Brazil: telenovelas sector tries to adapt to coronavirus pandemic

Audio 02:30

By: Sarah Cozzolino Follow

In a country where the epidemic is still very present, strict rules have been put in place for the resumption of filming. With the distancing measures, working from home and the lack of funding, the pandemic could profoundly change the Brazilian audiovisual landscape.

Publicity

On March 15, 2020, for the first time in the history of the Globo channel , a telenovela was interrupted. After several months of hiatus, filming of "  Amor de mãe  " (translated as "  Mother's Love  ") will resume in the coming weeks, but limiting the scenes of contact between actors. A real challenge for Felippe Barbosa, one of the six directors of the novela. "  This pandemic has had the power to change the identity of Brazilian dramaturgy, " he said. Because it's a dramaturgy that relies a lot on physical contact. Brazilian novelas have always been very "warm".The actors have always been very close. So how do you solve this technically, without exposing them to any risk? This is the question we will try to answer.  "

A very strict protocol has been put in place in Rio, to be followed in the different phases, from pre-production to filming and post-production. In large production companies, like the Conspiração Filme, contracts were not lost with platforms like Netflix and Amazon, but simply delayed. Production times have lengthened by 20 to 30% according to Conspiração Filme CEO Renata Brandão, who explains: “  It takes more time to get to the set, more time to adapt the protocols to each camera shot, make individual and sterilized costumes. And the cost is higher because of this protocol's own rules. Because it is necessary to have medical support, to invest in examinations, personal protective equipment, ... All this is very expensive!  "

For the medical series “Sob pressão” (translated as “Under pressure”), health measures are easier to apply since the actors all have masks and protective equipment. A special two-part edition, designed by chief screenwriter Lucas Paraízo and his team, will take place in a field hospital: “  It's an attempt to broach the subject ,” he explains. Because we are a series on the public health system, and it was inevitable to talk about the coronavirus and give a great tribute to the health professionals.  "

With the pandemic, the audiovisual sector, already in a funding crisis since 2018, has been hit hard. The gap between small and large production companies has widened, and the sector will be impacted in the long term according to Leonardo Edde, president of the audiovisual industry union, who declares: “  There will be fewer Brazilian products available. , whether in cinemas, platforms or on television. Because we have stopped filming, and because our recovery is slower than that of the United States, for example, which has much more resources.  According to him, the consequences of the pandemic could be felt on the sector for the next ten years.

Newsletter Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

• Brazil

On the same subject

Coronavirus in Brazil: Bolsonaro camps on its positions despite the milestone of 100,000 dead

Mid-day guest

Laurent Vidal: In Brazil, the coronavirus is a serious danger for indigenous peoples

Coronavirus: Brazil crosses 100,000 dead mark