Written by Shona Smith on Sep 28, 2020. Posted in General Interest

New quarantine exemptions announced for advertising productions in England

Directors, actors and directors of photography travelling to England for advertising production are no longer required to quarantine. The new guidelines allow work to commence  immediately upon arrival whilst isolating in a bubble for fourteen days. Previously, only those arriving from travel corridors were exempt.

The Advertising Producers Association were able to persuade the Government to relax quarantine guidelines for the advertising sector in line with exemptions already in place for High-End TV and film productions. Case studies were used to illustrate the benefits of the sector to the UK economy and the APA note that The UK government “aren’t granting extensions of the quarantine exemptions generally, but they granted one to us”. It is hoped that  the exemptions will attract more productions to the UK and enable APA members to win more work in general.

Incoming directors, directors of photography and artists coming into the UK can now attend a shoot at any time after arriving. Like their counterparts in high-end TV and film, outside of shooting they must self-isolate in a bubble for fourteen days.

Currently the exemption only applies to England, as the devolved assemblies in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will assess the exemption individually. The exemption for High-end TV and film production cast and crew already applies to the whole of the UK.

Click here for guidance on the new exemptions and additional information for advertising production.