FWICE’s new guidelines stop shooting crowd sequences, a new monitoring team in action, and more: Ready in!
The Federation of Film Employees of West India (FWICE) has issued new guidelines for filming, pre-production and post-production work amid the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in Maharashtra.
A statement issued by FWICE reads: “FWICE officials had a Zoom meeting with the honorable Chief Minister, Shri Uddhav Thackeray. The FWICE has assured the CM that the industry will be accountable in regards to the SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) of the COVID guidelines. FWICE, in coordination with experts, has established guidelines that everyone involved in pre-production, shooting and post-production work must adhere to. Please note that none of the following guidelines are subject to negotiation. These guidelines from now on will be applicable until April 30, 2021.
1. Filming of crowd sequences and songs with dancers in large numbers will not be allowed.
2. Wearing masks and continuous disinfection is a must on sets, production offices, and post-production studios.
3. A FWICE follow-up team has been formed. They will visit sets and post-production studios to constantly check that all guidelines are being met. In the event of an individual breaking any rule, they will be held liable for the strictest disciplinary action by FWICE.
4. Any individual or production who creates some kind of obstacle in the way of complying with the guidelines will be treated strictly.
“The production offices and the post-production offices will be functional, as the government has allowed us to complete our work so that the shows and films can be broadcast.“
The notice also mentions that a full lockdown will follow from Friday at 8 p.m. until Monday at 7 a.m., and that filming, editing, pre-production, or post-production activities should be avoided during this period.
The notice also asks members to adhere to the guidelines to avoid a complete blackout, which will be “quite devastating and destructive” for members.
This comes at a time when Maharashtra is officially recording the highest number of Covid cases in India on a regular basis, during the second wave of the pandemic in recent days.
As a result, Mumbai is experiencing another situation similar to a daytime lockdown, nighttime curfew, and weekend lockdown.
