Project Horror & COVID-19: production resumes

I hope you're all well and managing to stay safe. As my recent poll showed, we are all spread across the timezones and we'll all be affected differently by the ongoing pandemic. 

In the UK, where I am based, we've been in lockdown for the past 8 weeks. As you know, I've been able to keep the updates coming because I was sitting on a ton of content that I've shot over the years but never did anything with (yay procrastination!!!). I really appreciate all your ongoing support and thanks for sticking with the project so far.

During lockdown only key workers have been allowed to go to work, while everyone else has stayed at home - only allowed to leave the house once a day for exercise or food shopping. While out the house, we have to observe a 2-metre social distancing rule to avoid getting to close to other people. (Please bear with me, there is a point to all this detail.)

This week, our government announced how lockdown was going to be lifted in stages. The first stage being that everyone should get back to work, so long as they can maintain the 2-metre distance from colleagues/public. 

So I've given it some thought and have spoken to some people and I think the time is right to resume production and create some new content - although there will be some restrictions on what I shoot. 

First of all, I absolutely class Project Horror as work - there's money coming in and performers are being paid. It is, of course, a lot of fun - but it's much more than just a hobby. So I do believe it falls under the work category. 

Secondly, with a few modifications to how I work, I can definitely shoot a story while maintaining the 2-metre distance from the performer. And it's no problem for me to wear mask and gloves throughout filming. 

To start with, I'm only going to shoot with a single performer. It feels too soon to being two or maybe even three people together to shoot a story. I can take the role of antagonist as and when the scene needs it. I've done this many times in custom jobs (to keep the price down) and it makes shooting harder because I'm not behind the camera - but I've bought some monitoring equipment that will help. 

The 2-metre rule does impacts on what type of attacks I can film. Close quarters is out for the time being, so close-up stabbings etc, but ranged attacks, like shootings, are very much in. 

I always like to shoot a mix of stabbings and shootings, so I'm going to explore how I can impale someone from a distance - like throwing a fencepost or rebar through someone OR throwing a knife or axe into someone. Do bear in mind also that the 2-metre rule applies to all the off-camera stuff as well, so applying the the practical fx etc, but I'm sure I can figure out ways and means of pulling all that off. 

Please be assured that I wouldn't risk my safety or the safety of the performers. I'm only resuming production because I can absolutely shoot content and stay within my government's advice.