May 28, 2020: Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, theatres have been shut and shootings have been stalled all across the country. India is currently under lockdown 4.0 which will be ending on May 31st. But there are a few norms on this lockdown 4.0. Centre and state governments have allowed a few relaxations depending on the zones like green, orange and red. Many industries have resumed operations but have to follow the safety measures issued to them. It has been now more than 2 months that the entertainment industry has been shut.
And while the Producers Guild of India has been looking forward to resuming the Film & TV industry work amid the lockdown with certain protocols, they have requested the same to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackery. And looks like CM Thackeray has decided to consider their request. Sharing the news of micro-blogging site Twitter, the Producers Guild of India expressed their gratitude towards the Maharashtra government for paying heed to their request. The tweet read, "Thank you @CMOMaharashtra for considering requests from the Film & TV industry to resume work safely. In the link below are the Guild’s recommended SOPs, to be instituted whenever we are granted permission to resume production activities."
To note, the Producers Guild of India also came up with a new protocol as they resume the shoot. The link gave a glimpse of the various rules that will be followed by all the departments once the shooting is resumed. Reportedly, a different set of precautionary measures has been allotted to different departments, owing to the requirement. Each crew member will be provided with a triple layer medical mask & gloves which will be mandatory to wear during the entire shoot. Monthly swab test like microbiology labs to check the sanitization of studio, sets and office. People over the age of 60, or with co-morbidities and health issues to work from home. We wonder, of Uddhav Thackeray's government will allow the entertainment industry to resume anytime soon.