Can social distancing really work in a make-believe world?

Visakhapatnam: In a field where running around the trees, cuddling and romancing turn inevitable, how does social distancing mantra work?

As 'physical distancing' becomes the new discourse, the film industry gears up for a restart, of course, with a list of 'terms and conditions'.

Though filmmakers are optimistic about the resumption of the shooting schedule even if it means adhering to every safety protocol at the shoot, they do say that they have to devise strategies to tide over a new set of challenges during this horrid pandemic.

If getting actors, supporting artistes and the technicians is one part of the challenge the entertainment industry has to grapple with at the moment, recouping with minimum budget and altering production schedules is another part of the setback a majority of the filmmakers intend to work it out as the government waved a green flag to resume shooting. But in a 24-frame of filmmaking where several scenes such as duets and fights demand human contact, many admit that the way ahead will be tough. "Apparently, it is not going to be an easy exercise. But somehow, as filmmakers, we need to work it out. We have made certain proposals to be included in the guidelines. Once we get clarity on that, shooting will resume," says Daggubati Suresh Babu, senior Telugu film producer.

Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy's decision to commence film shooting through a single window platform offers a relief to thousands of daily wage earners who are dependent on the make-believe world. However, producers say that they have to come up with fresh ideas to suit the present requirement.

"Undoubtedly, it comes as a big relief to daily wage earners who have been largely dependent on the film industry. How long they can run the show during the lockdown period? But for the filmmakers, it is certainly a tough phase as the reel-world works on a different plane altogether where social distancing does not blend well," admits L Satyanand, a star-maker and theatre personality.

With frequent sanitisation and safety measures which is going to be in place, filmmakers say that they are prepared to cough up extra budget for the additional requirement.

"Though respite comes in the form of a single window system and free of cost locations facilitated by AP government, there are a plenty of hurdles that the producers have to overcome amid pandemic-induced uncertainty. Shooting has come to a grinding halt for the past three months. It has already affected over 30,000 livelihoods across AP and Telangana. But with a lot of restrictions, it will take a long time before we call it business as usual," opines Varma Pakalapati, filmmaker and vice-president of AP Film Chamber of Commerce.

From confining to thin budgets to getting the crew back to work and making the shooting spot coronavirus-safe as recommended by Producers' Guild of India, filmmakers say that it is never going to be the same like pandemic-free times.