A Year of Filming during the COVID-19 pandemic
Caravan Media and MA Productions on the Galata bridge during a National Geographic shoot.
COVID-19 changed the game
2020 was a year like no other. Changing our routines, how we socialise (or not!) and most crucially – how we work. Luckily for the TV and film industry, more time spent at home watching tv, has meant we’ve needed more programmes to satisfy a whole world of voracious viewers. TV is indispensable during a global lockdown!
The busiest year in our history
At MA Productions we are seeing a surge in international production companies needing to shoot remotely using our Turkish producers and crews. We’ve been able to adapt to our clients’ needs by providing video streaming solutions when it hasn’t been possible to fly over a director, producer or crew. Meaning, a director can control the shoot even when they are not present in person. Along with these remote shoots, we have also supported many foreign crews that did manage to come and safely shoot their programmes between June and November 2020.
We have seen a striking increase in international projects needing remotely directed and produced shoots using local teams, but many foreign crews have come and shot for themselves too.
How has this been possible?
The number one question on every Producer or Production Manager’s mind is “What is the COVID-19 situation in Turkey and how will it affect us?”.
Without local knowledge, it has been almost impossible to keep up with Turkey’s COVID-19 status and the constantly changing restrictions. The conditions and rules are in a constant state of flux, leading to countless questions:
- Are we permitted to travel to Turkey?
- Is it safe to work in Turkey?
- Is there a quarantine period or lockdown in Turkey?
- Are we going to be able to move around the country?
- What are the Turkish Covid-safe working procedures?
- Will contributors feel safe enough to shoot with us?
- How do we work safely with camera kit hired in Turkey?
- Do we need special permits / insurance documents to film in Turkey?
- Will I need a negative PCR test to work in Turkey?
- Is it easy to source PPE equipment?
- Can foreign crew members isolate themselves in their hotel should they test positive during the shoot?
Throughout lockdown, Turkey was perhaps the only country in the world that did not enforce restrictions on foreigners visiting the country. In fact, foreigners were encouraged to visit the country to keep the tourism industry afloat. The state announced that despite the national lockdown on weekends, tourists were exempt from restrictions. The museums and hotels were kept open throughout the year. This has had a huge impact, allowing productions to turn their lenses to Turkey, whilst most of the world was off-limits – and still is.
The same special access and exemptions for filmmakers are still offered in 2021.
How to film in Turkey during the COVID-19 pandemic
The Health and Safety of the crew is always our utmost priority. In careful and comprehensive Zoom calls we discuss the latest virus statistics for each relevant city, government regulations and planned shooting solutions with international producers. We constantly keep up to date with:
- Restrictions on foreigners travelling
- Changes in visa application processes
- Freedom of movement within Turkey
- Work safety procedures (certified COVID online courses)
- Access to locations and working hours
On location for a Netflix documentary series COVID shoot in November 2020;
Cappadocia at its best with no tourists in sight.
What are the current restrictions in Turkey, how does it affect filmmakers?
- Everyone must wear a mask in public at all times. (Those in front of the camera are exempt).
- Everyone entering the country has to show a negative-COVID test result from the past 72 hours. Unless it is a requirement of the airline, the test could also be done at the international airports upon arrival in Turkey for 250TRY ($32). The result is back within 4 hours of testing and you can then leave the airport.
- Turkish citizens are subject to lockdown on weekends (with the exception of walking to the nearest shop to buy essential food).
- There is a weekday lockdown 21.00 – 05.00.
- Foreigners, essential workers and people working in the tourism service industry (hotel workers, travel agents, tourism bus drivers etc.) are all exempt.
- Parks, Museums and beaches are closed to the Turkish public on the weekends during national lockdown.
- In popular locations like Istanbul, Cappadocia and Urfa, museums are open to crews that have approval from the Museums Directorate.
- Hotel restaurants can only cater to hotel guests, no outsiders. Hotel staff are often more accommodating now they are less busy with tourists. We are able to organise food for our crews whenever we need to eat.
- Restaurants are only open until 19.00 but can cater for home deliveries 24/7.
- PCR tests are easily accessible at private and public hospitals (results in 8-24 hrs).
- Vehicles can only be 50% full to ensure social distancing while travelling.
Early on in the year, our core crew took First Option’s Online course; Managing COVID-19 Risks on Productions.
During all our productions:
- We observe the health and safety measures – including keeping 1.5 metres distance whenever possible.
- We monitor the temperatures of our crew (including drivers) leading up to the shoot, everyday on location and we continue to log temperatures for a couple of days after the shoot.
- We provide masks, gloves, sanitisers, disinfectant wipes, and visors.
- All our crew vehicles are disinfected prior to production with nanotechnology vaporising spray.
- We frequently organise PCR tests for crew upon the request of the production.
ITV, Extraordinary Twins (2020).
Everybody masked up during a remote shoot for Blink Films.
2020 Pandemic Production Highlights:
Gregg Wallace’s Big Weekends Away – the Istanbul special
Channel 5, UK
For this popular travel series we scaled the rooftops of the old city with its unforgettable panoramas and soundscapes. We led Gregg into the backstreets of this megacity to taste some of our local delicacies while introducing him to some of Istanbul’s colourful characters.
An adventurous moment during a COVID shoot in 2020;
Masterchef’s Gregg Wallace on the roof of the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul.
National Geographic Channel, Global
For this spectacular aerial journey across Turkey, we helped source, set up and film 8 exclusive stories, including the construction of the world’s longest bridge being built across the Dardanelles Strait, the annual apricot harvest in South East Turkey and ice lake fishing on Lake Çıldır, a frozen Turkish wonderland on the border with Georgia.
Worldwide Film Festivals
This feature doc follows Amy Powney, the renowned London designer determined to do something to raise awareness about fashion’s impact on the environment.
We covered 25,000 km and set up 115 filming days
In 2020 alone, we travelled over 25.000km to every corner of the country, over 115 filming days. We filmed in Çanakkale, Kars, Adıyaman, İzmir, Cappadocia, Malatya, Ankara, Antalya, Amasya, Urfa, Rize and Artvin as well as filming multiple projects in Istanbul.
Our team is adaptable, inventive and dedicated. If we can achieve all this during a global pandemic on a scale unprecedented in living memory, we are ready to do it all again and more!
