Working Through Covid- An Inside Look

Through the pandemic “lockdown” of the Spring, I wondered how long would pass before I’d return to a TV Control Room again. What would that experience feel like- separated by my colleagues by distance and plexi panels, directing through fogged eyeglasses and muffled face mask tones. How would we all stay safe? How would the production flow be impacted?

In October, my questions were answered. I accepted an assignment to direct three live corporate town hall broadcasts originating from NYC. Immediately things began to feel different. A TV/Film Covid Compliance company-apparently a critical new industry- reached out to me. I, along with all crew members, were scheduled for Covid tests. We were also required to complete a daily questionnaire designed to monitor our health status and possible exposure to Covid. Additionally, all production crew were forbidden to use public transportation to and from the broadcast site. For me, this meant a daily drive in from CT.

My arrival on site was met with a Covid Compliance check in- temperature was taken, health questionnaire was completed, a few questions asked and a fresh new face mask and/or shield were supplied and required to replace the one I was already wearing. A nice safety touch, I thought. A face masked, glove wearing Security Guard pressed the elevator buttons for me. Another nice safety touch!

As the elevator doors opened to my floor, a series of well displayed signs greeted me…face masks required, crew this way, not that way, crew lounge this way, etc. Very organized!

Crew members greeted each other with the latest Hello-the“elbow air bump”. The engineering setup and production rehearsals proceeded smoothly over the next few days. However, lunch was notably different. Crew ate on staggered schedules- one person to a table. Neatly lined up bagged lunches were provided under the watchful eye of a Covid Compliance person- who sanitized every table and chair after each use. Hand sanitizer, wipes and disposable gloves were everywhere…along with thoughtfully placed signs reminding all of appropriate healthy hygiene behavior. Despite all these cosmetic adjustments, the communal good cheer of a typical crew lunch prevailed…Thankfully!

The live broadcasts were quite unique! The typical on-site audience was replaced with an all Zoom audience of award winners to be recognized and celebrated. They displayed over three hinged video screens- called the “Video Wall”- to distinguish it from the fourth screen designated for video roll-ins and graphics. Using 70 individual laptops, the staging company designed an elaborate Zoom conference scheme which combined award winners by category into specifically designated live individual Zoom video calls. As each category of award winners was announced, they were immediately harvested from which ever screen they were displayed on and gathered to the center screen for recognition.

I directed and followed the action employing 7 cameras including one shooting the surreal backstage environment of 70 laptop computers. It all worked pretty well. Nice to be working again!