Neighbours… but not as you know it: Soap opera resumes production without any physical contact between the cast under new social distancing measures
Long-running soap opera Neighbours has resumed filming with social distancing measures in place to limit the spread of coronavirus.
Photos taken on set in Melbourne earlier this week show the cast and crew keeping at least 1.5m apart from each other.
In one scene, actress Bonnie Anderson kneels beside a co-star as he lies on the ground playing an injured character.
Keeping their distance: Long-running soap opera Neighbours has resumed filming with social distancing measures in place to limit the spread of COVID-19. Pictured: two actors exchanging dialogue while standing about two metres apart
The crew surrounding them guide the blocking of the scene to ensure both actors maintain an appropriate distance.
Another picture shows two actors exchanging dialogue while standing about two metres apart. The camera and sound operators are similarly positioned.
Although the actors cannot film intimate scenes or stage fights, the drama on Ramsay Street will continue throughout the pandemic.
The new normal: In this scene, actress Bonnie Anderson kneels beside a co-star as he lies on the ground playing an injured character. The crew surrounding them guide the blocking of the scene to ensure both actors maintain an appropriate distance
Making it work: Although the actors cannot film intimate scenes or stage fights, the drama on Ramsay Street will continue throughout the pandemic
Actor Ben Hall (Ned Willis) told Digital Spy last week that scripts had to be rewritten to accommodate the COVID-19 restrictions.
He said: ‘There’s been hundreds, if not thousands, of changes by the script department to make sure there are less people in each scene, and also that there is no kissing, hugging, touching of any sort.
‘So, if you are in a relationship in Neighbours – it’s going to be a socially distanced relationship.’
Production was temporarily shut down in March following a coronavirus scare on set.
‘Thousands of changes’: Actor Ben Hall (top left corner, in the red shirt) told Digital Spy last week that scripts had to be rewritten to accommodate the COVID-19 restrictions
After a few weeks off, filming resumed in late April with several precautions in place, including temperature checks and social distancing.
Only cast and crew are allowed on set and must follow strict hygiene measures.
Neighbours executive producer Jason Herbison told The Daily Telegraph: ‘It is our goal that impact to the screen will be minimal. We love a challenge and so far, we have found creative solutions to every issue.’
Shutdown: Production was temporarily shut down in March following a coronavirus scare on set. After a few weeks off, filming resumed in late April with several precautions in place, including temperature checks and social distancing. Pictured: the cast of Neighbours