We live in interesting times. The production I was looking forward to in March/April was postponed as the Covid-provoked lockdown stopped any activity. It resumed in September and I was given dates when I would be required. Then a second lockdown was called and the country ground to a halt again.
Except that film and TV productions were allowed to continue. with a slew of new rules in place to keep everything as Coronavirus-safe as possible. A quick 180 mile round trip to crowdbase to have a swab test was the first indication of a new method of working. Responding to a daily email questionnaire generated a green email pass to crowdbase if all answers indicated no infection, That pass allowed access to site where security pointed an elecytonic thermometer at my forehead when I leant out of the car before issuing a wristband in the colour of the day. I could then have my throat and nose swabbed.
A couple of days after the test I was slated to work. Generate a green pass, drive to site, thermometer to the head like a farm animal being stunned, get a wristband, park and,careful to wear a mask, find an AD to sign in with. The holding area was set out like an examination hall, small square tables set 2 metres apart, each table with a single chair. After a few minutes I get sent to costume. Everyone masked and the clthes selecyed back in March are hung on rails waiting to be put on. As the clothes are those of an Ancient Briton they are essentially sackcloth and shapeless, topped with a shawl. The boots are lether, gone hard and a mess of straps and laces. I end up having my boots being put on and laced up for me, like a four-year-old on its first day at school.
Makeup was extensive, dreadlocks being added to my own long hair which, along with my beard, was braided. Then various coloured clays were applied, binding the dreads to my hair and being smeared over forehead, cheeks beard, neck and shoulders. The make-up artist wore both mask and full-face visor, I obviously removed my mask when clay needed to be applied to nose, cheeks and beard. Clay-covered and sackcloth-clad breakfast beckoned. No youching! Stand in a socially-distanced line and request what you want from a limited selection – breakfast baps in thermal bags, cereal, yogurt and fruit. All handed to you. Drinks were made in your own travel mug, no touching of the hot water urn tap else it would have to be sanitised before re-use. So one poor AD had to do all the work to keep us fed.
The location was several miles from crowdbase in some very attractive but very muddy woodland. Transport was by 15 seat minibuses with only eight seats in use. Bags had to be held, not placed on adjacent seats. The bus and seat allocated were the bus and seat to be used all the time during filming. Holding at location was the same exam room style as at crowdbase. Lunch was similar to breakfast – own containers were placed on a tray held by the server, food put in the container and the container lifted off the tray without touching the tray. Drinks in your own cup with the taps being operated by a dedicated member of the catering staff.
Up to set, still wearing masks. Masks would only come off for eating or drinking. All crew wore masks. Principals and SAs wore masks on set and for rehearsals. Masks came off for takes and once cut was called, went back on. As the costumes had no pockets hiding the mask during filming required a little ingenuity. Masks also rubbed the clay make-up off noses and cheeks, makeup were constantly in attendance to touch up faces and also hands which had been undirtied by applications of sanitiser, Once wrapped collect belongings from holding, await the buses and board the correct one, sit in the correct seat. Back to crowdbase, go into costume or makeup when called. Each makeup station, socially distanced, had to be sanitised between each “customer”. Masks kept on the whole time. Sign out, drive to the hotel with hoody up and mask on to hide the worst of the clay. Into the room, mask off, shower on and spend fifteen minutes washing clay from hair, face and neck. Very much a case of rinse and repeat – all had to be done the next day – and the day after.