Several European Countries Open for Production

Countries like Iceland, the Czech Republic, Poland and France, have begun to allow film and television production under new COVID-19 guidelines. But as cameras roll and Hollywood watches for tips, many are wondering if some crews are safer than others. 

There are certain hygienic guidelines that are near-universal.

All crews are expected to social distance - trying to be 2 meters (6.5 feet) apart and many people are able to use face masks and disinfection protocols for equipment and people.

Every set will be closed to outside visitors as well, and there will be limited numbers of personnel on each staff. 

Still, there are worried on how individual countries will handle rules outside of the basics. 

Several European Countries Open for Production 

There are so many unexplained and unanswered questions about how things will work.

While earlier we talked about what everyone is doing, each country has different problems protocols they have to fix. For example, France has "green zones" where filming will be allowed. So it might be harder to location scout as well. 

And that doesn't even account for travel restrictions.

Iceland's film commissioner Einar Hansen Tomasson, says crews can get special dispensation to work while in quarantine. "You can fly in and be quarantined in your hotel and on location," he tells The Hollywood Reporter. "You can do a 13-day shoot and be done before even finishing your isolation."

Whereas the Czech Republic opened up its borders for non-European travelers May 11, but cast and crew have to submit to a COVID-19 test and provide evidence of a negative result before entering the country.

The Czech Film Commission has posted its new, self-regulatory, guidelines on its website, so everyone can familiarize themselves with the rules. 

A notable measure: Regular COVID-19 testing is only required for on-camera talent. Actors have to be tested every 14 days throughout the shoot.

France has also created a website called Mission Cinéma which governs who can shoot in the French capital. The shooting regulations limit on-set groups to 50 people and require sets to be closed to the general public. 

Iceland is the one country that has been spared from the devastating COVID-19 outbreak. But if you want to go there to shoot, your producers have to be on top of everything. They can apply for an exemption to travel restrictions. 

If you pass, your crew can enter and begin production immediately. They still have to serve their 14-day quarantine isolated on set and in their hotel. 

Again, this is a ton to keep track of and every country varies. 

If you're planning on shooting international, check out each country's film commission website for more information. 

All these differences will make production a little harder to navigate, but it gives a ton of hope to crews across the world. 

You're likely to see similar versions of this stuff across different states in the United States and Australia as well. The U.S. shut its borders to European travelers in March and has yet to lift them. So unsure if there will be production overlap. 

Only time will tell how this shakes out. 

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