4 ms·

No, it has nothing to do with star power or celebrity. It's because the studios are willing to spend lots of money and implement extremely strict protocols so

No, it has nothing to do with star power or celebrity. It's because the studios are willing to spend lots of money and implement extremely strict protocols so that they can keep filming, because if they don't they will literally go bankrupt and die. And because the studios and the crew depend on filming for their economic survival, everyone involved is willing to do what it takes. I have friends who work in Hollywood. They're not allowed to socialize when they're working on set, nor for the two week period before they start working on set. They can't use public transportation. They can't visit friends or families for Thanksgiving or Christmas. They must get tested multiple times a week: a rapid test nearly every day (or every day for some sets), and the regular test at least every two weeks. The stricter sets won't even let crew go to the groceries when they're off set; they must use Instacart or limit themselves to eating at the crew stations on set. When traveling, they must stay in lodging provided by the studios, usually AirBnbs because hotels are too risky.

throwaway201103 6y ago
Why is it important that Hollywood studios don't go bankrupt and die, but not restaurants and hair salons. I can't think of a more "non-essential" business than Hollywood movie production.
- gamblor956 6y ago
  For starters, Hollywood's combined impact on state finances exceeds that of the restaurant and hair salon industries. Why is Hollywood essential? It's basically the piggy bank keeping LA alive right now. Hollywood isn't just the actors and studio executives. Hollywood includes over a hundred thousand specialists, ranging from tradesmen like carpenters and electricians, to caterers, stylists, and landscapers. Those several hundred thousand individuals further support smaller local businesses like restaurants, hair salons, etc. There are dozens of restaurants in LA that are still alive right now because a Hollywood shoot used them for catering and that money has kept thousands of restaurant employees employed. There are hundreds of stylists still getting by because of the one week they worked on a set, which paid more than they would have made working at their local hair salon for several months.
  - TigeriusKirk 6y ago
    Is economic impact how "essential" is defined, then?
    - gamblor956 6y ago
      Hollywood directly supports more than 2 million jobs and 400,000 U.S. businesses, and those 2 million jobs and 400,000 businesses in turn support several tens of millions of other jobs and hundreds of thousands of other U.S. businesses. Do you honestly believe that the states or cities have the ability to take over supporting those 2 million jobs and 400,000 businesses if they ban film shooting? (On another note: Film/TV shoots can be managed in ways that eliminate the possibility of spreader events, because Hollywood can and does require cast and crew to agree to all sorts of practices and behavioral restrictions far beyond the simple and unburdensome restrictions much of the general public has refused to do. Half of the country refuses to wear a mask when they go outdoors; Hollywood cast and crew have agreed to give up dating, socializing, traveling, and pretty much every thing outside of work just so that they can work this year.)
      - TigeriusKirk 6y ago
        I'm not disputing economic impact. I'm asking if that's how "essential" is defined.
        gamblor956 6y ago
        Hollywood is not an "essential" business as defined for COVID restrictions, meaning that it is not automatically permitted to continue business operations during COVID lockdowns. (See https://covid19.ca.gov/essential-workforce/ https://covid19.ca.gov/essential-workforce/). Utilities, transportation workers, etc., are essential workers. But that is also why Hollywood studios implemented such draconion covid procedures: they were necessary to get exemptions from the lockdown orders. They were the first industry to get these exemptions because of their outsized economic impact, and especially because of their importance to the LA area's finances.
      - 6y ago
- bestnameever 6y ago
  You should ask our politicians. They could have provided a means for non-essential businesses to have similar precautions but have yet to provide them relief. Hollywood studios likely already has the means to implement this on their own.

throwaway201103 6y ago

Why is it important that Hollywood studios don't go bankrupt and die, but not restaurants and hair salons. I can't think of a more "non-essential" business than Hollywood movie production.

gamblor956 6y ago
For starters, Hollywood's combined impact on state finances exceeds that of the restaurant and hair salon industries. Why is Hollywood essential? It's basically the piggy bank keeping LA alive right now. Hollywood isn't just the actors and studio executives. Hollywood includes over a hundred thousand specialists, ranging from tradesmen like carpenters and electricians, to caterers, stylists, and landscapers. Those several hundred thousand individuals further support smaller local businesses like restaurants, hair salons, etc. There are dozens of restaurants in LA that are still alive right now because a Hollywood shoot used them for catering and that money has kept thousands of restaurant employees employed. There are hundreds of stylists still getting by because of the one week they worked on a set, which paid more than they would have made working at their local hair salon for several months.
- TigeriusKirk 6y ago
  Is economic impact how "essential" is defined, then?
  - gamblor956 6y ago
    Hollywood directly supports more than 2 million jobs and 400,000 U.S. businesses, and those 2 million jobs and 400,000 businesses in turn support several tens of millions of other jobs and hundreds of thousands of other U.S. businesses. Do you honestly believe that the states or cities have the ability to take over supporting those 2 million jobs and 400,000 businesses if they ban film shooting? (On another note: Film/TV shoots can be managed in ways that eliminate the possibility of spreader events, because Hollywood can and does require cast and crew to agree to all sorts of practices and behavioral restrictions far beyond the simple and unburdensome restrictions much of the general public has refused to do. Half of the country refuses to wear a mask when they go outdoors; Hollywood cast and crew have agreed to give up dating, socializing, traveling, and pretty much every thing outside of work just so that they can work this year.)
    - TigeriusKirk 6y ago
      I'm not disputing economic impact. I'm asking if that's how "essential" is defined.
      - gamblor956 6y ago
        Hollywood is not an "essential" business as defined for COVID restrictions, meaning that it is not automatically permitted to continue business operations during COVID lockdowns. (See https://covid19.ca.gov/essential-workforce/ https://covid19.ca.gov/essential-workforce/). Utilities, transportation workers, etc., are essential workers. But that is also why Hollywood studios implemented such draconion covid procedures: they were necessary to get exemptions from the lockdown orders. They were the first industry to get these exemptions because of their outsized economic impact, and especially because of their importance to the LA area's finances.
    - 6y ago
bestnameever 6y ago
You should ask our politicians. They could have provided a means for non-essential businesses to have similar precautions but have yet to provide them relief. Hollywood studios likely already has the means to implement this on their own.