<p>When veteran Hollywood actor Gregg Daniel was offered an audition for a new movie in Los Angeles, he nearly didn't show up -- the pandemic was well underway, and "no one was shooting."</p>.<p>"I almost hesitated even going to the audition," said Daniel. "I'm African-American, I'm over 50 and disproportionately black people were dying of Covid-19... but the script was so good, and I'm an actor at heart."</p>.<p>Fast-forward to today, and Daniel has completed boxing drama "7th & Union," filmed in the streets of the eerily quiet California entertainment capital.</p>.<p>Thanks to relentless testing, on-set "Covid officers," sanitation stations and enforced social distancing between takes, "everything went smoothly" and safely, said executive producer Jolene Rodriguez.</p>.<p>Yet it is one of just a handful of film productions to resume in Hollywood since Governor Gavin Newsom gave the green light back in June.</p>.<p>Health fears, uncertainty and the second wave of coronavirus cases have meant few movie producers braving a return so far -- with some heading elsewhere or even overseas.</p>.<p>No US state has suffered more than California, which has so far recorded more than 610,000 coronavirus cases, including more than 11,000 deaths.</p>.<p>"At one point we were like... 'Do we hold off for the safety of people?'" said Rodriguez. "But it ended up where we were able to pull it off."</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/coronavirus-live-news-covid-19-latest-updates.html" target="_blank"><strong>CORONAVIRUS SPECIAL COVERAGE ONLY ON DH</strong></a></p>.<p>Permits to film in Los Angeles remain stalled at one-third of usual numbers, according to nonprofit FilmLA -- and the vast majority of those are for making advertisements and reality television.</p>.<p>The main hold-up for movie studios is talks between employers and unions to agree on a new set of standard, industry-wide safety protocols.</p>.<p>"We've been working on it for many, many weeks... there are a lot of complicated issues," said Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, chief operating officer of actors guild SAG-AFTRA, which has joined forces with Hollywood's directors, technicians and Teamsters unions.</p>.<p>Among discussions is a daily testing for actors performing "the more dangerous work from a Covid perspective," such as intimate sex or fight scenes.</p>.<p>Once negotiations are completed -- a deal is expected by next month -- the major problem of coronavirus insurance persists.</p>.<p>The cost of restarting a production only to shut down again due to an outbreak is so high that insurers are excluding Covid-related claims from new policies.</p>.<p>"What we're hearing... is that there's going to need to be governmental involvement," said Crabtree-Ireland, pointing to similar measures in California to incentivize earthquake coverage.</p>.<p>"There are discussions going on at both federal and state levels about how that might happen."</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-news-live-updates-unlock-30-rules-india-maharashtra-karnataka-delhi-tamil-nadu-mumbai-bengaluru-chennai-ahmedabad-new-delhi-total-cases-deaths-recoveries-today-covid-19-coronavirus-vaccine-covid-vaccine-updates-869265.html#1" target="_blank"><strong>For latest updates and live news on coronavirus, click here</strong></a></p>.<p>For now, the trickle of film productions going ahead need to be approved by unions on a case-by-case basis -- leading to wrangling over issues such as the frequency and type of Covid testing, especially on low-budget shoots.</p>.<p>A "cottage industry of boutique testing companies" have sprung up to service film sets that can't afford in-house testing, said Crabtree-Ireland.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, producers have learned to be creative about filming locations, with busy public areas not feasible, said FilmLA president Paul Audley.</p>.<p>"Writers are really clever -- so we know some of the shows may be writing for areas that are more isolated, like an industrial area," he told AFP.</p>.<p>Another, far riskier approach has sprung up -- filming without permission at all.</p>.<p><strong>READ: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/hollywood-poised-for-big-screen-gamble-as-theaters-reopen-852010.html" target="_blank">Hollywood poised for big-screen gamble as theatres reopen</a></strong></p>.<p>"Right now, the number one complaint that we've had on the books is for illegal filming," said Audley, adding that coronavirus-wary Los Angeles residents are more vigilant than ever in reporting guerrilla shoots.</p>.<p>Still, despite the growth of other filming hubs such as the state of Georgia -- where mogul Tyler Perry has set up a self-contained, 330-acre (133-hectare) production "campus" -- many filmmakers appear determined to remain in Los Angeles.</p>.<p>The silver screen's spiritual home boasts an abundance of support services, including six companies dedicated to movie-set recycling and garbage disposal alone, said Audley.</p>.<p>"Our members prefer to work close to home, and I think especially in times of uncertainty like this they feel more comfortable," Crabtree-Ireland said.</p>.<p>"In terms of what the prospects for Los Angeles are, I wouldn't suggest anyone should count LA out."</p>
<p>When veteran Hollywood actor Gregg Daniel was offered an audition for a new movie in Los Angeles, he nearly didn't show up -- the pandemic was well underway, and "no one was shooting."</p>.<p>"I almost hesitated even going to the audition," said Daniel. "I'm African-American, I'm over 50 and disproportionately black people were dying of Covid-19... but the script was so good, and I'm an actor at heart."</p>.<p>Fast-forward to today, and Daniel has completed boxing drama "7th & Union," filmed in the streets of the eerily quiet California entertainment capital.</p>.<p>Thanks to relentless testing, on-set "Covid officers," sanitation stations and enforced social distancing between takes, "everything went smoothly" and safely, said executive producer Jolene Rodriguez.</p>.<p>Yet it is one of just a handful of film productions to resume in Hollywood since Governor Gavin Newsom gave the green light back in June.</p>.<p>Health fears, uncertainty and the second wave of coronavirus cases have meant few movie producers braving a return so far -- with some heading elsewhere or even overseas.</p>.<p>No US state has suffered more than California, which has so far recorded more than 610,000 coronavirus cases, including more than 11,000 deaths.</p>.<p>"At one point we were like... 'Do we hold off for the safety of people?'" said Rodriguez. "But it ended up where we were able to pull it off."</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/coronavirus-live-news-covid-19-latest-updates.html" target="_blank"><strong>CORONAVIRUS SPECIAL COVERAGE ONLY ON DH</strong></a></p>.<p>Permits to film in Los Angeles remain stalled at one-third of usual numbers, according to nonprofit FilmLA -- and the vast majority of those are for making advertisements and reality television.</p>.<p>The main hold-up for movie studios is talks between employers and unions to agree on a new set of standard, industry-wide safety protocols.</p>.<p>"We've been working on it for many, many weeks... there are a lot of complicated issues," said Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, chief operating officer of actors guild SAG-AFTRA, which has joined forces with Hollywood's directors, technicians and Teamsters unions.</p>.<p>Among discussions is a daily testing for actors performing "the more dangerous work from a Covid perspective," such as intimate sex or fight scenes.</p>.<p>Once negotiations are completed -- a deal is expected by next month -- the major problem of coronavirus insurance persists.</p>.<p>The cost of restarting a production only to shut down again due to an outbreak is so high that insurers are excluding Covid-related claims from new policies.</p>.<p>"What we're hearing... is that there's going to need to be governmental involvement," said Crabtree-Ireland, pointing to similar measures in California to incentivize earthquake coverage.</p>.<p>"There are discussions going on at both federal and state levels about how that might happen."</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-news-live-updates-unlock-30-rules-india-maharashtra-karnataka-delhi-tamil-nadu-mumbai-bengaluru-chennai-ahmedabad-new-delhi-total-cases-deaths-recoveries-today-covid-19-coronavirus-vaccine-covid-vaccine-updates-869265.html#1" target="_blank"><strong>For latest updates and live news on coronavirus, click here</strong></a></p>.<p>For now, the trickle of film productions going ahead need to be approved by unions on a case-by-case basis -- leading to wrangling over issues such as the frequency and type of Covid testing, especially on low-budget shoots.</p>.<p>A "cottage industry of boutique testing companies" have sprung up to service film sets that can't afford in-house testing, said Crabtree-Ireland.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, producers have learned to be creative about filming locations, with busy public areas not feasible, said FilmLA president Paul Audley.</p>.<p>"Writers are really clever -- so we know some of the shows may be writing for areas that are more isolated, like an industrial area," he told AFP.</p>.<p>Another, far riskier approach has sprung up -- filming without permission at all.</p>.<p><strong>READ: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/hollywood-poised-for-big-screen-gamble-as-theaters-reopen-852010.html" target="_blank">Hollywood poised for big-screen gamble as theatres reopen</a></strong></p>.<p>"Right now, the number one complaint that we've had on the books is for illegal filming," said Audley, adding that coronavirus-wary Los Angeles residents are more vigilant than ever in reporting guerrilla shoots.</p>.<p>Still, despite the growth of other filming hubs such as the state of Georgia -- where mogul Tyler Perry has set up a self-contained, 330-acre (133-hectare) production "campus" -- many filmmakers appear determined to remain in Los Angeles.</p>.<p>The silver screen's spiritual home boasts an abundance of support services, including six companies dedicated to movie-set recycling and garbage disposal alone, said Audley.</p>.<p>"Our members prefer to work close to home, and I think especially in times of uncertainty like this they feel more comfortable," Crabtree-Ireland said.</p>.<p>"In terms of what the prospects for Los Angeles are, I wouldn't suggest anyone should count LA out."</p>