BY CHRIS DAVISON
HRTS Board of Directors members Scott Hervey and Greg Lipstone chaired the HRTS Unscripted: Getting Back Into Production – Scripted vs. Unscripted event via Zoom on August 5, 2020.
The virtual panel featured Moderator Scott Hervey in conversation with Isabel San Vargas of Propagate Content; Robert Mills of ABC Entertainment; Erika Munro Kennerly of Endeavor Content; and Nicholas Caprio of Pilgrim Media Group.
WHAT THEY SAID: The panel engaged in a free-flowing, thoughtful discussion on how producing reality-based TV reflects the reality of 2020 including the almost complete uncertainty in the opening weeks and months of the pandemic; the transition to remote production and lessons learned along the way; the opportunities and problems of shooting shows domestically versus internationally; the challenges of producing television with everyone standing at least 6 feet apart; making script changes to be able to shoot scenes while navigating lockdowns and interpersonal restrictions; and faster returns to production for unscripted versus scripted.
Some new things that came out of production’s “new normal” include COVID contingencies of 5-10% being baked into budgets; the possibility of continuing budget contingencies after the pandemic is over; building tent cities in sealed locations; and having COVID compliance officers on set. The next steps will be figuring out the changes that will end with the pandemic versus those that will carry forward.
The one thing that they all agreed on is acknowledging the creativity and resilience of people across the industry.
Here is a selection of coverage from the event: CNN | Deadline
GO TO THE VIDEO: HRTS Members, you may log in and watch the full event video HERE