Film and TV shoots to begin in West Bengal under new safety guidelines

Representatives of the Eastern India Motion Pictures Association (EIMPA), Welfare Association of Television Producers (WATP), and other industry associations are expected to have an internal meeting tomorrow to discuss the new shooting guidelines issued by the West Bengal government, which has decided to ease the lockdown beginning today. 

Taking into account th film and TV shoot guidelines issued by other states, new measures to ensure safety and security have been decided by the state government.

According to a report by The Times of India, an English daily, the first rule is to keep shooting zones entirely sanitised. There will be soaps, sanitisers and water on every floor. “People should bring food from home. Wearing gloves and masks are mandatory. Only essential crew to be present on the sets,” said EIMPA president Piya Sengupta. 

Sengupta added that while checking body temperature has been made mandatory, pregnant woman, children, the elderly and those with compromised immunity will not be allowed on the sets.

Apart from facing the crisis of COVID-19, West Bengal is also battling the damage left behind by the super cyclone Amphan, which has ravaged many single screen theatres in the state. “We will appeal to the government if something can be done. If single screens are not there, where will these Bengali films be exhibited,” Sengupta added.

Film and TV shoots will commence after a meeting with Arup Biswas, the state minister of public works, youth services and sports. 

“When flights have started, why should shootings suffer? We have to live with coronavirus till there is a vaccine for it. But work can’t stop forever,” said producer Nispal Singh from Surinder Films.