ABS-CBN Entertainment Production Head Laurenti Dyogi shares the cycle that artists and production staff undergo during lock-in tapings.
In an interview with Rappler, Dyogi said that lock-in tapings usually last for 2-3 weeks, wherein 4-5 days per week is allotted for shooting, and the remaining are rest days.
“Kasi dati ang sistema namin, taping ka today, uwi ka sa bahay, babalik ka ulit sa taping kinabukasan so, may ganung cycle every other day. Ngayon, ang nangyari, since we were also forced to do 12 hours of taping – work hours namin ngayon 12 hours na eh, dati 16-18 hours eh.
“So, kailangan magkakasama sila sa isang lugar, sa isang location, for an x number of days so, that could for 2 to 3 weeks. From 2 to 3 weeks, dun lang sila, we house them and then andun na malapit yung lugar kung saan sila magtatrabaho so, dose oras sa trabaho, 8am to 8pm, uwi sila sa hotel, magpapahinga sila, kinabukasan same cycle.”
Dyogi also noted that a single series requires multiple cycles of lock-in tapings.
“Depende sa length ng programa, that can be three cycles so, ngayong buwan is one cycle, kunwari August 1 to 15 tapos pahinga ulit ng 15 days sa bahay niyo, magquarantine din kayo tapos pagdating ng next month, may panibagong cycle hanggang sa matapos namin.”
The production head then pointed out that lock-in tapings allow them to scan their projects just like Init Sa Magdamag, their first-ever series that was fully canned before airing.
“Ang advantage ngayon, ay naka-can namin yung marami sa mga programa namin like yung Init Sa Magdamag ngayon, fully canned yan bago umere, which we never did before.”
Dyogi then shared how their experiences in shooting abroad actually prepared them for the lock-in setup.
“Hindi naman to totally new, dati ginagawa na ‘to like pag nagshooshoot abroad, forced kanaman talaga dun, pupunta kayo dun then you’re forced to stay there until you finish it whether that is a movie or a TV show.”
He added that the only hard part about the lock-in setup is the adjustment period, shifting from the traditional tapings.
During lock-in tapings, health protocols are also implemented in the set to ensure maximum safety of everyone.
“A lot of our people are vaccinated, not everyone but, siguro 90% are already vaccinated.
“But, up to now, hindi kami umaalis dun sa kailangan kang mag pre-entry swab, tsaka exit swab. Hindi namin tinanggal yun kahit vaccinated na.
“Tapos because of the Delta variant, dapat tatanggalin na namin eh, vaccinated na tatangalin na ang PPE, binalik parin, nag PPE parin.
“Whether vaccinated or not, we still follow the protocols that we’ve implemented from the start because of the variant nga.”
In the same interview, Dyogi labeled lock-in tapings as a key to the survival of the TV production industry amidst the pandemic.
