Entertainment Professionals Launch COVID Film Certification to Reopen Hollywood Safely

New York, NY (October 30, 2020) – “American Chopper” Executive Producer Franco Porporino Jr., along with a team of industry professionals, announced today the official launch of COVID Film Certification, an inventive program designed to educate and prepare production crews and talent on set to ensure Hollywood can resume production safely. The program is a “one stop shop” for the safe resumption of production, including an industry-specific safety exam for production personnel, crew and talent to comply with CDC guidelines and other best practices on set, a Compliance Officer training designed for those in a supervisory role, EPA approved PPE available for purchase, and full consulting services by seasoned showrunners to create customized budgets for production EICs.

“Many producers are facing significant hurdles in light of all the complications and challenges posed by COVID-19,” said Franco Porporino Jr., creator of COVID Film Certification. “Production companies need to get back to work, but must do so in a way that prioritizes health and safety for all personnel, and with this program, production companies and studios can welcome their employees back with peace of mind, knowing that each person is fully informed on how to safely navigate production during this pandemic.”

The COVID Film Certification program features training modules that cover industry specific COVID-19 protocols and best practices for all pre-production and post-production personnel. Upon completing the course and passing the exam, all of which are administered online, test takers will receive a certificate valid for one year. The COVID Film Certification also offers training for Compliance Officers who oversee all COVID-related health and safety issues on set. COVID Film Certification has also partnered with a private healthcare company to provide licensed registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and licensed practical nurses, eliminating the need to hire multiple compliance personnel. With this option, production companies can have professional RN or NP Compliance Officers on set.

“As we all navigate this pandemic, safety for our crews and talent must remain our highest priority, and Big City TV, along with my partners at the Content Group, were not satisfied with simply ‘meeting protocols’ for our shows,” said CEO of Big City TV and Executive Producer, Lori Rothschild Ansaldi. “Our goal is to always go above and beyond for our clients and talent to ensure that we create and maintain safe and healthy work environments, so every crew member and talent across Big City’s entire portfolio of projects will be trained and certified by COVID Film Certification.”

Along with Rothschild Ansaldi, the COVID Film Certification’s advisory board consists of an array of industry experts, including Ra Kumar of United Talent Agency, Lucilla D’Agostino of Big Fish Entertainment, Hans Schiff, formerly a partner at Creative Arts Agency, Darin Frank, a partner in the entertainment law firm of Sloane, Offer, Weber and Dern, and Peter Rajsingh, PhD of NYU.

For more information, visit CovidFilmCertification.com.

About COVID Film Certification
COVID Film Certification’s mission is to promote safe, healthy, and stress-free film and television productions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Resuming film and television production requires appropriate protocols in place. The COVID Film Certification Program is designed to help educate your crew and talent to ensure that everyone on set is knowledgeable and prepared to implement CDC Guidelines and other guidelines for best practices.