No handshakes or hugs, online auditions, and home food only— Indian film industry guidelines for productions post Covid-19 lockdown

• The Uddhav Thackarey government on May 27 gave a green light to the TV industry to resume shoots — with conditions applied.
  
• However, according to reports, film shootings won’t resume until July.
  
• Whenever it resumes, the film industry will have to follow strict guidelines to avoid the spread of coronavirus.
  
  

India’s film industry, which is shut for 73 days now, is going to witness massive changes in the way it works. This includes no handshakes, wearing a triple layer medical mask, no worker above the age of 60, bringing your own make-up etc.

The Producer Guild of India proposed a 37-pages long detailed guidelines that can be implemented to resume shoots with precaution. The Uddhav Thackarey government on May 27 gave a green light to the TV industry to resume shoots — with conditions applied. However, according to reports, film shootings won’t resume until July. Whenever it resumes, the film industry will have to follow strict guidelines to avoid the spread of coronavirus.

Here’s are some of the guidelines:

• Designated people will only be allowed to open doors if any
• Sharing of cigarettes should be stopped on set / offices / studios.
• Social distancing measures to be implemented. Minimum 2 meters distance between colleagues to be maintained.
• Crew, artists & participants will be called at-least 45 mins prior to shoot to ensure thorough implementation of safety precautions.
• It is advisable to give priority to portable chairs over standard benches.
• If possible, provide arrangement for bathing.
• Monthly swab tests, microbiology labs to check the sanitization of studio, sets and office.
• Encourage a work-from-home strategy where possible.
• Crew above the age of 60 years should be avoided at least for three months from the date of shooting as and when it starts and cast above the age of 60 years should be judicially used.
• Count with 4 masks per 1 crew member over the 12-hour long shoot day.
• Auditions will be carried out online.
• Use shoe covers when accessing an indoor location.
• No extra person will be allowed with the Artist except for their Hair and Make-up in the vanity van.
• Staff members may be ideally advised to carry home prepared food.
• All on set crew must wear colored bands which can help identify their roles

The coronavirus pandemic has forced the film industry to lose as much as $130 million box office revenue. Sets of many films including Akshay Kumar’s Prithviraj, Sanjay Leela Bhansal’s Gangubai Kathiawadi were reportedly demolished after being unused during the lockdown.

“We are still figuring out who will bear the onus of medical claim in case someone falls sick during a shoot. In principle, we have agreed to try for bulk insurance. The guidelines may seem good, but we will know how practical they are only when work resumes and they are implemented,”actor Amit Bahl, senior joint secretary of Cine and TV Artists Association (CINTAA).

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