The actress has teamed up with Euphoria creator Sam Levinson for an industry first – a feature length film made entirely in quarantine.
The coronavirus pandemic is wreaking havoc on the film industry, predictions suggest that the US box office will be down 40% this year. But despite all the doom and gloom, a small team of filmmakers have accomplished something remarkable. Zendaya, most recently seen in HBO’s Euphoria, posted this image on her Instagram. She is seen with co-star John David Washington, in their new feature length film Malcolm and Marie.
Deadline reported that after Euphoria season two was indefinitely delayed, Sam Levinson, the show’s creator, got a call. Zendaya wanted him to write and direct a movie shot completely during quarantine, ‘the first to do so on the feature film side‘. The film is now in post-production, having been shot between June 17 and July 12. To produce the film and comply with the required social distancing and quarantine rules, major changes had to be made.
The shoot took place on a private property called Caterpillar House. An eco-friendly and visually impressive house situated on the coast of California.
As well as having a private and spacious location, exhaustive measures were taken to ensure the safety of the cast and crew. Right before filming everyone had to quarantine for two weeks on the same property. They ate in appointed dining areas, and temperature checks were taken regularly. A detailed list of the actions taken can be found on the original Deadline article.
Some movies such as The Batman have been allowed to resume filming in countries like the UK. Malcolm and Marie marks a different kind of achievement. It is a film written, produced and shot in the midst of a global pandemic. The impact this will have on the characters, story and creative aspects of the movie remains to be seen. But it goes without saying that this will be a unique, must-see piece of cinema.
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