TV production to resume: Film and TV shoots are now allowed to resume all across the country. Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Prakash Javadekar, on Sunday (August 23) released a detailed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) that has to be followed while resuming the shoot of films and television shows.
“I am today very happy to announce that we are releasing the Standard Operating Procedure for film shooting and TV programs shooting. In the last six months, the country saw a complete closure of this segment of the industry and a few states have allowed partial shootings. But today, we are laying the Standard Operating Procedure as per the international experience with the consultation of the Home Ministry and the Health ministry. This will be welcomed by everyone related to the film industry because this (the Industry) is an important aspect of the economy and employs millions of people. They were not getting jobs for the last four-five months. Therefore, we have issued this to facilitate production activity to resume. I am very sure everyone will welcome this,” Prakash Javadekar said in a video statement.
Javadekar took to Twitter to share the SOP that includes the use of a mask for everyone who’s not facing the camera on the sets of a film or a show, maintaining six-feet social distancing rule, allowing no visitor on the set, compulsory thermal screening, no sharing of costumes, wigs, makeup items, and lapel mics. Here follows the detailed list of what’s allowed and what’s not:
These SoPs have been finalized after consulting the health and home ministries, he said.
Thermal screening at entry points, mandatory use of face covers/masks, and physical distancing of six feet are among the new rules laid down by the government for the production houses. However, Javadekar said barring those who are in front of cameras all others will have to wear masks reports CNBC TV18.
The SOP ensures adequate distancing at shoot locations and other workplaces and contains measures including proper sanitization, crowd management, and provision for protective equipment among others. The government has also advised the use of the Arogya Setu app in the SOP released for the entertainment industry.
‘Contact Minimisation’ is at the core of the SOP. This will be ensured by minimal physical contact and sharing of props, PPEs for hairstylists, and make-up artists among others,” he wrote in a tweet.
The production of films and television programs has been put on hold since 25 March, when a nationwide lockdown in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic was imposed. However, there was a demand from the industry and several artistes to allow work to resume.
