COVID TESTER AND SET PRODUCTION ASSISTANT , HARRISVILLE
How did you get the job for Hocus Pocus 2 ? I ’ m an EMT and I worked at Med Tech Ambulance Service per diem . I happened to be working with a partner and I casually brought up how I applied to be a background actor , and she said , ‘ Oh , they need COVID testers .’ I asked for contact information , and after a couple of hours , I got a response of , ‘ Yes !’
Tell me about your role in the film . For COVID testing , I would prepare all the paperwork and anything we needed for the next day the night before . Everyone would show up around the same time with a line out the door . We ’ d have to check them in , give them their paperwork and sticker , and then they would come over [ for testing ]. We would have four or five EMTs or nurses offering PCRs and rapid tests . I would bring in my speaker every day to work . No one likes getting COVID tested , so I would play music and everyone loved it . Some would dance while in line . I tried to make it a fun environment for everyone .
Around December or January , they were pretty short-staffed for on set [ production assistants ]. I was like , ‘ I ’ ve never done it before , but I don ’ t mind , I ’ m already here .’ I only did it for three days . One of our tasks was a lock up . You ’ re assigned a certain area and are listening for rolling cues . I ’ m on the outskirts of where they ’ re filming , and I yell , ‘ Rolling !’ just to make sure everyone hears it and stays quiet . While they ’ re rolling , I ’ m checking out the area for noises and making sure everyone is adhering to that moment . I could be in that lockup for hours if they have to keep reshooting a scene and make sure no pedestrians come onto the set .
What were the COVID protocols on set during 2021 ? Everyone was required to wear a mask , N95s were preferred . They were even strict about it outdoors . No one knew what people looked like . Only when they got COVID tests could you see their faces . The health and safety manager oversaw contact tracing and COVID protocols if someone tested positive . — Kerri Tallman
Joyce Iaciofano
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I came down to see the set . I thought it would be nice to see the movie and say , ‘ I saw that . That was in Rhode Island .’ I came down to Newport and I saw some crowd scenes . I got to see the costumes as actors were wandering around , and I took some pictures ”. And then I went down to Lincoln first thing in the morning .
FAN , NARRAGANSETT
86 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l OCTOBER 2022