use My Vaccine Pass. The Non-Vaccination Passport sections of the Protocols have now been removed and all productions will work under the same regulations.

If productions choose to use vaccination passports, they must undertake a robust health and safety risk assessment, along with any other relevant legal assessment, to ensure they are not unlawfully discriminating against workers within the workplace. A production must undertake a COVID-19 risk assessment to ascertain if there are any roles within production that require vaccination. A risk assessment might identify that some work can only be undertaken by a vaccinated employee for work health and safety purposes โ€“ for example, where the risk of contracting and transmitting COVID-19 at work is higher than it is in the community. Productions should follow WorkSafeโ€™s advice and guidance in respect of how to conduct a health and safety risk assessment, and may also wish to seek independent legal advice.

Updated Testing & Isolation Requirements

Updated as per current Government guidelines. The self-isolation period is now only 7 days. This applies to Household Contacts, but not Close Contacts. Close Contacts should monitor for symptoms for 10 days.

Long COVID & COVID-19 in the Workplace

Updates on managing an outbreak in the production, including information about Long COVID and its potential impact on a workforce.

Immigration, International and Domestic Travel

New Zealand has reopened its borders to the outside world. These sections of the protocols have been almost completely rewritten, but we urge you to also seek out the latest Government information. Things are constantly changing in regards to immigration and international travel requirements.

Mask Wearing is Still Crucial

With many productions choosing not to use vaccination passports, the use of face masks is more important than ever. Please wear a mask to protect your colleagues, yourself and your family. Wearing a face mask will assist with the productions continuation when there are undetected positive case within a production.

If you do test positive or are a household contact you can receive financial support here.

While some productions will choose not to use QR Codes and Vaccination Passports, please note that our key tools will still remain: mask wearing, physical distancing, hygiene and increased ventilation. And as always โ€“ DO NOT come to work if you have COVID-19 symptoms.

Sincerely,
The ScreenSafe COVID-19 Group
Email: info@screensafe.co.nz

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Farewell Member Paul Grinder

Paul Grinder was a long-time member of DEGANZ, and a highly experienced Assistant Director, Second Unit Director and later Producer. I would occasionally see Paul at industry events between his long stints working locally or overseas, on films and series including Spartacus, Power Rangers and River Queen here, Black Sails in South Africa and Colony and Lost in Space in Canada.

Paul passed away on 26 May 2022. His service in Tauranga was attended by family and a host of colleagues from the screen industry who held him in high regard. He is sorely missed by many.

Tui Ruwhiu
Executive Director

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Vale Michael Hacking

Editor/director and DEGANZ member Michael Hacking died in March this year after a long battle with cancer.

Michael came to New Zealand from England after leaving University. He was a good-looking young man with a quick wit and in 1970s Wellington he and partner Carole Hartney, with their English accents and good looks, cut a dash โ€“ they were โ€˜coolโ€™ and soon part of the smart set.

After learning how to cut film at John Oโ€™Sheaโ€™s legendary indie company Pacific Films in the 1970s, Michael Hacking moved into directing while working for TVNZ. After directing two episodes of 1987 series Journeys in National Parks, his work as a director, producer, and writer for Natural History New Zealand took him around the globe. It was a life of adventure: threats from apex predators, kidnapping by armed Papua-New Guineans, and a stay in Londonโ€™s Tropical Diseases Hospital with malaria.

For a full bio, go to NZ On Screen.

Over a decade ago Michael was hit with a brain tumour. He died on 3 March 2022 aged 70. His battle with the big C and survival this long attests to his uncomplaining courage, attitude to life and the support of his family. Michael is seriously missed by his wife Carole Hartney and daughter Lily, son-in-law Oliver and granddaughters Poppy and Florence.

Howard Taylor
Board member

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On the Podcast: Budget Filmmaking and Queer Film Festival Directors Q&A

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Missed our live events in June? We’ve added two to The DEGANZ Podcast.

Screenlink: Champagne Taste on a Beer Budget

Writer/director Sam Kelly (Savage, Lambs), DOP Jess Charlton (Loimata, The Sweetest Tears) and DOP Richard Bluck NZCS (Black Sheep) weigh in on the creative advantages of filmmaking and collaborating on a small budget. We all want to make amazing work that looks exceptional. But what can you do when your budget doesnโ€™t look so great?

Moderated by director Kathy McRae, this event was held in Wellington in June 2022 as part of the Screenlink series, and presented by DEGANZ and the New Zealand Cinematographers Society.

 

LGBTQ+ Film Festival Directors Q&A

Meet film festival directors Andrea Coloma (MIX COPENHAGEN), Spiro Economopoulos (Melbourne Queer Film Festival) and James Wooley (Frameline: San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival), joining us to discuss the rich histories and stories of how their Queer film festivals came to be.

Talking to filmmaker Kayne Ngฤtokowha Peters, our international guests discuss the social, political and creative landscape of gay cinema; and how New Zealanders can submit their films and join their global communities.

Content warning:

  • Strong language.
  • Contains sexual references.

This Q&A can also be viewed on the DEGANZ Youtube channel.

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NZIFF: Ngฤ Whanaunga Mฤori Pasifika Shorts Competition Finalists

Perfect Storm by Guild member Morag Brownlie is a finalist in NZIFFโ€™s Ngฤ Whanaunga Mฤori Pasifika Shorts Competition.

Directed, produced and edited by Morag, Perfect Storm follows one manโ€™s enforced isolation on the wild west coast of Tฤmaki Makaurau, as he paces the beach and wonders whether he will see those dear to him again. Dramatic, majestic, intimate and moving, this short documentary is sure to resonate with all who have been separated from their loved ones.

A Morning With Aroha, directed by Nicholas Rinni and edited by Francis Glenday (DEGANZ), is another finalist. The short film follows young Aroha as she embarks on her mission with increasing urgency, whilst her family begin to wonder about where she could be.

As Ngฤ Whanaunga is a competitive section of the New Zealand International Film Festival, all films in the collection are eligible for the Wellington UNESCO City of Film Award for Best Film ($3000 cash prize), as judged by a jury. Audience members at Auckland and Wellington screenings will also vote for the winner of the Letterboxd Audience Award, a cash prize of $1000.

Congratulations to Morag, Francis and their teams on this achievement. The finalists were selected by Leo Koziol and Craig Fasi, and will screen during NZIFF in all festival locations.

Read more

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