After a long time, both the Telangana and Andhra Pradesh governments have given permission for resumption of shootings and post-production activities in Telugu film industry with effect from June 15.
However, one wonders whether shootings can take place normally because of the stringent restrictions imposed by the Telangana government, which on Tuesday released a series of guidelines for the resumption of film shootings.
The government made it clear that the film industry should invariably follow these guidelines while resuming the shooting of films, in the wake of growing intensity of Coronavirus epidemic across the state.
Here are the guidelines:
1. Everybody participating in the shooting of films, including actors and technicians, should compulsorily wear mask at all shooting locations and sets.
2. Everybody should maintain physical distance. A doctor should be available at the shooting spot all the time.
3. Sanitisers, masks and gloves should be made available at entry and exit points of the shooting locations.
4. At any point of time, there should not be more than 40 persons during the shooting.
5. Smoking of cigarettes and bidis and chewing of tobacco products and pan are strictly banned at the shooting spots.
6. Unless there is a clearance from medical authorities, no permission should be given to actors/technicians below the age of 10 years and above 60 years.
7. Every person taking part in shooting should obtain a medical certificate/declaration about his health condition.
8. Every body should get their health status tested before the commencement of shooting.
9. No visitors should be allowed into the studios.
10. As far as possible, the production units should plan the shootings only indoors.
11. No permission will be given under any circumstances for shooting of films in the containment zones.
12. Actors and other technical and non-technical staff should bring their own food and drinking water from their respective homes.
13. No actors/actresses should share their personal make-up kits with others.
It remains to be seen how far the shootings can take place with these stringent restrictions. Any violation of these guidelines might result in spread of Coronavirus and if that happens, it will bring the situation back to square one!