Stills from Maidaan and The Big Bull

IMPPA president points at discrepancies in SOPs mandated to resume work; requests govt to take cue from Kannada industry
MUMBAI MIRROR (June 6, 2020)

Almost two-and-a-half months after they came to a standstill following the Coronavirus outbreak, the film and TV industries are gearing up to return to work. Following meetings between industry representatives and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, permission to resume shooting and other production work was granted last Sunday with the condition that all prescribed guidelines be followed.

While filmmakers hailed them as effective and promised adherence, T P Aggarwal, president of Indian Motion Pictures Producers’ Association (IMPPA), has written to the CM, pointing out certain discrepancies and requesting that they be reviewed. For the mandated presence of a doctor, nurse and ambulance on sets, Aggarwal suggests that instead, they should be summoned when required. “If there are 10 shoots at Film City, you can’t have separate sets of ambulances, doctors and nurses stationed there at all times. At a time when doctors and nurses are contracting Covid-19 on the job, resulting in shortage of healthcare professionals, it’s not feasible to keep them at shoots,” he reasons.

The filmmaker also believes that arranging accommodation for crew near shooting sites in hotels or apartments is impossible as the government has reserved these premises for quarantine and treatment of Covid-19 patients. “Even if they are available, it will be impossible to block it exclusively for unit members,” he says.

IMPPA has also suggested that the state government take a cue from guidelines issued by Karnataka government. However, while the latter prohibits those under the age of 10 years and over 65 years from reporting to shoots, the film body has sought the removal of this guideline. Aggarwal defends the demand, saying, “There are several actors and technicians over 65 who are masters of their craft. And what if a project in its last leg of shoot has older characters?”

He also points out that as per the guidelines, the Managing Director of Film City has the sole authority to grant permissions for shoots in Mumbai, while district collectors will approve those outside the city, but there has been no communication in this regard. “Film City says they haven’t received any GR (Government Resolution) and therefore, are unable to help with permissions,” he informs.

When pointed out that the SOPs (Standard Operating Procedure) were formulated after Film and Television Producers Guild of India shared recommendations, Aggarwal keeps it short, “The SOPs were discussed with other industry bodies in the loop. We are all on the same page with respect to the matter.”
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After government issues shoot guidelines, IMPPA dashes off a letter to CM terming them 'impractical', urges him to modify protocols as per those followed in Karnataka
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; June 6, 2020)

The week began on a positive note for the entertainment industry as the state government greenlit the resumption of shoots. While several cine bodies welcomed the decision, the Indian Motion Pictures Producers' Association (IMPPA) has shot off a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, terming the guidelines "impractical". The rules in contention include the barring of actors and technicians above 65 years of age from shooting and the presence of a doctor and nurse on the set.

"We have so many stars who are over 65. Bringing an elderly person on the set is risky, but we will take more precautions. We will shoot for only four hours with them instead of eight hours and complete their portions first. We will also keep them secluded," says Anil Nagrath, secretary, IMPPA. The cine association deems the presence of a medical team on set as a sheer wastage of precious resources in these pressing times.

The government has stated that the crew reporting to a set must be put up in a hotel, thereby eliminating the possibility of them infecting their families. However, Nagrath pokes holes in the suggestion. "That is impossible to implement as most hotels have been taken up by the government as quarantine centres. Their suggestion of casting actors' family members in the supporting roles [to restrict contact with others] is impractical. Not everyone belonging to a star's family is an actor! They have put roadblocks by way of the regulations."

Ahead of the resumption of shoot of films, including Maidaan and The Big Bull, IMPPA has not only urged the Thackeray-led government to modify the protocols, but also sent a copy of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) issued by the Karnataka government. Quiz him on the differences in the guidelines, and he says, "They don't have [ad hoc] rules [about casting family members and having medical personnel on set]. Their guidelines offer flexibility."