ScreenSkills launches free Covid-19 training
ScreenSkills has launched a free online training course designed to support screen industry workers stay safe on productions in the context of Covid-19.
Available from today (30 June), the coronavirus basic awareness on production e-learning module covers areas where there are clear potential risks including transport, catering and the sharing of equipment and topics such as the monitoring of symptoms, social distancing and sanitisation.
The training was developed to complement the Working Safely During Covid-19 guidance developed by the British Film Commission for film and high-end television and is also expected to help unscripted television work safely in the context of Covid-19.
The course is supported by the ScreenSkills High-End TV Skills Fund, with contributions from high-end television productions, and the BFI, awarding National Lottery funds as part of its Future Film Skills strategy.
ScreenSkills has partnered with Skills for Health, a not-for-profit in the health sector that is already working with the NHS and other sectors to provide training for the Covid-19 crisis, and First Option, safety consultants to the entertainment industry.
Christine Healy, chair of the ScreenSkills HETV Skills Fund and head of production, New Pictures, said: “This training gives everybody information about what they will need to do to work safely when they get back into production in the Covid environment. It should particularly help freelance crew members be prepared for the return to work and encourage people to stop and think about how living with Covid-19 will have on how they perform their roles within the production workplace.
“It is great that ScreenSkills has been the leader in bringing this practical training toolkit around the coronavirus to those who need it. I will certainly be asking people on my productions to do the course.”
The online training underwent testing with working members of industry last week and will be reviewed at regular intervals and updated if necessary.
For more details, click here.
Also on The Knowledge
Studios Spotlight – Behind the scenes at The Bottle Yard Studios
The latest spotlight in our Studios series shines on Bristol’s Bottle Yard Studios, the largest film and TV studio in the west of England.
Ralph Fiennes, Jim Broadbent to film Alan Bennett feature in Yorkshire
A new film that reunites Alan Bennett and Nicholas Hytner will shoot in Yorkshire this May.
James Norton leads starry cast on period drama King & Conqueror
Filming is underway in Iceland on UK period drama King & Conqueror, starring James Norton and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau.
Saoirse Ronan begins filming Bad Apples
Filming is due to get underway this week (w/c 18 March) on Bad Apples, a satirical thriller starring Saoirse Ronan.
Martin Compston, Anjli Mohindra film thriller in Glasgow for Prime Video
Filming is underway in Glasgow on Fear, a new, three-part thriller for Prime Video.
Netflix UK agrees writers remuneration deal
Netflix UK has reached a landmark remuneration agreement with the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain (WGGB) and agency body the Personal Managers Association (PMA) for writers on live-action scripted series, Broadcast reports.