All Film/TV Shootings May Be Stopped Because Of Coronavirus Epidemic
News
oi-Lekhaka
By Lekhaka
The
coronavirus
COVID-19
epidemic
has
taken
the
world
by
storm.
After
its
centre
of
origin
China,
Italy,
South
Korea,
and
Italy
have
become
the
most
affected
countries
with
the
virus
spread
all
across
the
globe.
In
the
wake
of
the
spread
of
the
virus,
various
governing
bodies
have
taken
action
against
public
gathering.
Delhi
has
ordered
all
schools,
colleges
and
movie
theatres
to
be
closed
until
further
notice.
Maharashtra
Government
has
banned
the
sale
of
IPL
match
tickets.
Whereas
IPL
itself
has
postponed
the
start
of
the
tournament
till
15th
April.
Bollywood's
upcoming
big
release
Sooryavanshi
has
been
postponed
till
the
time
is
safe.
Similarly,
Federation
of
Western
India
Cine
Employees
(FWICE)
is
thinking
of
putting
all
film/TV
shootings
on
hold
for
few
days
to
prevent
its
5
lakh
plus
workers
from
getting
affected
by
COVID-19.
FWICE
is
talking
to
the
producers'
body
regarding
this
and
the
final
decision
will
be
announced
at
the
earliest.
Through
a
letter,
FWICE
President
BN
Tiwari,
general
secretary
Ashok
Dubey
and
treasurer
Gangeshwarlal
Srivastav
have
told
the
producers
not
to
shoot
in
the
countries
affected
by
COVID-19.
Even
if
any
shooting
was
already
happening,
they
have
requested
the
producers
to
get
the
crew's
medical
check-up
done
and
bring
them
back
immediately.
FWICE
President
BN
Tiwari
said,
"The
government
has
taken
the
decision
to
close
schools,
colleges,
and
movie
theatres
then
why
can't
we
stop
the
shooting
which
are
crowded
at
any
given
day.
The
TV
workers
have
to
be
on
set
every
day,
which
is
even
more
risky.
We
can't
put
the
lives
of
our
workers
in
danger
in
this
epidemic."
FWICE
has
already
informed
the
production
houses
to
maintain
necessary
basic
hygiene
and
safety
measures
at
their
shooting
locations
i.e.
installing
hand
sanitizers
at
the
common
access
areas
and
keeping
the
sets
clean,
and
immediately
report
anyone
who
has
travelled
from
the
COVID-19
affected
areas
around
the
world.
Tiwari,
Dubey
and
Srivastav
added
that
before
taking
the
call
on
stopping
the
shoots,
there
will
be
a
joint
meeting
of
IMPPA,
WIFPA,
IFTDA
and
FWICE
to
discuss
the
issue.
TP
Agarwal,
Ashoke
Pandit,
and
Sangram
Shirke
will
attend
the
meeting
on
behalf
of
IMPPA,
IFTDA,
and
WIFPA
respectively.
The
meeting
will
be
held
on
Sunday,
March
15,
2020
at
3:30pm
at
IMPPA
office
in
Andheri
West.