International Insider: Riding The Second Wave; BAFTA Revolution; Ian Wright Film

Happy Friday and welcome to the latest edition of International Insider. Jake Kanter here, bringing you everything that’s worth knowing about the past week in global film and TV.

Riding The Second Wave

Déjà vu: If there was any lingering optimism that the UK could avoid a second wave of coronavirus, events this week will surely have washed away these hopes. With daily cases rising to more than 6,000, the government has renewed social restrictions, encouraged Brits to work from home where possible, and devised a replacement for the furlough scheme. Strap in for another six months, we’re being told.

What does it mean for production? Well, very little at this point, according to Pact CEO John McVay. TV and film shoots can continue under new government rules and McVay says producers are fastidiously observing industry safety protocols. “People want to get back to work, and they’re working really hard to make sure they do it in a safe way. No one wants to f**k that up,” he says bluntly.

Not that production bubbles are ironclad: With the virus on the march and cases rising, even the best safety protocols can be breached. Sky drama Brassic (pictured) found that out this week, when a crew member displayed Covid symptoms, forcing the Season 3 shoot into a two-week hiatus. It is not the first production to pause and it won’t be the last. This will become an unpleasant reality of the pandemic era, but it serves as a reminder that industry wheels are turning, even if the brakes are being applied occasionally.

The alternative is far worse: The thing everyone wants to avoid is another national lockdown, but it remains a real threat after Boris Johnson warned that the government reserves the right “