Telangana Government nod for film shootings to issue guidelines soon

Hyderabad: It's time for "Lights, Camera and Action," as the state government on Monday decided to permit shooting of films and television programmes. It had already permitted the industry to start postproduction work.

All studios have been shut down affecting over 20,000 workers and many more junior artistes who depend on the industry for their livelihood and have been suffering for the past 80 days. Soon, all studios would once again be seen buzzing with activity but with a difference. All producers and studios will have to strictly follow the guidelines which the state government is going to issue and the number of people in the shootings would be much less than what it used to be earlier.

The industry elders are now planning on how to implement the guidelines. Even to move a trolley used during shooting, it requires about four to six people in addition to cameraman. Similarly, maintaining social distance with light boys and such technical staff would be another problem the industry will have to grapple with.

The only solace for them is that henceforth film producers need not run from pillar to post to get permissions for film shootings in Telangana.

They can submit an online application to the Telangana State Film Development Corporation (TSFDC) and get the permissions in a week. In case, the application is not processed in the given time, permission should be deemed sanctioned.

However, the government decided not to give permission to re-open cinema halls. Maintaining social distancing would be a real problem and hence the time was not yet ripe for theatres to be opened. The Centre has been saying that one corona positive patient can infect half of a hospital. Under such circumstances, if theatres are opened, it may not be safe for the movie goers and their families, the government felt.