Scandinavian film production company Hobby Film has created an information site that presents all relevant information regarding rules and regulations for film shoots in Sweden and Denmark during the Covid-19 pandemic.
”Film shoots are still possible here. We are in pre-production on two shoots right now," said director Oskar Bård of Hobby Film. "But there are a lot of new and obviously very important safety rules related to Covid-19 that we need to observe. We have received questions from international production companies and agencies regarding whats possible and not so we decided to create nordicfilmguide.com. A guide covering all local relevant Covid-19 safety information from a film shoot perspective combined with practical film production information and local resources and made it available for everybody.”
First and foremost the site seeks to provide comprehensive and relevant information in regards to film production in Sweden and Denmark during the current COVID-19 pandemic–based on local government guidelines and legislature. The intent is to keep it continually updated in that the situation is hardly static.
“I think it’s really important that people looking to shoot abroad, can get a really clear picture of what that’s going to look like,” said Hobby Film producer Phie Hansen. “And the technical aspect of remote shooting is just a part of that. What you really want to know is what are the rules in that country? Are there limitations that creative needs to be mindful of? What is the ‘curve’ looking like, in terms of the likelihood of restrictions tightening or loosening before the shoot? And, perhaps most importantly, are the necessary precautions being taken – because I think we’re all very mindful of the fact that we have a big societal responsibility to halt the spread and take this seriously, even as we all try to find a way of getting back to work.”
For those, who might perhaps be looking to shoot in Scandinavia for the first time, the site also provides some more general info about the capabilities and talent pool there with links to agents for local talent, info on shoot days, production standards, equipment and so on.
”Our ambition was really to try to support our industry as a whole as well because the situation right now is that we have a lot of local production companies and film workers that are really eager to get back to work in Denmark and Sweden, and probably a lot of people around the world trying to find a way to get films made–but with nowhere to do it. So the hope,” said Hansen, “is it will be to the benefit of everybody. Agents, clients and foreign production companies looking for a way to get films made and our suppliers, creative collaborators, friends and perhaps even our competitors back home.”
