"In these trying times", everyone's trying to figure out how best to move forward, including the film industry. Many productions have been shuttered, release dates delayed, and there's a general unease about the uncertain future of said industry.
Well, it looks like Blumhouse might have a solution – or at least, a way for certain movies to get made during the crisis (i.e. low-budget films with small crews and minimal setpieces). According to The Hollywood Reporter, Blumhouse is planning on shooting an untitled $6.5 million film with a minimal crew on the Universal Lot. The main issue is that – while they are planning on taking all necessary safety precautions – there is almost no way the production will be insured.
Here's what an anonymous insider told THR about the situation:
Blumhouse productions, specifically, are typically smaller and require a lighter crew, shorter shoots and limited location work, [which is] part of the reason we can consider a fully on-location production on the studio’s sprawling lot…Blumhouse and Universal aren’t moving forward with any plans until we get the green light from city, county and public-health officials. None of this preproduction planning work is being conducted on the lot itself. A small team of filmmakers and studio executives are currently working on those plans remotely. Safety of everyone involved is a huge priority, and nobody wants to rush into anything…There will be a lot we’ll be able to learn from this when the time comes as we think about starting up other productions.
However, even if this Blumhouse production gets greenlit, most films still can't afford to make a movie without insurance, especially low-budget ones (in the case of Blumhouse, Universal will be shouldering the financial burden if there happens to be a Covid-19 outbreak during production). Furthermore, it's looking like federal legislation will need to be passed before wide-scale production will be able to commence, according to many experts – including Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) – whose many constituents include the film and television industry. Even the MPAA and the Independent Film & Television Alliance are advocating and waiting for federal guidance before moving forward.
So while Blumhouse's experiment may help jumpstart some productions – ones with low financial risk, small cast/crews, and studio-backing to offset the lack of insurance – there are still a lot of steps and uncertainties to overcome before things go back to normal.
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