Mumbai: The clapperboard has been slapped down for film shoots to go beyond the current 4 pm deadline in the state. Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has asked the Film and TV Producers Guild to follow all Coronavirus-appropriate norms at shoots and asked the city police to coordinate with them for permission. During a virtual meeting with the producers guild that has been demanding extension of shooting hours beyond 4 pm, Thackeray said the guild has to ensure vaccination of employees, Covid testing of the crew regularly.

Thackeray said that the state government is taking steps, slowly and carefully, to ease restrictions as cases in the state have not dropped a lot and the state was not yet out of the second wave. “We are trying to ease restrictions cautiously and safely, but everyone’s cooperation will be required for that to work,” Thackeray said, adding that despite a system being in place for sports events, spread of the virus has been reported.

Nitin Tej Ahuja, CEO of the Guild, said, “We are grateful to the CM for giving us a patient, responsive hearing. We requested that filming be permitted beyond the current deadline of 4 pm for a few reasons. Firstly, night scenes demand that they be filmed at night. This cannot be managed within the current restrictions. Secondly, talent and manpower is not replaceable, and it is not always possible to manage the time of key actors and technicians together within the 4 pm deadline. Thirdly, the risk [of Covid-19 infection] in fact reduces at night because there is less fear of crowds gathering.”

The guild informed the CM that unlike malls, restaurants, markets and public places, film shoots do not involve a floating population of outsiders. Ahuja said, “Our units consist of the same set of people, and now that studios and production houses are all getting their employees vaccinated, the threat of infection reduces. Of course, the CM said to us that he has to consider the larger picture and manage the threat of a possible third wave and we see his viewpoint...”

The Mumbai police should appoint a nodal officer to give permission.