With Hospitals Stretched Thin, SAG-AFTRA Pushes For Filming Pause

HOLLYWOOD, CA — SAG-AFTRA and fellow unions are recommending a temporary production hiatus in Southern California due to the lack of hospital beds. Major studios and streaming services have already agreed to pause filming until at least mid-January.

SAG-AFTRA, the Joint Police Committee, and Producers Guild of America noted how the lack of hospital beds not only endangers those who are battling coronavirus, but also puts others who suffer injury on set at risk of being denied necessary care.

“Even putting aside the risk of acquiring COVID on set — a risk that we have done a great deal to mitigate through our safety protocols — on-set production always poses some risk of injury, whether because of a stunt gone wrong, an equipment failure or a garden-variety fall. Right now, with few if any hospital beds available, it is hard to understand how a worker injured on set is supposed to seek treatment,” said SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director David White. “I would like to thank the JPC and the PGA for their efforts to reinforce safety measures for all, and we acknowledge and appreciate the major studios and other producers who have proactively stepped up and postponed their production during this emergency.”

SAG-AFTRA is asking its members to stay home and refuse on-set employment for the next several weeks. The union says workers should reach out if they are required to work during this period and fear for their safety.

"Southern California hospitals are facing a crisis the likes of which we have never seen before," said SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris. "Patients are dying in ambulances waiting for treatment because hospital emergency rooms are overwhelmed. This is not a safe environment for in-person production right now."

The statement comes several days after the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health asked production companies to "strongly consider" pausing work for a few weeks until hospitals are less strained.

"Although music, TV and film productions are allowed to operate, we ask you to strongly consider pausing work for a few weeks during this catastrophic surge in COVID cases," LADPH said. "Identify and delay higher risk activities, and focus on lower-risk work for now, if at all possible."

City News Service contributed to this report.