MUMBAI: It will soon be lights, camera, action in the television industry. With permisisons being granted slowly, filmmakers and broadcasters will have to obtain permission from the police and district authorities before they can start shooting. Maraṭhi film and TV producer Nitin Vaidya, who is also a member of Indian Film and TV Producers Council (IFTPC), told indiantelevision.com that it is trying to seek permission from Film City to begin shooting in Mumbai and Thane from 23 or 25 June.
He adds, “We producers, among ourselves, have decided a common date to start shooting between 23 to 25 June. We must put things in place like insurance and mediclaim for all cast, crew members and people on set. We are looking at bulk insurance deals from the IFTPC. Once that is done, we can start shooting. All the decisions have been conveyed to broadcasters also. We are hoping that all the permissions will be granted for Mumbai and Thane.”
Marathi actor, TV host and Shiv Sena leader Aadesh Bandekar highlights that producers are waiting permission from Film City to begin shooting in Mumbai. But district collectors in Thane, Sangli and Satara have already given permission to resume shooting.
Vaidya also mentions that in other parts of Maharashtra permission has been given. But shooting has not yet started. In the meantime, producers are prepping up for the post-pandemic return, in terms of fumigation, sanitisation, several other SOP measures and guidelines that need to be complied with.
According to Vaidya, the association has requested broadcasters to telecast after 13 July 2020. So, producers can go ahead with immediate bank of episodes. As this is a new normal, Vaidya finds that it will be difficult to analyse what will happen on the set after shooting resumes.
Earlier this month Maharashtra government allowed shoots across the state to resume. A list of SOPs and other guidelines too were issued, which also includes shooting only in non-containment zones. Producers will have to apply to managing director of the Maharashtra film, theatre, cultural development corporation, the Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari in Goregaon, Mumbai and district collectors outside Mumbai for resuming shootings.
