*INTERNATIONAL- ACTORS, PRODUCERS, DIRECTORS and KEY CREW:

(*The following procedures “1-5” relating to international travel into Bulgaria are proposals which have not yet been approved by the Bulgarian Ministries. At the present time international travel into Bulgaria is restricted- with anyone entering the country subject to a 14-day quarantine. Changes on that status will be updated as they occur).

1) Internationals must first pass a visual assessment at the airport upon arrival having no temperature or Covid-19 symptoms. This test is usually administered by customs personnel inside the Passport Control area.

2) Upon being released from passport control and exiting airport restricted zone, ‘internationals’ will be met by production company personnel. A nurse or doctor will interview them at the airport (brought by Production company). They will be required to co-sign the international’s declaration that states that said individual is not aware of any illness or infection and has had no known contact with persons infected by Covid-19. It is suggested that all internationals take a SARS-CoV2 (PCR) test before traveling to Bulgaria. Within 24 hours of their arrival in Bulgaria they must take a PCR test to verify they are negative. Said test will be facilitated by the Bulgarian Production company. During the period before said international gets a negative result from the test, they will be quarantined.

3) Within 8-12 hours after taking the test the results should be available. Upon a negative result, said international will be allowed to participate in the production.

4) It should also be noted that for the first 7 days said international person is in Bulgaria, the production company will be required to maintain tracing data. It should be further noted that Production company shall make best efforts to minimize contact during this time.

5) It will be the responsibility of international actor, producer, director or key crew person to minimize contacts and mitigate risk of contagion after working hours and days off by limiting contact to family minimizing outside social contacts during the production period.

6) Upon arrival on the set before going to make-up and wardrobe, production nurse or doctor must check their temperature with a contactless thermometer and clear all internationals to go to work.

7) Any international not on camera will be required to wear a face mask and gloves provided by the production company or an approved one of their own.

8) Accommodations for internationals shall be in hotels which are exercising stringent Covid-19 procedures or individual apartments that must be completely disinfected before international occupies it.

9) All internationals will be tested on a weekly basis under the RT-PCR pool group test module while they are working on the film or television production. This system means that groups working together such as actors or stuntpersons are tested together in groups up to 10 persons on a weekly basis. 

BULGARIAN ACTORS and STUNT PERSONS:
Bulgarian actors and stunts will be required to submit to a SARS-CoV2 (PCR) test and pass a daily check by the production doctor or nurse with a contactless thermometer.

1) Upon being cast or hired, Actor or Stunt performer must submit to a SARS-CoV2 (PCR) test with negative results from an accredited testing facility before work start.

2) They must sign a declaration that they have not been in contact with any persons with Covid-19.

3) Upon arrival on the set, before going to make-up and wardrobe, production nurse or doctor must check their temperature with a contactless thermometer and clear them to work.

4) Actors or Stunt performers must wear a face mask and gloves during periods they are not in front of camera.

5) It will be the responsibility of Bulgarian Actors and Stunts to minimize contacts and mitigate risk of contagion after working hours and days off by limiting contact to family minimizing outside social contacts during the production period.

6) All Bulgarian Actors and Stunts will be tested on a weekly basis under the RT-PCR pool group test module while they are working on the film or television production. 

1) All deal memos and contracts with Bulgarian crew shall reflect the production companies’ necessity to request testing for Covid-19 and the understanding that said crew member will be required to adhere to all Covid-19 rules and mandates outlined in this document as well as EU Guidelines and any updates that may be mandated.
2) All Crew Members must make a SARS-CoV2 (PCR) test before they start work and then on a weekly basis under the RT-PCR pool group test module while they are working on the film or television production. 
3) Upon arrival on set, production nurse or doctor must check crew persons temperature with a contactless thermometer and verify that there are no Covid-19 symptoms. 
4) Production Nurse or doctor must maintain a list of all crew people designated by their EGN number that they and the crew member must initial every day after having taken their temperature.
5) It will be the responsibility of the crew person to minimize contacts and mitigate risk of contagion after work hours and days off by limiting contact to family, minimizing outside social contacts during the production period.
6) All crew members will be required to wear a face mask and gloves provided by the production company or an approved one of their own.
7) Make-up artists must have a separate dedicated set of make-up for each actor. They are required to wear masks and protective gloves. It is recommended to have a different make-up artist dedicated to extras. It is required that they make them up in a separate space than the one occupied by actors.
8) Make-up artist, hairstylists, SPFX make-up artists, wardrobe and Sound recordists will be the only crew persons to have direct physical contact with Actors, Stuntpersons and Extras. All other crew persons, above and below the line must practice social distancing from all persons working in front of the camera at all times. 

1) Production will need to book extras in advance for the weekly shooting period. These extras must be available for the entire shooting week or episode if a series. To allow for testing of all extras to be used during this shoot week it will be facilitated under the RT-PCR pool group test module of up to 10 extras in a group.

2) While on set, all extras will be required to wear masks and gloves between takes when they are not on camera.

3) Extra holding area must be as far away as reasonable from crew and actors.

4) Extra holding area needs to be large enough to allow for social distancing between extras.

5) All extras temperatures must be checked before going on set by Production Nurse or Doctor.

6) If there are more than 30 Extras on a particular day, Production must bring in an additional nurse for the day to check extras temperatures with a contactless thermometer ongoingly during the production day.

7) It will be the responsibility of any Extra to minimize contacts and mitigate risk of contagion after work hours and days off by limiting contact to family, minimizing outside social contacts during production period they are scheduled to work.

8) Production will make efforts to minimize the number of the Extras hired and use digital solutions whenever possible to augment crowd scenes minimizing the number of extras on set.

9) Extras should be shot and dressed in such a way to allow them to play in various scenes during their weekly schedule thus minimizing the contact with additional extras on set and additional testing.

10) If a minimal number of extras are needed, it is suggested to use crew members as extras to minimize additional persons on set.

The Bulgarian Government has specific Covid-19 regulations for restaurants and coffee shops which must be adhered to by all Catering and Craft companies servicing the production. Complimenting these regulations, production companies have a number of specific rules and mandates related to the production model of operations.

1) It is necessary to make sure that food can be distributed in a take-away fashion, thus when each crew member moves away from the catering area after taking their food, social distancing rules can be adhered to. It is important to ensure that crew members have enough space when eating to follow rules of social distancing (including refreshments during the day.) In addition, buffet serving will not be allowed.

2) Production will stagger crew members lunch schedule to minimize the number of persons eating in one area with social distancing. It is advisable to use portable chairs over benches if possible.

3) Specific crew groups, such as actors, grip, electrical, camera, sound, make-up and wardrobe should eat lunch in a particular areas staying within their work group (practicing social distancing) they have already spent their production time with to minimize additional contact with other groups in production that they have not had close contact with. If possible, all actors, director and producers should eat alone in their individual room or trailer with their lunch brought to them.

4) Whenever possible production should work a ‘Continuous Work’ schedule (with walking lunch) or as generally referred to as “French Hours.” This will help minimize large gatherings with a dedicated lunch time.

5) All Catering and craft service personnel must make a SARS-CoV2 (PCR) test before they start work and then on a on a weekly basis under the RT-PCR pool group test module while they are working on the film or television production.

6) All catering personnel preparing food must have masks and gloves on at all times. Eating utensils must be separated and wrapped in plastic and not supplied in large open bins.

7) Craft service snacks must be individualized with individual servings wrapped in plastic. Large bins of chips, crackers, pretzels and other snacks previously served in serving trays will not be allowed and must now be served in individual packets, either factory made or packaged by catering. In productions with crews larger than 50 people, a dedicated PA will be assigned to the craft and lunch area to sterilize and clean the area ongoingly.

8) Morning craft breakfast must be served and wrapped in plastic or individual containers. Buffet serving will not be allowed with all utensils sealed and wrapped individually.

9) It will be the responsibility of any Catering or Craft service person to minimize contacts and mitigate risk of contagion after working hours and days off by limiting contact to family minimizing outside social contacts during production period.

1) During pre-production scouting, potential locations must be treated as if they are potentially infected (unless they were disinfected ahead of the scout) and the crew must use Personnel Protection Equipment (PPE) when scouting site. 

2) During filming it is important to ensure a consistent lock-up to prevent any unauthorized persons from entering shooting location.

3) Disinfection of objects and fixtures on said location is critical. When filming in a public space and/or a location with a high concentration of people, it’s recommended to consider disinfection by spraying if possible.