With a set of new guidelines coming up, Maharashtra Government is ready to consider resumption of shoots soon. The government made up its mind only after a video conference that took place on Thursday night between representatives of the entertainment industry and Dr. Sanjay Mukherjee, chief secretary of Cultural Affairs, Maharashtra.
Representing the industry were Ashoke Pandit, chief advisor of Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), Apoorva Mehta and Madhu Bhojwani of Producer Guild of India, and Meghraj Bhosale from Marathi Chitrapat Mahamandal among.
As per IANS, through the video call, several factors pertaining to resumption of shooting and other associated works of the media and entertainment industry were discussed.
The major conclusions that were drawn from the conference are as follows:
Post Production activities should immediately commence in sync with all the health, safety and security norms and guidelines issued by the Government.
The State Government has to expedite a proper financial package to aid the entertainment industry.
Premises owned by the state government should be given free of cost to producers and the production houses for carrying out shoots, along with the facility of single window permission.
There should be absolutely no rentals on the sets that are erected in the Film city, which are non-functioning due to the lockdown. Once the lockdown is over, premises in the Film City should be provided to producers and the production houses at minimized rates so as to cope with the losses incurred due to the lockdown. The rates shall be applicable till the city returns to its normalcy.
An SOI has already been passed by the stakeholders of the industry. TP Aggarwal, president of Indian Motion Pictures Producers’ Association (IMPPA), said that Dr Sanjay Mukherjee has assured “that there have been serious discussions happening in the state government pertaining to the resumption of work in the media and entertainment industry.”