IMPPA writes to Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray; urges to amend shooting guidelines

It was only recently when the Maharashtra government permitted the shootings of films, TV serials, advertisements, OTT in non-containment zones. Now Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association (IMPPA), has written a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray requesting him to change some guidelines issued by the government in order to resume the shoot.

With the initiative #MissionBeginAgain, the state government had issued a separate list of guidelines for the film industry. Talking about these guidelines an official had told IANS, “After scrutinising the applications, the concerned authority will give the go-ahead for the shooting proposals. They will have to adhere to the Covid-19 guidelines issued separately for the purpose.”

Now as per a report in Mumbai Mirror, IMPPA has highlighted four guidelines which they want the government to change. One of these guidelines states the mandatory presence of a doctor, ambulance, and nurse throughout the shooting on the sets. IMMPA officials state that it’s impossible to have a doctor constantly on the sets since almost all of the medical staff is busy amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.

They also stated that making a medical professional sit on the set will be a wastage of their time. Instead, the producer can have them on call whenever needed. IMPPA also wants the government to delete the guideline that says to provide accommodation to the shooting unit in the studio itself or in the nearby hotels and apartments.

They explained that the hotels and available apartments are already being used by the government as a quarantine facility or for treatment of Covid-19 patients. Another guideline that states to not allow any actor above the age of 65 on the sets is also not acceptable for the producers as a number of actors, technicians and crew members are above the specified age and their service can’t be replaced. The fourth guideline which the producers have found ‘impractical, impossible and meaningless’ is that to ‘cast real family’ in view to limit contact exposure within the family. The members of IMPPA have explained that not all members of a family are actors and acting is a specialised profession.

The members have also said that the guidelines issued by the Karnataka Government are more practical and easily implementable.

Also Read: Good News! Maharashtra government permits films & serial shootings in non-containment zones

Pooja Sharma

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