The Digital Cinema Society has completed a short documentary entitled Getting Safely Back to Work in the Age of COVID. The program is dedicated to the memory of the association’s friend and longtime DCS member, Allen Daviau, ASC, an early victim of the disease.
Because the COVID-19 pandemic has affected most every aspect of the production industry, James Mathers, cinematographer and founder of the Digital Cinema Society made it his goal to document solutions to help create safer conditions on sets. This educational documentary explores tools and techniques the motion picture industry can use to help work safely despite the current pandemic.
Director/editor/host Mathers adhered to strict shooting protocols during the production. According to Mathers, “COVID-19 has cost lives, livelihoods, and brought the media and entertainment industry to an abrupt standstill. Although there are some positive developments on the horizon in terms of vaccinations and therapies, there are still major uncertainties ahead, and we are a long way from being out of the pandemic woods.”
Filmmakers, business leaders, and technologists were interviewed regarding their experiences and methods of adapting and integrating technology geared at safer working on set.
Participants include: COVID survivor and Steadicam operator Jeff Muhlstock, COVID Compliance Officer Chris Salas, Michael George, COO, Panavision, Michael Cioni, Frame.io global senior vice president of innovation and Nico Ruderman, audio supervisor. Also interviewed were Panasonic’s Rob Brambila, Panavision’s Aaron Kroger, director of product strategy, and Richard Amadril, president of Luminys.
Daviau was known for his collaborations as cinematographer with Steven Spielberg on such films as E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, The Color Purple, and Empire of the Sun. He was nominated for the Academy Award five times and for the British Academy Film Award twice. He won the British prize in 1987 for Empire of the Sun. Daviau died last April from complications from COVID-19.
You can watch the film here http://bit.ly/DCSdocumentary
The Digital Cinema Society www.digitalcinemasociety.org