Reopening Hollywood North.
Updated:
Sony Pictures Television emailed crew and shut down pre-production of The Good Doctor Friday over Covid-19 testing.
There is an issue with COVID-19 testing, which we are working to resolve with the BC Council — a Sony Pictures Television spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter.
The studio wants more testing of cast and crew and the BC Council of Unions (Teamsters 155/ IATSE 891/ICG 669 ) want less.
Cast of The Good Doctor led by British Freddie Highmore is already in Vancouver doing the Canadian government-mandated 14-day self-quarantines. Highmore flew in and many of the American cast drove up.
Related: The Good Doctor’s Freddie Highmore from Britain is Self-Quarantining in Vancouver Before Filming Starts
BC has managed the Covid-19 pandemic better than most places in the world.
TV movie For Better or Worse started filming in early June and wrapped safely just as film & TV production got the official green light.
Compared to Hollywood, Hollywood North is looking pretty good on the health front — BC Premier John Horgan.
As B.C. moves into Phase 3 of its restart plan. #Covid19.
— Hollywood North Buzz – YVRShoots (@yvrshoots) June 25, 2020
And there have been no major spikes from BC’s restart.
FYI, the Covid hospitalization rate in British Columbia today is 5 (2 of those 5 in ICU). Total. Our huge “spike” in new cases today was 50. Population appx. 5 million.
— slbeckett 🇨🇦 (@slbeckett) August 1, 2020
Several TV movies and series like Van Helsing, Family Law and When Calls the Heart have been filming safely this summer, abiding by BC Covid-19 Safety Plans which include screening for Covid-19 symptoms but not testing.
7 TV movies have already filmed & wrapped safely with about a dozen more scheduled this summer. Syfy series Van Helsing has been filming safely for 3 weeks. Other series start soon but big one to watch is The Good Doctor. Cast is self-quarantining & hopefully it’ll be a go.
— Hollywood North Buzz – YVRShoots (@yvrshoots) July 22, 2020
The Good Doctor is the first major American series in production ramp-up in BC and the standards are different.
Can Sony and the BC Council resolve their testing issues? If not, this could slow the reopening of Hollywood North as big American productions reconsider filming here.
‘The Good Doctor’ Halts Production Ramp Up in #Vancouver Due to covid Testing Issues @DEADLINE @yvrshoots @BC_FilmIndustry what does this mean for others starting in Aug? #COVID19BC #production #tv #film @creativebcs @mppia https://t.co/RIQ1oolD5p
— Pixel Eye Pictures (P.E.P) (@PixelEyePicture) August 1, 2020