HOLLYWOOD INCREASES PRODUCTION IN CANADA AS COVID CASES SPIKE IN LA

Despite cinema closures in the Canadian region, Hollywood production hubs in Vancouver and Toronto have returned to pre-pandemic levels of activity.  Los Angeles County will enforce a new “targeted” safer-at-home order as a result of the surge, effective on Monday. "The recovery for production in Canada has been much quicker than we ever forecast. We went from 100 miles to zero,"  Paul Bronfman, Chairman of Pinewood Toronto Studios. "Also driving Hollywood's return to Canada is American production originally slated for U.S. hot spots that came north for safe and less expensive shoots thanks to local tax credits and currency savings."

The new order, which is significantly less restrictive than earlier lockdowns in the spring, will last for three weeks through 20th December. L.A. County reported 4,544 new cases and 24 deaths on Friday, bringing the 7-day average to 4,751. The order mostly bans all gatherings, either inside or outside, of people outside ones’ household and implements new capacity restrictions in an attempt to allow some businesses to stay open. “With the recent surge of COVID-19 across our community, we must take additional safety measures to reduce the risk of illness and death from this terrible virus and protect our healthcare system,” said Barbara Ferrer, Director of Public Health.

Cinemas in Manitoba and British Columbia have shuttered, the country's largest theater markets, have also been ordered to shut down as a result of the rise in cases on both sides of the border. So if the goal was to allow Canada's production sector to reopen this summer after Hollywood's vanishing act in March 2020, then Toronto and Vancouver already surpassing pre-pandemic production levels in terms of the number of projects before cameras in those cities are seen as a success for local players.Bronfam suggests a V-shaped industry rebound.  "There's a diminishing number of tickets to sell for "Wonder Woman," unfortunately," Bill Walker, CEO of Landmark Cinemas, said. 

Garin Josey, executive VP, and COO of William F. White International credits the North American industry, unions and guilds, provincial governments, and health authorities with sticking to on-set safety protocols such as testing, social distancing, and pared-down crews -- agreed on last spring to reopen filming hubs with no spikes. "The unions negotiated their requirements for productions to ramp up and in each of our markets we kept up with those demands," Josey said.

Public and private gatherings with individuals outside the household are prohibited, with the exception of church services and protests. All individuals at these sites are required to wear face coverings and keep at least 6 feet of distance. Essential retail must abide by a 35% maximum occupancy, Non-essential retail (includes indoor malls) at a 20% maximum occupancy, personal care services at a 20% maximum occupancy, libraries at 20% maximum occupancy, fitness centers operating outdoors at a 50% maximum occupancy, along with other indoor activities. Outdoor recreation activities all of which require face coverings and distancing.