IMPPA Halts Shooting of ‘All Entertainment Formats’ Amid COVID-19 Scare

The fast-spreading Coronavirus has forced some states into locking down their border and as the cases of COVID-19 escalate to over 100 in India, Indian Motion Pictures Producers’ Association called for halting of the shooting of “all entertainment formats”. The decision was encouraged by other film bodies including the Federation of Western India Cine Employees and Indian Film&Television Directors’ Association.

Posting the latest updates on his social media handle, Indian film critic and trade analyst Taran Adarsh shared a picture of the notice sent out by Indian Motion Pictures Producers’ Association. Apart from calling off all shootings of films, TV serials and web series from March 19 to March 31 in India, the circular stated, “All units shooting till the stoppage comes into force have been strictly advised to follow all precautionary and preventive measures without fail. Decision about re-starting shootings shall be taken on March 30th after considering the prevailing situation.”

The decision was taken in a meeting on Sunday which was attended by the representatives of Indian Motion Pictures Producers’ Association (IMPPA), Western India Film Producers’ Association (WIFPA) and Indian Film and TV Producers Council (IFTPC).

In a press conference later, president of IFTDA, Ashoke Pandit revealed, “We have also decided that all our sets, despite not being used, will be sanitised, cleaned. Every production house, with their members, will constantly take care of the sets. The daily wages of the workers will be affected so we have decided that they will be taken care of by all the producers’ associations and federations. We will take care of them.”

With the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases across India reaching 109, theatres, malls and other public places have shut businesses to contain public gatherings. Megastar Amitabh Bachchan cancelled his weekly public meet outside Jalsa this Sunday while Shahid Kapoor returned from Chandigarh as Jersey team called off the shoot. States across India have banned public gatherings and ordered the closure of schools, colleges, public institutions and cinema halls till March 31, as a precautionary measure.