To help producers tide over crisis as shoots resume after 3 months
Ankita Chaurasia (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 27, 2020)

Complying with the Indian Film and TV Producers Council’s (IFTPC) request for a staggered release of funds, broadcasters have waived off the deferred 95-day payment system. This will help makers pay the actors and technicians who were struggling to make ends meet after several shows came to a halt following the industry-wide Coronavirus lockdown, leading to further delay in payment.

“It is a major breakthrough. Now, the first installment of funds for 15 episodes will be released after 30 days of the telecast, the next within 45 days and the following after 60 days to maintain consistent cash flow. It will ease the pressure on show makers,” informs J D Majethia, producer and chairman of IFTPC, adding that this system will benefit actors and technicians. Monthly workers will receive payments in 30 days, too, but suppliers and business people will continue to be paid as per the earlier cycle.

While some of the broadcasters have agreed to follow the new payment structure for three months, others have promised to give it six months’ time. “Every channel has taken a call according to the situation. Whether this continues beyond the agreed time span, will depend on how business goes from here. If it works, they may continue even afterwards,” reasons Majethia.

Initially introduced to help producers keep the money circulating, the 95-day wait began the day after the telecast. And while the first three months were difficult, the cast and crew received payments on a monthly basis thereafter, unless there was a halt in production.

Asit Kumarr Modi, producer of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltaa Chashmah, asserts, “My cast and crew are like family and money was never an issue. But we have discussed the matter with the broadcasters and will follow the guidelines.”

Avinash Garg, executive producer of Mere Sai, who is waiting to complete some repair work on the sets, sees it as a positive step forward. “It will help keep the spirits high on the set after we resume shooting,” he avers.

Promising full payment to the cast and crew within a 30-day time-frame, Humsa Dhir, Head of Corporate Communications at Sony Pictures Network, adds, “The nature of the pandemic is such that nobody across the globe can predict its duration. As responsible broadcasters, we will do everything in our capacity to ensure the safety of our cast, crew and production partners.”

We reached out to other broadcasters, including Star Plus, Colors and Zee, but they chose not to comment.