by Thinus Ferreira
The majority of South Africa's locally-produced prime time soapsand telenovelas returned to their studio lots this week, with some more returning next week - although the behind-the-scenes look now resembles something straight out of a Hollywood killer virus movie.
Studio lots from Atlantic Studios in Cape Town to Sasani Studios in Johannesburg have been spraying disinfectant on soap sets where casts and crews are now forced to wear face masks, plastic shields and even vehicles entering receive a power-blast of spray.
Welcome to the "new normal" where on-arrival temperature checks, compulsory hand-sanitiser, masked table reads and even disinfecting shoes before entering studio doors are what workers in South Africa's film and TV industry now had to add to their day job.
Generations on SABC1, produced by Morula Pictures in Johannesburg, resumed filming on Tuesday. Uzalo on SABC1, produced by Stained Glass TV in Durban switched on the cameras again on Wednesday.
SABC2's 7de Laan restarted filming at Sasani Studios last week on Friday, while SABC2's Muvhango, produced by Word of Mouth Productions also using Sasani Studios, will resume next week on Tuesday. SABC1's Skeem Saam, also filmed at Sasani Studios, also resumed with filming this week.
e.tv's two Sasani Studios produced soaps - Rhythm City done by Quizzical Pictures and Scandal! done by Ochre Moving Pictures - as well as Imbewu filmed in KwaZulu-Natal from its harbour-front studios in Sydney Road all resumed production this week.
Binnelanders on M-Net's kykNET (DStv 144) channel and produced by Stark Films at Stark Studios in Johannesburg, also restarted this week.
Getroud met Rugby (GMR), produced by Overberg Produksies at Atlas Studios in Milpark, Johannesburg on kykNET (DStv 144) resumed filming on Monday.
Suidooster on M-Net's kykNET (DStv 144) and kykNET & Kie (DStv 145) channels and produced at Atlantic Studios in Cape Town by Suidooster Films also restarted filming this week, as did Arendsvlei using the same studio lot.
Filming also resumed this week on The River on M-Net's 1Magic (DStv 103) channel produced by Tshedza Pictures, as well as on Isibaya, produced by The Bombshelter, and The Queen from Ferguson Films, both seen on M-Net's Mzansi Magic (DStv 161).
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