The Maharashtra Government, on the 31st of May, approved shooting of films and television shows from the 1st of June.
The decision was taken after a delegation from the film and TV industry called Uddhav Thackeray, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra and urged for the resumption of shoots.
In regard to this, the State Government released an order with immediate effect and permitted the production houses to start shootings.
As per the official orders, shootings for films, teleserials, advertisements, over the top (OTT) online platforms, web series and others could begin from the 1st of June.
However, this would be permitted only after following a separate set of guidelines issued by the State Government. The State Government issued a 16 page guidelines, which includes, awareness among all the stakeholders managing coronavirus risks on the sets/studios and editing facilities, casting and artist management, production offices, trailers, tents, crowd control for physical distancing, handling of equipments, operations controls, actors and junior artistes, contestants for non-fiction shows, staffing, location departments, shoot management, art department, wardrobe, on set communication, camera, video village setup, sound, electric/grip departments.
The guidelines also asked to minimise the outdoor shoots and travel shoots for at least a month more in the wake of the Novel Coronavirus or COVID-19. Initially, those who want to resume shoots need to submit their applications to the Maharashtra Films, Theatre and Cultural Development Corporation at the Dadasaheb Phalke Film City, Goregaon, or at the district collectorates concerned across the state.
The officials concerned about the resumption of shoots said, “After scrutinising the applications, the concerned authority will give the go ahead for the shooting proposals. They will have to adhere to the Covid-19 guidelines issued separately for the purpose.”
Though Maharashtra is the worst hit COVID-19 in the nation, it is the first State to allow shoots and production works amid the Novel Coronavirus outbreak.
Maharashtra has a total of 67,655 cases of the Novel Coronavirus, out of which 36,040 are active cases, 29,329 are discharged/cured and 2,286 deceased till the 1st of June.
Stay tuned for further updates.
