Matrix 4 Filming Protocols Praised By Film’s Lead, Keanu Reeves

The film-making industry was dealt a severe blow due to the arrival of Coronavirus, with the production of numerous movies and tv-shows coming to a halt in the midst of a global pandemic. Due to the length of time it takes to film, edit and release a movie, these productions were unlikely to hit our screens until at least late 2021, but the indefinite delaying of existing movie releases, such as the live remake of Disney’s Mulan, is likely to push the entire schedule back further in the months ahead.

Despite all of the uncertainty, it has been revealed that the much anticipated Matrix 4 filming is now back underway, and this continues to have an expected release date of April 1st 2022. Matrix legend Keanu Reeves will once again return as Neo, joined by a host of new faces including Emmy-winning actor Neil Patrick Harris and Priyanka Chopra. There has been much speculation over what role Neil Patrick Harris in particular will play, but given his success in villainous characters such as Count Olaf in ‘A Series of Unfortunate Events’, many are counting on him being Neo’s enemy rather than his ally.

With spikes in Coronavirus cases occurring in various locations across the world, there is a very real likelihood that many of us will find ourselves bouncing in and out of lockdown for some time to come. So, as production teams return to filming, it is reassuring to know that a number of steps are being taken to ensure the continued safety and protection of all the actors and crew members, given that the battle against Coronavirus is far from over.

In an interview for Sky News, Keanu appeared pleased with the arrangements that were being made to help keep everyone safe on the set of The Matrix 4. He said,

“I think everyone loves the project and just really, I mean, if you are ever going to get into some kind of situation that needs to be figured out or how do we do this, showbiz people are the best. We are scrappy, we know how to get stuff done, we’re inventive, we think on our feet. That kind of spirit, that Kindred Spirit of just coming together, it goes back to our ‘let’s put on a show, …we’ll get some props, we’ll get some things, we’ll write…”, that spirit is definitely alive and well on the Matrix.

Given that many actors will have been out of work and may even have lost the opportunity to work in the coming months, Keanu is fully aware of how lucky he is to be not only working, but on such a high profile movie too. He continued;

“From a film making standpoint, it’s an honor and I’m very grateful to be working. There’s some really thoughtful, effective protocols in place. The rhythm of filmmaking has not been really impacted or interrupted, but thats because of the hard work, organisation and thoughtfulness that has gone into the protocols.”

So what kind of protocols are likely to be in place on the set of Matrix 4?

New safety guidelines released by the British Film Commission, were compiled in consultation with a wide variety of bodies and individuals including the the Department for Digital, Culture Media and Sport (DCMS), crew and crew representatives, industry bodies, unions and the devolved administrations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It was also produced in consultation with Public Health England (PHE) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Each country has produced its own guidelines in line with local laws and health recommendations, and an extensive list of these is available on the European Film Commissions Network website.

Measures imposed by the British Film Commission include “online COVID-19 Safer Working induction training for all cast and crew prior to their work commencing. This should cover best practice in general principles, including: social distancing, and hand and respiratory hygiene requirements, department-specific needs (including essential instances of close-proximity working) awareness of mental health and wellbeing at work during the pandemic, alongside accessibility and inclusivity in COVID-19 safer working practices.”

Production teams are also required to “adopt a managed, secure process for access and egress from individual production zones, considering factors such as allowing only essential visitors, pre-registering all essential visitors and new starters online, to speed up access and limit interaction times, or allowing extra time to prepare and safely admit crew, and applying a socially distanced queuing procedure to sign crew in and out.”

The guidelines do note that for the vast majority of productions, social distancing may be impractical due to the degree of intimate work and proximity between cast and crew. This may be particularly relevant for on-set cast and crew, costume fitting, hair and make-up departments, where close face-to-face contact for an extended period of time is necessary. In such cases, the advice is that ‘one or more fixed teams of professionals throughout a production or for specific periods of a production should work together while minimising the risk of transmission beyond these fixed groups. Face visors, preferably within fixed teams, should additionally be used by costume fitting, hair and make-up departments. Also consider workplace ventilation options to maximise the impact of social distancing, e.g. opening windows and doors frequently, or if using ventilation systems ensure that they are correctly operating and adjusted.”