With the first half of 2020 over and 2021 racing towards us, one cannot help but wonder what is next? After everything 2020 brought us, normal is now an unknown factor and the future will be forever changed. The pandemic we are currently facing has caused many new regulations to take place within the entertainment industry, but as we all know the show must always go on. In the film industry, pre-pandemic movies were shot with few, if any, health regulations in mind to protect those involved with the making of the film. They were shot with a multitude of people and allowed for many set location changes. Now, during the pandemic, filming schedules are precise and involve many regulations in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
In fact, recently, during the pandemic, a movie was developed called Malcolm & Marie with Zendaya and John David Washington as co-stars and Euphoria creator Sam Levinson as the writer and producer. Because of the new regulations, the producers created guidelines during their shoots which involved testing procedures, hygiene maintenance, social distancing, location changes, scheduling, and more. All of the procedures made were compliant with WGA, DGA and SAG-AFTRA regulations as well as COVID-19 safety protocols to ensure everything was safe. This ‘secret’ movie was filmed on a private 33-acre property in Monterey County, CA where it allowed for both privacy and distance from anyone outside of the film’s quarantine group. The producers required both cast and crew to social distance from each other – and the outside world – for two weeks prior to production in order to ensure safety. Social distancing is the new reality that our world is facing. With the uncertainty that COVID-19 brings to our lives, this is the best we can do until a safe and acceptable vaccine is developed. Distancing ourselves while wearing masks is the new norm, and this new norm might just stick around for a while. As much as one resists change, change must be accepted and embraced in order to protect those around us.
As Malcolm & Marie was written and produced during the pandemic, it proves to be a prime example of success that can be achieved. The film has overcome any obstacles the pandemic has thrown at them by not allowing it to stop them. Producers created guidelines to ensure the safety of the entire crew so that the viewing public can enjoy a new film opposed to the constant reruns they have been witnessing. Even though this pandemic might feel like it is not allowing people to live their lives to the fullest, with a little patience and courage we can all work around COVID-19 and resume some sense of normalcy. There is always light at the end of the tunnel, and for now we just have to be patient for when we get out of this COVID-19 tunnel.