When commercial production closed down in March 2020, we, like everyone else, had no idea how long we’d be idle or what ad production would look like when it came back. All we were certain of was that it would come back — and we were determined to be ready for it.
To keep our directors active and sharp, we challenged them to make short films about life during quarantine. Their films can be viewed here: S&A Quarantine Films.
On June 15, 2020, LA began issuing permits again. Two weeks later, we were shooting on location with AICP safety protocols in place and with an outstanding video village streaming platform designed to give our off-site clients the most personal and immersive production experience possible.
Since re-opening, we have completed nearly 20 safe and successful projects for clients such as McDonald’s, Hyundai, Burlington, Choctaw Nation, IONOS, Fisher Investments, AAMCO, Food Lion, and JCPenney; and have shot in locales across the U.S. including Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Dallas, Austin, Oklahoma, Nashville, North Carolina, Tampa Bay, and New York. We met a few new partners during this time, but many were repeat clients who knew they could lean on us and trust us to deliver their films to the highest standards of creativity without compromising health & safety.
With each new job, our production prowess and leadership in this new era has continued to evolve to not only meet the challenges of COVID-19 but to excel at this – temporary – new normal. During our first few shoots in the pandemic, we produced some Behind The Scenes films to show our clients what our on-set COVID-19 health & safety protocols look like in action. Matt Miller, Chairman of the AICP, called Spears & Arrows a ‘case study’ in how to shoot during the pandemic. Those short docmentaries can be viewed here: S&A BTS Films
During this time, our Founder & Managing Director, Jason Wolk, inspired by the realities of COVID-19 and by his desire to help guide the industry through this difficult era, was elected to hold a seat on the AICP Board of Directors and has been working in that capacity toward the goal of keeping TV commercial production active and safe. And now, with the release of the COVID-19 Multi- Union Testing Agreement, US productions are among the safest in the world.
For every job, Spears & Arrows prepares contingency plans to protect our clients’ investment should a COVID-19 event arise. We are always ready to replace crew, pivot locations, or even move to another state to get the job done.
But all of this behind-the-scenes effort has only one purpose — to support our clients and to tell their stories. At SPEARS & ARROWS, we hold the importance of storytelling right up there with the essential necessities of life. Like food and water feed our bodies, story feeds our senses and our souls.
The pressures and vagaries of modern spot production — now including pandemic restrictions and safety protocols — can make it difficult to stay true to a creative concept’s original intent. Despite these challenges, it is our primary mission to hold the creative line, to push the message, and to Defend The Story.
Our purpose is to provide our clients with affordable solutions to produce break-out content that moves, touches, inspires, and motivates our viewers. We love what we do and it shows. Just ask anyone who has worked with us.
Following guidelines published by the CDC, the AICP, and the Departments of Public Health in the cities in which we shoot, we follow a simple set of safety protocols for prep, shoot, and wrap that includes (but is not limited to) theses procedures:
• Our Testing Coordinator arranges a COVID-19 PCR test for all crew, cast, and clients prior to engagement
• Our Compliance Manager oversees all on-set safety protocols
• Daily health screenings are conducted by a licensed medic
• We provide PPE for all cast, crew, and clients.
• We provide personal sanitizing stations for hand washing and sanitizing
• A set Sanitizing Crew regularly cleans and sanitizes all high-touch surfaces
• We establish zones and schedule on-set work to allow social distancing
• Meals and craft service are individually wrapped
For our clients who are unable to attend a shoot, we provide an immersive on-line experience.
• Streaming video assist with playback.
• A Zoom-style interactive space for conversation and feedback.
• Area cams showing the set environment (on request)
• Live-tech support monitoring our stream from first take to camera wrap.
• An on-set virtual video village producer to be directly available to our on-line clients full-time and to liaise with our director, line-producer and Assistant Director.
• Our clients will never be left alone in cyberspace wondering if anyone is listening to them.
SHOOT • DESIGN • ANIMATION • MOTION GRAPHICS • EDITORIAL & FINISHING
At Spears & Arrows, we don’t just have the best international storytellers in the world, we can also provide an ‘all-in’ production-through-post solution whenever needed. Our directors can provide creative direction for any project requiring shooting, editorial, design, motion graphics, or animation. We partner with the very best specialists in each of these disciplines, so that we can meet our clients’ unique needs on every project.
USA • Canada • Iceland • UK • Europe • South Africa • Australia
All of our directors travel and work internationally but during this unique moment in history, with travel uncertainty and with countries continuing to open, close and re-open, we understand that where a director is in the world can be an important factor.
So here’s the scoop.
USA • UK
Jon Barber’s humor is intelligent, dry, and subtle. You rarely catch him smiling — but you always see him laughing.USA
CANADA
South Africa
Canada
USA• UK • Iceland
EUROPE
USA • EUROPE
USA
USA • UK
USA
EUROPE
UK • AUSTRALIA
While the world was sheltering at home, Spears & Arrows produced these short films about life during the pandemic.
Enjoy!