Uruguay is the first country to return to the set

After a period of inactivity due to the global pandemic, the Association of Film Producers and Directors of Uruguay (ASOPROD), the Business Chamber of Advertising Producers of Uruguay (CEPPU) and the Union of Technical and Professional Workers in Film and Audiovisual (Gremiocine) developed a protocol to reactivate the audiovisual sector and continue to move forward with the strategic plan that seeks to position the country as an audiovisual production center.

This measure once again highlights the country's good performance in handling the current crisis and its readiness to find solutions and carry out production work in a professional and dynamic manner.

The new protocol follows the prevention measures recommended by the Ministry of Public Health of Uruguay (MSP) and will be applied in all creative stages (pre-production, shooting and post-production). In the first stage, which runs until June of this year, only advertising shoots will be resumed. Afterwards, the protocol will be reviewed and the measures that can be made more flexible will be evaluated.

During talent selection, callback, pre-production work by art directors, wardrobe, make-up and hairdressing, technical-creative scouting, lighting, sound, delivery and return, loading and unloading of filming equipment, up to the editing of the audiovisuals must all adhere to the recommended requirements.

In addition to the basic measures of 1.5 meters between people, the disinfection of materials and the general use of gloves and mouthpieces, these are some of the specific actions for the sector that the groups are promoting: maximizing the use of virtual platforms for streaming or video calls for meetings and work arrangements, trying to exclude physical contact actions in the casting, implementing the credit system and ensuring that all payments are made by bank transfers, choosing outdoor or indoor locations that are large and ventilated and having individual changing rooms for the actors.

According to the document, the production will be in charge of providing the necessary hygiene elements (chinstraps, disposable handkerchiefs, alcohol gel, isopropyl alcohol, hypochlorite, soap, disposable towels, waste bags, surgical shoes, etc.) and any other need that may arise.

During the shooting, we will try to work with the minimum and indispensable equipment, the least camera staff on set and the least number of suppliers. We will also try to avoid the use of vehicles and props and the presence of animals.

If any member of the team shows symptoms related to COVID-19 (temperature, cough, cold, sore throat, weakness), the team will be suspended. Before entering the set, a doctor hired by the production company will establish individual contact with each of the people involved in the shooting and will evaluate the convenience or not of their participation.

The Health and Safety Plan will be sent to the members of the technical team, suppliers and actors, who must state that they accept the conditions and rules expressed at the time of being hired. In turn, on the first day of shooting, it will be the responsibility of the production manager to give an introduction to the whole team on prevention measures.

It is estimated that the audiovisual sector in Uruguay generates 1,500 direct jobs, another 3,500 indirect jobs and a turnover of US$ 270 million.

Due to the growing demand for audiovisual content, the industry plans to increase the volume of series and film production for platforms and of film production services.