As plans form to re-open film and TV production worldwide, you could be excused for thinking that some Hollywood execs are dusting off old sci-fi scripts in search of a solution to the practical problem of keeping offices, production spaces and sets clean and cast and crew safe.
A new joint venture, Production Safe Zone (PSZ), wants to deploy “germ-zapping robots” made by San Antonio-based Xenex Disinfection Services that use pulses of ultraviolet (UV) light to kill SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Xenez chief Scientific Officerr Dr. Mark Stibich has formed the JV with former filmmaker Justin Golding. it is believed that at least one CBS production has reserved a robot for potential future use
“The way we like to think of it is that our pathogens, like coronavirus, have evolved — but our tools that clean the environment haven’t. We’re still basically using buckets and mops and wipes, and what we need is a new tool in order to reduce the risks that the environment may cause an infection.”
Dr. Mark Stibich
According to a story in The Hollywood Reporter, in tests, the robot was able to deactivate 99.99 percent of the novel coronavirus in two minutes with its LightStrike technology.
The robots, which are already in use in more than 500 healthcare facilities and hospitals around the world and can operate autonomously or under supervision, can be rented monthly or bought outright for around $125,000.
“We’re talking about having to do something along the lines of what hospitals have been doing forever, procedures that never existed in the film production industry before.”
Justin Golding
They are simple devices that are quick and easy to deploy and can disinfect dozens of rooms a day. Once activated in an empty space, for safety, the device generates bursts of high-intensity, full germicidal spectrum UVC light (more intense than sunlight) for around five minutes.
“Our safety protocol is really developed, and we’ve seen results with reductions in the amount of infections in hospitals. That’s why we want to bring it over to the entertainment industry as the studios open up.”
Dr. Mark Stibich
We face a future of much stricter cleanliness and safety standards (no bad thing), and this and similar initiatives should be welcomed if they can help to re-mobilise an industry that so many of us want to see back on track, as soon as it is safe to do so.