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After several positive COVID tests on the set of “Mythic Quest” two weeks ago, show creator and star Rob McElhenney has sent a message to staff.
“As alarming as it sounds, we have been expecting this for weeks,” he wrote. “The numbers in the county are increasing and so are our numbers. But to this day, there is NO evidence of transmission at work. Our ensemble continues to be one of the safest places you can be outside of your home. “
This claim – that there was no evidence of transmission at work – angered some of the crew.
“This is madness,” said one of those who tested positive. “Completely horseshit.”
The crew member said he was in close contact with other workers who also tested positive at the same time. Production was filming on the CBS Radford grounds in Studio City, which has become a hotbed of COVID, with three other outbreaks reported last month. Initially, 16 cases were linked to the filming of “Mythic Quest,” although county health officials later reduced that number to 12.
The outbreaks came as the disease continues to spread uncontrollably in Los Angeles County, with more than 22,000 cases and 138 deaths reported on Wednesday – two single-day records. The post-Thanksgiving spike prompted state and local authorities to close outdoor restaurants, reduce capacity at retail outlets, and close zoos and barber shops. But film and television production – which has been declared “essential” work in California – continues under established protocols to mitigate the risk on set.
The “Mythic Quest” cluster was the second time that multiple cases were reported on the same production. The show – produced by Lionsgate and aired on Apple TV Plus – previously reported that a handful of crew members tested positive in November. The larger outbreak in early December forced the show to shut down as it was close to completing its second season.
On December 4, as McElhenney worked on the final snap of the day in downtown Los Angeles, he was told of several new positive tests and the decision was made to suspend production, according to a source close to the program. His memo was sent to the cast and crew the next day.
In response to this story, McElhenney’s representatives provided Variety with a statement from CTEH, the environmental consultancy firm hired to oversee COVID protocols for production.
“The show operated in full compliance with existing health and safety protocols and all recommendations made by CTEH’s team of scientists and health experts,” the company said.
Lionsgate also defended adherence to protocols through the show: “CTEH public health experts and the Mythic Quest production team have and will continue to adhere to all guidelines from SAG / AFTRA, DGA, Los Angeles County and CDC as well as our own health. and security protocols. The health and safety of our Mythic Quest team is our top priority. “
A second crew member who spoke to Variety said the production had done a good job adhering to the protocols from the start. These rules include mask mandates, limiting the size of workgroups, and setting up a six-foot distance whenever possible.
But as the end of filming approached, that second crew member said they started rushing to get the job done and slipped into their old way.
“It’s our mo – do it. This is what we do, ”said the crew member, who also tested positive. “But we can’t have standard operating procedures because people get sick.”
He said he believed too many people were working nearby and that no one had stepped in to enforce the distancing requirements.
“Not a single person is surprised by this spread like they did,” he said. “I don’t know how you can look at what we were doing… and say ‘It’s okay. “
This crew member was also disturbed by the production’s claim that there was no evidence of transmission at work, adding that he was convinced he had fallen ill at work.
The first crew member said when he got to work in the last few days he was told he couldn’t go to the set right away because someone had tested positive. The area was disinfected and then work resumed. He said he asked if it was safe and he was told, “If you see people working on stage, it’s safe to work.
The regulations do not require production to be stopped after a single positive test. Instead, they state that only “close contacts” of an infected person should be quarantined. The second crew member said he was told he was not in close enough contact with the infected person to be necessary.
The first crew member said he believed more should have been done once the initial test came back positive. Rather than stopping right away for a few days, work continued on the set. In retrospect, the crew member wondered if this allowed the virus to spread.
He also said he didn’t think the production was consciously putting people at risk, but that there was pressure to have the show completed on time.
“I think it was in the last push to finish this show and get everyone out of CBS Radford,” he said.
The crew member said after testing positive, the disease appeared to have spread to other members of his household. Both team members said production had not communicated on the extent of the outbreak and learned how many people had been infected from the news.
By the time McElhenney sent the Dec. 5 note to the production team, he was hopeful that work would resume the next day, and he sought to reassure the team while encouraging them to make a “personal decision” on the opportunity to come back.
“As we know, nothing is one hundred percent certain,” he wrote. “All of this is a mitigated risk. Returning to work is a personal matter and I continue to encourage all of you to make a personal decision. If, due to the current climate, you feel that you should not / cannot return tomorrow, please notify your manager immediately so that we can make arrangements for a replacement as soon as possible.
The shutdown lasted 11 days, with production not resuming until Wednesday.
In a statement to VarietyMcElhenney said his assurances to the crew had been backed by science.
“Our medical staff have done everything to ensure the health and safety of our crew,” he said. “We have all worked tirelessly to accelerate the sharing of clear and accurate information in a timely manner. No decision has been made or information released without the science to back it up. As all productions see, it is impossible to mitigate the risk one hundred percent. CTEH, our scientists and public health advisors, and our entire production team have followed all protocols put in place by the CDC, LA County, SAG / AFTRA and DGA. We will continue to follow the science and work in the safest way possible. We are very proud of the diligence, patience and dedication of our actors and our team.
Showrunners and producers alike face the challenge of keeping the industry functioning under an elaborate set of restrictions set by collective bargaining and public health agencies. This resulted in some passionate moments on set, like when Tom Cruise berated the crew of ‘Mission: Impossible 7’ for not following COVID-19 security protocols in the UK.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said three outbreaks at CBS Radford were still under investigation and it was too early to say what changes might be needed – if any – to improve the security of operations in this country.
“Public Health is working with CBS to ensure all staff and staff follow safety protocols and guidelines to ensure COVID-19 does not continue to spread on studio property,” a door said. -speak of the department. “As these are ongoing outbreak investigations, we will not comment on any ongoing recommendations until the investigations are closed.”
(Pictured: “Mythic Quest”)
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