Hollywood starts engine with concerns in face of green light for reproduction

Though he said the most accurate information on the virus has come from Newsom and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, he contended that in general.

"This country has been leaderless and not done a good job of setting up any sort of testing and tracking systems like the other countries dealing with COVID. We haven't even peaked on the cases on LA, so how can we talk intelligently about putting people back to work when we may be putting them in harm's way?" he queried.

He also expressed concern that medically speaking, "No one knows yet how significant the second wave of the virus will be," and that financially, "What will happen if you have to shut down the film halfway through the shoot? That would be worse than if you hadn't started at all."

Morgan suggested local government should take a leaf from China's former leader, Deng Xiaoping, who advised that the best way to cross a river safely -- or achieve one's goal, metaphorically speaking -- "was to feel for a safe stone on the riverbed before one takes their next step."

"One step at a time is safer," Morgan contended. "This is more like a leap than a safe step."

But for others, a pandemic of this proportion is just another one of the many perils that filmmakers face on a daily basis in order to achieve that unforgettable, show-stopping shot.

"Producing movies and television during a pandemic brings many challenges but Hollywood has 100 years of experience making productions under all sorts of unusual and dangerous conditions," the WGA's Underwood told Xinhua.

He is certain the industry is resourceful and sensible enough to be able to produce quality projects while keeping their casts and crews safe from COVID-19.

"We've proved we can maintain a high degree of safety shooting in the midst of fires, high speed chases, hurricane force winds, floods, stampedes, explosions, and on moving trains, sinking ships and crashing planes," Underwood said.

He added thoughtfully, "We've seen many times in the past how people want and need entertainment during challenging times and this has been no different. When we adapt, we survive, and the faster and smarter we do it, the better we'll be."