Actors Involved In Intimate Scenes Can Request Testing Through July, Though Hollywood’s Covid Protocols End In May

deadline.com:

Although Hollywood’s Covid return-to-work protocols are set to expire on May 12, performers and background actors involved in intimate scenes – and those involving extreme physical exertion – will be allowed through July to request self-administered Covid testing of performers with whom they will be working in close or intimate contact.

That’s the latest word from SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, who noted that this is part of the agreement reached Thursday with the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers.

Thursday’s termination agreement with the companies only noted that “SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP have reached an understanding on a testing system for performers involved in intimate scenes to ensure their safety and well-being.” Today, however, Crabtree-Ireland gave the guild’s members a more detailed version of that provision: “SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP have reached an agreement on continued testing upon request for performers involved in intimate scenes and scenes involving extreme physical exertion to ensure their safety and well-being, continuing through July 31, 2023,” he explained. “For performers and background actors working in scenes involving close or intimate contact or extreme exertion, starting May 12, 2023, you will have the right to request Covid antigen self-administered testing of yourself and of other performers and background actors with whom you will be working in close or intimate contact. “Those requests will need to be directed to a specified point of contact on the production team at least 24 hours in advance unless you are cast less than 24 hours in advance.