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 another co-star as he lies on the ground playing an injured character.
Keeping their distance: Neighbours actors are maintaining their social distance from their co-stars and crew members during filming after returning to set as a result of COVID-19 restrictions
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 will continue throughout the pandemic.
The new normal: One photo shows one of the drama’s stars Bonnie Anderson kneeling beside another co-star as he lay on the ground. Surrounding her members of the crew who are guiding the blocking of the scene and ensuring the actors maintain an appropriate distance
Maintaining the space: Another picture shows two actors in dialogue, as well as the camera and sound grew keeping their distance from each other
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 a red shirt), told Digital Spy that Neighbours underwent script rewrites to accommodate the COVID-19 restrictions. He said the new scripts have ‘less people’ per scene, as well as ‘no kissing, hugging, touching of any sort’
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.’
‘It is our goal that impact to the screen will be minimal’: The Neighbours set was temporarily shut down following a coronavirus scare, back in March. Shooting resumed in late April but with precautions in place, including temperature checks and social distancing (photo of cast)