DOUG MENUEZ
PROOF OF CONCEPT
CDC MANDATED COVID-19 PROTOCOLS & OUR RECENT TEST PRODUCTION
I n the pages that follow you’ll see the result
of a collaboration with my producer Lynda Goldstein/Pix Producers to show that we can produce authentic visual storytelling without compromising images or safety. Lynda has completed her certification in a CDC mandated safety protocol course for COVID-19 and we are committed to minimizing risk to create maximum safety for our cast and crew.
T
his particular shoot was an example of contact-less shooting which is something I’ve done my whole career working as a documentary photographer covering senitive stories as a “ fly on the wall.” I’ve shot with PPE and distancing for decades in hospitals and refugee camps. So I can easily bring my documentary approach and experience to any subject using minimal crew to make it work. The cast was a family sheltering-in-place who allowed us to use their home and property. For additional background, see the Production Notes at the end. • We treated every person involved at all times as if they may have COVID-19 and were asymptomatic, including myself. • Each cast and crew member had been quarantined for a minimum of 14 days prior to the shoot. Everyone took their temperature prior to shooting. • All crew practiced social distancing and wore PPE at all times. Hand-washing and hand sanitizer use was enforced regularly throughout the day. Cast also practiced social distancing and wore PPE at all times except while shooting. The location was completely sanitized before arrival and again post wrap. • No cross contact between departments. The set was marked off for talent, shooting area/s, equipment, and crew had their base camp area. No one entered another area unless the inhabitant moved first to the accepted range of 6’ away. Lynda served as our designated monitor watching the set for consistent social distancing. • As photographer/director I managed my own camera equipment, sanitizing it prior, during and after each shot. I also served as my own DP. • Hair and make up was minimal and handled by the talent themselves with our input. • Wardrobe was accomplished via Zoom calls utilizing talent’s own clothing prior. At this time, we are comfortable casting real-people talent that are related and either sheltering-in-place together or nearby. We have additional policies and practices to apply for commissioned productions, including having talent and crew all will sign waivers agreeing to read our safety handbook and follow our CDC protocols at all times. Conclusion: The key for us was to observe and pressure test the mechanics of every aspect of a production using the CDC safety protocols. We are veryconfident now that we can expand the production as needed for larger projects, while keeping everything to the minimum possible for safety.
SHELTERING
A day with Oscar & Julien by
Doug Menuez
Being a kid in the time of Covid-19 is tough.
Everything I read and see tells me children are bearing the brunt of isolation. They miss their friends, their schools and social interaction. They really need all that. And yet I know as a parent that children are astonishingly adaptable. They manage to find joy in the simplest things. Watching them might help us to reconsider our own situation. I believe in the power of hope and that there’s a silver lining in all this for almost everyone. One thing we know for sure: nothing will ever be the same. Enjoy the little moments.
It’s been pretty stressful.
I’m getting a little bit sad that we can’t just go out and play with our friends. - Oscar, 12 years old
The best thing about the quarantine is that everyone that’s not healthy because they might have other illnesses is safe. Like if everyone follows the rules people should be safe. -Julien, 12 years old
It’s great having our house because our family gets time to bond. Our family is not all off doing our own thing now. We do a lot more things together. - Julien, 12 years old
Me and Oscar together will play soccer, video games, Netflix. We get along pretty well I think. Honestly, I don’t know a lot of brothers who get along too well. But we seem to get along better than most other siblings. - Julien, 12 years old
Production Note For the past 56 days, I’ve been yearning to get out and shoot something. So in collaboration with my producer Lynda Goldstein/ Pix Producers, we decided to take on the CDC mandated safety protocols and apply them to a simple, everyday situation. We set out to test the concept that we could produce authentic, emotional storytelling despite following the strictest safety procedures in every aspect of our production. We used PPE at all times and careful distancing, minimal crew and a family that has been in quarantine together for months as our talent. The family allowed us to use their house and property. Lynda and I have also been in lock-down for the past few months. So we spent a day with Oscar and Julien, 12 year old brothers, as they did what they’ve been doing most days that aren’t raining: online schoolwork and outdoor play. And while we went a bit slower and it felt a bit harder, it wasn’t that all different for me than what I’d done on past journalism shoots when required to use PPE and social distancing in hospitals, and we truly had fun along the way. In the end, applying my stripped-down documentary approach was a good way to merge the competing needs of safety and advertising production. I proved to myself that I could still get images that have that sense of intimacy and connection I strive for while keeping everyone safe. And this is the first of a two part shoot, so there is more to come. Please enjoy.
Doug Menuez
Heather Elder Represents (415) 931-7709 heather@heatherelder.com All photographs & text ©Doug Menuez. All rights reserved.
www.menuez.com