The COVID-19 crisis is wreaking havoc in the television and film industry, with production forced to halt across the world amid strict social distancing rules.
However, after Aussie soap Neighbours announced it would begin filming again this week with a new production set-up in place, others are taking note.
In an interview with Digital Spy, Home and Away star Lukas Radovich praised the creative method and said he hoped his show could do something similar.
“I read one of the actors on the show said they’d been changing the scenes so it’s two-handers here and there, so they’re able to film in isolation,” Lukas told the publication.
“I think it’s fantastic that Neighbours have gone back and hopefully that starts off other shows leaning towards that too, thinking outside the box. Perhaps other shows can implement some of the stuff that they’ve implemented.”
Lukas pictured alongside Home and Away veteran Ray Meagher.
(Image: Channel Seven)Lukas went on to explain that many TV and film projects had been hard hit by the pandemic, with actors and crew losing their jobs.
He added that many won’t have a job to return to with some productions completely cancelled, but admitted was grateful that Home and Away was iconic enough not to be axed during the pandemic.
“I’m just very fortunate to know that Home and Away is such an institution that we will return to filming at some point. I’m just looking forward to that day!” he said.
Production of Home and Away was stopped in March and will remain so until it is deemed safe enough for cast and crew to return.
The spokesperson confirmed that no cast or crew had tested positive to COVID-19, however the decision was made as “logistical hurdles” increased.
With production remaining at a standstill fans have speculated how far in advance the show is filmed, and just how many episodes are in reserve before an issue would arise.
Online speculation suggests six months, while other devout Home and Away fans believe it is just 15 weeks.
LISTEN: Sam Frost talks about the future of Home and Away amid COVID-19. Story continues below…
Lukas says he hopes Home and Away can implement similar production techniques that Neighbours is using so they can get back to work.
(Image: Channel Seven)Meanwhile, filming for Neighbours was also temporarily halted in March but is set to kick off again this week in what is believed to be a world-first.
Instead of working the corona crisis into the plot, the show plans to isolate the cast and crew into three separate groups, there will never be more than three people in a scene and it will have a strict policy on no hand-holding or kissing scenes, the ABC reported last week.
“It’s going to look a bit odd,” chief executive of Neighbours’ production company Fremantle Australia Chris Oliver-Taylor told the ABC.
“[But] Neighbours is a show that can get away with it,” he added.
“We employ hundreds of staff who want to work and feel they can. It’s important we continue to produce a show that reaches millions of people in the UK and a significant audience in Australia.”
Neighbours will recommence filming this week.
(Image: Network Ten)