ITV

Category: Production House

  • SynProNize launches distribution, production, monetisation agency in Dubai

    SynProNize launches distribution, production, monetisation agency in Dubai

    MUMBAI: SynProNize co-founders Nitin Michael and Hasnaa Descuns announced the launch of their new content production and distribution agency which will partner with top digital platforms and linear broadcasters in APAC, Africa and the Middle-East to both produce new content as well as deliver premium drama and lifestyle programming.

    Synpronize begins its operations with a healthy slate of new premium content from South Asia and the Middle East and their deep partnerships with producers in this region will see their catalogue soon expand to 1000+ hours of lifestyle and drama content.

    The company also announced that former senior executive from Disney APAC, Raju Venkataraman will join the company as a board advisor. Venkataraman is a commercially astute leader, with a successful track record in strategy, commercial and financial leadership, in media and entertainment businesses across the Asia-Pacific. He has proven expertise in business partnership, strategy development and execution, deal negotiations and an in-depth understanding of Asia-Pacific region’s media and broadband markets. He worked at The Walt Disney Company for 16 years performing senior roles such as vice-president – Pay TV distribution for the Asia-Pacific region, CFO and head of strategy for all lines of business for South East Asia, and Disney Consumer Products South East Asia general manager. Prior to working in Disney, Raju spent over 13 years in various commercial leadership roles in a variety of industries. At the end of 2016, Raju left the corporate world, reinventing himself as an executive coach and career coach for senior industry leaders, empowering them to succeed amidst disruption and coaching them to achieve their potential.

    Nitin Michael and Hasnaa Descuns said, “We have been ramping up this launch since early in the year and are very pleased with our opening program portfolio and are very honoured to have the incredibly experienced and talented Raju Venkataraman join our company as a senior advisor. His inputs are invaluable. Additionally, we are excited to be in development to produce some great new drama and movies.”

    Raju Venkataraman said, “I’ve known Nitin for a while now and have been impressed by his earnestness, commercial savvy and quality of the relationships he has built with partners. I am pleased to offer my expertise to Nitin and Hasnaa as they embark on this exciting venture which holds great promise. Their strong industry contacts and knowledge, ability to work hard for their partners, and their creativity will see them scale new heights and achieve more success!”

  • Covid2019 task force’s Dr Shashank Joshi guides TV producers on hygiene practices while shooting

    Covid2019 task force’s Dr Shashank Joshi guides TV producers on hygiene practices while shooting

    MUMBAI: Even though TV serials have resumed production, the fear of catching the virus is still there. To ensure producers are informed of hygiene practices to be followed, Dr Shashank Joshi, member of the Covid2019 task force of Maharashtra government, had a virtual meeting with the members of Indian Film and Television Producers Council (IFTPC) and several other television producers.

    Members who attended the meeting included IFTPC chairman TV wing JD Majethia, Maraṭhi film and TV producer and IFTPC member Nitin Vaidya, Neela Tele Films founder Asit Kumarr Modi, Edit II Productions co-founder Binaifer Kohli, Director's Kut Productions founder Rajan Shahi, IFTPC vice president and Shakuntalam Telefilms founder Shyamashis Bhattacharya and others.

    Joshi, while addressing the members, discussed all the guidelines and directions that can be followed on the production set. He said that SarsCoV2 is unpredictable in nature and it is airborne. It stays for a longer time on the top surface.

    According to him it is important for all the workers, cast and technical crew to wear masks and goggles along with the face shield. Asymptomatic people are the ones who carry the virus and become Covid2019 carriers on the set. He suggested to strictly adhere to all the guidelines that  also includes temperature check, disinfection, fumigation. He also informed that there are instances where the risk of Covid2019 transmission is higher such as crowded places, overly ventilated places and closed environment. He also pointed out that apart from sanitisation, washing hands with normal soap will solve the purpose.

    Another important thing is to maintain social distancing. He suggested avoiding shared meals or drinking beverages together because the person is required to remove the mask and this is where the risk of contracting the virus is high. Unmasking can cause issues and the person needs to be extra cautious while going to the toilet. Cleaning on a regular interval is very important.  A simple disinfectant like bleaching powder can also do the work. Also, apart from having an air-conditioned set, it is important to have exhaust fans.
     
    On television producer Bobby Arora’s question about what protocols can be followed on the production set if someone is tested positive, Joshi said, “In most instances, drivers, house help and maids are Covid2019 carriers. If the person is asymptomatic, then you should track other workers who were in close contact with that person. Seven-day quarantine should take place because the symptoms stop showing after the ninth day. So, the employee can join the set on the tenth day. If the person is still Covid2019 positive, then it takes 17 days to recover," he said.

    Under these circumstances, producers should disinfect the set immediately and after eight hours they can start the operations or resume after an entire day also.

    While speaking about the correlation between air conditioners and Covid2019, Joshi pointed out that it is essential to have exhaust fans on set to avoid closed air circulation. It would be ideal to clean air conditioners every now and then. One can also use HEPA filters in air conditioners.

    On Asit Kumarr Modi’s question of removing masks and gloves while filming an intimate scene, Joshi said, “Occupational risk will have to be taken by artists. There is no other option.  Close and intimate scenes will involve risk. But the maximum risk is from vanity vans. In Hollywood, most of the cases on film and television sets happened due to vanity vans. It is advisable for makeup artists and hairdressers to wear PPE kits while entering the vanity van.”

    He also made it clear that after removing the PPE kit it cannot be worn again. In this case, he advised the producers to provide separate sets of clothes that can be used on the set. He also highlighted that UV-ray sterilisation is not fool-proof but it will do the job of surface cleaning.

    Majethia also raised a question about what action should be taken if the lead pair gets infected, because this will directly affect the show. Joshi explained, "If a person is in contact with the other person for more than four minutes and they are standing at a distance of less than half feet, it is close contact. What we did with police officers, sanitisation workers and doctors is that we asked them to consume hydroxy- chloroquine pills once a week. However, this pill is not advisable for people above the age of 50 and those with hypertension and heart ailments.”

    All the producers had a major concern of ensuring safe travel, as most of the cast and crew use auto rickshaws or taxis for travelling.

    To this Joshi said, “Maintaining hygiene is of utmost importance. It is fine to use other vehicles for commuting, but when they come on the set let them take a bath and change clothes. The toilets should be disinfected. It is not viable to always use PPE kits all the time, so keep spare clothes. Keep the surface and air clean.”

    A lot of people are confused about what kind of face masks work best. According to Joshi three ply surgical masks, N95 masks and reusable masks can be used. But it is advisable to use N95 masks. However, it is disposable. While working the artists should use two masks on the set. He suggested negotiating with vendors or contacting hospital suppliers for affordable pricing.

  • Covid2019 task force’s Dr Shashank Joshi to conduct virtual meeting with IFTPC today

    Covid2019 task force’s Dr Shashank Joshi to conduct virtual meeting with IFTPC today

    MUMBAI: Dr Shashank Joshi, member of Covid2019 task force Maharashtra government, will address the members of Indian Film and Television Producers Council (IFTPC) on various issues related to Covid2019 in non-lockdown situations later today via a virtual meeting. The meeting is scheduled for 4 pm on 7 July 2020.

    The meeting has been organised to understand the protocols taken while shooting, SOP measures, the state of production currently and much more.

    Joshi is an Indian endocrinologist, diabetologist and medical researcher, considered by many as one of the prominent practitioners of the trade in India.

    On 20 May, Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray had asked the entertainment industry to prepare an action plan on limited resumption of film shooting and post-production activities by adhering to social distancing norms amidst the coronavirus-induced lockdown.

    Finally after seeking permission from Maharashtra government, Film City and district collectors shootings of television, films and OTT resumed on 25 June.

    Later, IFTPC (Indian Film and Television Producers Council), FWICE (Federation of Western India Cine Employees) and CINTAA (Cine and TV Artistes' Association) resolved their outstanding issues as well which involved releasing of salary within 30 day time frame and other matters. It is mandatory for production houses to have Covid2019 insurance cover for their members. The IFTPC assured that it would follow all the guidelines and precautionary measures issued by the government for shootings.

  • Shooting amidst a pandemic causing anxiety: Binaifer Kohli

    Shooting amidst a pandemic causing anxiety: Binaifer Kohli

    MUMBAI: Television shoots which were halted due to Covid2019 pandemic have now resumed shooting after adhering to myriad instructions. Producers are taking all necessary precautions to ensure safety and security of cast and crew. On 29 June &TV’s popular sitcom Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hain too resumed shooting.

    Producer of Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hain and Edit II Productions co-founder Binaifer Kohli tells indiantelevision.com that she is excited to begin shooting but at the same time the extra work and responsibility has caused a sense of anxiety. 

    “Shoots are happening late as we are taking effort to follow all the SOPs. More than the shooting, our major concern is on sanitisation and other guidelines as people’s lives are more important. There is no second chance here," she explains.

    Makeup artists, hairdressers and dress men are using PPE kits and artists have been provided separate makeup kits and rooms. Kohli also stresses on using good quality sanitation solutions to avoid any harm. If it is adulterated, then it will not do the work, if used more than the required it could turn acidic. Kohli uses special sanitisation cans to spray on clothes which are relatively more expensive than the usual sanitisers. As there is a lot of heat and halogen lights on the set it could negatively react with the solution and catch fire.

    Every 15 days, the shooting premise is sanitised by a government-approved vendor. They have mostly German dealers who are supplying sanitisation cans and other necessary equipment. There are also vitamin tablets, homeopathic pills and immunity boosting kadhas at the entrance for people to consume.

    According to her, it is very difficult to re-imagine and re-design production protocols and other guidelines. She also highlights that it is difficult to match deadlines now. She says, “We are allowed to shoot with only 33 per cent of the staff and lighting arrangements are done keeping this in mind. Once the camera is set, actors enter the scene and the light-men, along with other crew members, come out of the scene.   Things are going a little slow as compared to before. People on the set have decreased but the lights and cameras used for one shot remain the same. It affects the output of the show.”

    There will be no major changes in the scripts. Grand wedding scenes will now be replaced by court marriage. Funerals and other events will be shown with fewer people.

    Apart from the actors who are travelling daily through their private vehicles, the rest of the crew members are staying on the set. The 12-hour shift timings remain the same for actors and other staff. “We try to wrap up the work in the 12-hour time frame. We have also introduced shift systems so that there is no extra burden on one particular actor.”

    The production house has taken an overall insurance plan along with the Covid2019 insurance cover. As curfew is imposed in Mumbai, Kohli makes sure that shoot ends before 9 pm and people can reach their home in time.

    According to Kohli, it is important for broadcasters and producers to sail together in the same ship in order to survive.

    “Broadcasters are trusting us with our work. We all are supportive towards each other. I have taken a price cut; in the channel itself people have taken 40 per cent cuts. Broadcasters are also facing a lot of difficulty. They are sailing in troubled waters too. The main concern is that there is advertisement happening on television. Brands have nothing to sell and some of them have shut. Whatever products they have they will sell on merit and demand. When there is excess supply then brands have the option of competing. In this scenario, how will broadcasters survive?" she says.

    Kohli’s husband Sanjay Kohli, who is also the creative producer, oversees all the pre-production and post-production work. He checks the scripts before it goes for shooting and episodes before it goes to the channel. Edit and other post- production work is done from her office that is situated in Bandra. They are using technologies like iCloud to save data.

    The house has two shows Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hain and Happu Ki Ultan Paltan on & TV. The popular sitcom May I Come In Madam’s second season is also set to go on the floors very soon, which got postponed owing to the pandemic.

  • Production powerhouse Banijay unveils new brand identity

    Production powerhouse Banijay unveils new brand identity

    MUMBAI: A new giant has emerged on the global TV production front with the completion of Banijay’s takeover of the Endemol Shine Group last week.  And the group has gone in for a rebranding exercise, revealing what it calls a new and contemporary brand identity. The merged parent entity and its operations have been called Banijay and will cover 22 territories, 120 plus production and a catalogue of over 88,000 hours of content.

    New logos – with an iconic pinkish B attached to every company logo – a fresh colour palette and an overhauled website have been unveiled. Globally,  Banijay Rights continues to lead distribution activities, while all territory-level holding companies will soon switch to Banijay. In India for instance, Banijay has three firms under its belt: Banijay Asia, Endemol Shine India and SOL India. Each of them has had the “B” attached to their logos and each has the tag identifying them as a Banijay company. While Banijay Asia is led by Deepak Dhar, Endemol Shine India has Abhishek Rege at the helm and SOL Productions has Fazila Allana and Kamna Narula Menezes leading it.

    The rebrand was imagined and executed by leading global creative partner Moving Brands with website design and build handled by Alchemy Digital.

     “The acquisition of Endemol Shine Group marks a major gear shift for our business and that had to be represented in our branding. We now have unrivalled global reach, an abundance of high-quality, multi-genre titles, and some of the best creative entrepreneurs in the world,” said Banijay CEO Marco Bassetti. “Celebrating our values, the significant breadth of our new offering and our continued investment in innovative IP, the simple, yet effective branding, provides standout alongside versatility, and we hope in years to come, our B will act as a beacon for ground-breaking storymaking and a stamp of excellence.”

    Among its global  top shows figure:  Survivor, Big Brother, Peaky Blinders, Temptation Island, MasterChef, Wallander, The Kardashians, Mr Bean, The Wall, Hunted, Black Mirror, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and Deal or No Deal.

    With Bassetti fully in charge as CEO, Endemol Shine Group CEO Sophie Turner Laing is slated to exit by end this week. French entrepreneur Stéphane Courbit, who helped stitch together the deal, serves as chairman of the group. Total pro-forma revenue of Banijay-Endemol Shine  for 2019 totted up to  Euros 2.7 billion.

  • Film, TV, digital series shoots to begin in Madhya Pradesh

    Film, TV, digital series shoots to begin in Madhya Pradesh

    MUMBAI: Film, television and digital series shooting can resume in Madhya Pradesh after complying with measures in place to contain the coronavirus outbreak, said an advisory from the state's tourism board. The board's additional managing director Sonia Meena said a set of rules has been prepared for the resumption of shoots as per guidelines laid down by the state and CENTRE. Meena said several filmmakers had approached the board seeking permission for shooting, which can now start after they adhere to the advisory issued by the Film Facilitation Cell of MP Tourism Board.

    The guidelines lay down that only 15 crew members can be involved in indoor shooting, and 30 for outdoor ones, while equipment will need to be sanitised daily. Meena said the shooting crew will need to submit health declarations in a prescribed form and would need to vacate the location in case someone is detected with Covid2019.

    Crowding at the shoot locations will not be allowed, she further added. Sanitiser, hand-washing, masks, thermal scanner etc should be in place during shoots. Meanwhile, an official said shooting of about 25 digital series, films, serials, music videos is likely to start soon in different locations of Bhopal, Gwalior, Maheshwar, Orchha, Ujjain, Madhai (Hoshangabad), Khajuraho, Panna, Jabalpur and Indore.

    They include Tamil, Telugu and Bengali films and at least five digital series. 

  • Rapid fire questions with Swastik Productions’ Siddharth Kumar Tewary

    Rapid fire questions with Swastik Productions’ Siddharth Kumar Tewary

    MUMBAI: Story-teller, director and producer Siddharth Kumar Tewary is  now touted as the king of mythology (which he calls 'history') on television with shows like  Mahabharata, Suryaputra Karn, Shani, Mahakali, RadhaKrishn, Chandragupta Maurya and internationally famous Porus. In a virtual fireside chat with Indiantelevision.com founder, CEO and editor in chief Anil Wanvari, Swastik Productions and One Life Studios founder and chief creative officer Siddharth Kumar Tewary revealed his most favourites.

    Know your favourite person behind these successful shows in this tell-all interview.

    Edited excerpts:

    Which is your most favourite show?

    I am a very hard-core fan of Netflix Originals show Breaking Bad. I think the characterisation of Walter White, the way this show has been written is brilliant. They have done very good work from a direction and writing standpoint. So, yes that is my favourite series so far.

    Who is your favourite writer?

    In writing I have a lot of favourites, but I think Rajkumar Hirani is the best writer ever in India and in the Bollywood industry. His work is legendary, the kind of messaging he does through humour is very aspirational. In Bollywood his favourite movie is 3 Idiots and internally it is Brave Hearts which has had a huge impact on me. Apart from this my favourite animated movie is Finding Nemo.

    One thing that a programming head had done which made you upset?

    I think I am on the other side of the table, the person doesn’t have the intention to spoil the work. For instance, someone was making the series and I am a micro manager. I look after every small detailing right from your scripts to dialogue. And I have invested days and months understanding the work and if suddenly someone says you are not understanding the concept this is something that makes me a little upset. Because I have created the show, I have written the character, made 50 episodes and then someone just can’t say I don’t know the character. So, those kinds of things make me emotional. I am very sensitive about the work I do. I get very agitated when somebody pinpoints it. But even I have made lots of mistakes in this journey. I was quite a difficult person to handle as well so it is fine, I understand that their intention is not bad.

    A writer you hate to work with, but you had to work anyway.

    There is nobody I hate to work with and still go ahead and work, this is not possible. I don’t need to be forced to work with anyone because if you are forced to do something the outcome will never be good. I always believe in the creative field if you disconnect with somebody, then you should not work with that person. If you will work with that person the core objective of the work will go for a toss. It will no longer be a product you wished to create. There is nobody right or wrong, we are the biggest subjective field in the world. So, for me if you are not connected, then you are not on the same page.

    Are you a writer, director or a producer. Which is your favourite role?

    The reality is I am a writer, director and a producer. I started with being a producer, I was not a writer in the beginning. When I did Amber Dhara there were writers who were  working with me and creatively driving the show. Over the period of time I worked on myself, I used to write a story and not an episode. I became a writer in a course of time and then started directing. So, it has been an interesting journey for me. However, I am more close to direction and writing, your work is out in front of the people. I look forward to people saying well done to me for my shows, it gives me immense happiness. I have not come here to build a multi-million empire, I have come here to tell stories.

    When are you most inspired?

    I am most inspired when I see legends. I try to understand what goes behind creating these legendary people. So, the journey about what goes into being consistent in their life, and continuously delivering good work inspires me. Even after being in the industry for 50 years Amitabh Bachchan goes to film sets everyday and is still curious to learn. I am a huge fan of Roger Federar. At the age of 38 playing a Wimbledon final is not a joke. It is not like this is something he got lucky with, it requires a huge amount of work. I really admire sports people, they take them to another level. In tennis you retire at thirty two.  I think it takes a lot to retire at the age of thirty. I admire Boris Becker a lot.

    If you could switch professions, what would you become.

    I can only play sports; I only like sports apart from what I do. I would most probably play tennis. Infact, my elder brother Rahul and I are very competitive when it comes to playing tennis.

    What is the best thing that has ever happened to you professionally?

    When I was doing the show Amber Dhara I had no intention of becoming a producer. But the whole 'accidently turning into a production house' has been the best thing that has happened to me.

  • CINTAA meets Maharashtra governor to discuss rule restricting senior actors

    CINTAA meets Maharashtra governor to discuss rule restricting senior actors

    MUMBAI: The Cine and TV Artistes’ Association (CINTAA) senior vice president and actor Manoj Joshi met with the governor of Maharashtra Bhagat Singh Koshyari today. They discussed the issue of senior actors, above the age of 65, not being allowed to shoot. The governor assured of necessary co-operation.

    In the meeting Joshi briefed the governor on CINTAA, its history, members, senior citizens who are members of CINTAA on whom their family depends for livelihood, and that they already have had no work from three months. He elaborated that the number of working seniors was not very large, but apart from that, there are continuity issues and producers cannot replace them.

    "The governor gave us a patient ear. It was a good 40-minute meeting. He was very positive and assured that he would help us in the best way possible. He had received the letter we sent him," elaborates Joshi.

    CINTAA had also sent letters to chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, minister Subash Desai and former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis besides the governor.

    "We are glad the meeting with the governor  was an eventful one and are hopeful that the outcome would be a positive one. The meeting was indeed reassuring," he concludes.

  • Optimystix Entertainment finding creative ways to maintain social distancing on air

    Optimystix Entertainment finding creative ways to maintain social distancing on air

    MUMBAI: Television shoots that were suspended due to the Covid2019 pandemic have now resumed following the necessary guidelines issued by the Maharashtra government. Sony SAB fans can now rejoice as the shoots for all shows have now resumed and will be back with new episodes soon. On 29 June, Sony SAB's light-hearted family entertainer show Tera Kya Hoga Alia and Balveer Returns started shooting.

    Optimystix Entertainment creative head Nikul Desai tells indiantelevision.com that the production house is ecstatic to start shooting. The company is also prepping up for a singing show named Taare Zameen Par for Star Plus and Disney+ Hotstar.

    He says that owing to the pandemic filming pattern will be changed. Things will be looked at from the lens of multitasking with people, contestants and the crew. A lot of television work like scripting, dialogues and direction used to happen on the spot. But, that way of working has changed now. A lot of pre-production work with the team and actors are done well in advance. 

    “Due to various SOP measures and guidelines, we get less number of hours in a shift to complete the shoot. It means the output could be hampered, considering a smaller number of crew and other technicalities,” says Desai.

    He also mentions that there won't be major changes in the script of Taare Zameen Par. The company will now also showcase a few stories revolving around the lives of contestants who have been positively or negatively affected by the pandemic.

    The first set of the auditions of Taare Zameen Par happened before the lockdown, now the second set of auditions will happen online.

    “We are currently figuring out ways to maintain social distancing on the show. Like earlier, judges having a banter, fall over each other or hug contestants and bless them; those will not happen. We are finding out creative means and ways to bring the fun quotient in the show. The idea is to follow all the norms and yet not hamper the emotional side of the show," he shares.

    There will be minimal mention of pandemic and lockdown, but the production house is not too keen to mention Covid2019 in its shows as it believes audiences are watching television to refresh their minds. No one likes to be reminded about a pandemic.

    For Balveer Returns, VFX, edit team and other technical teams are working from home.

    Artists are given scripts in advance to save time and rehearsals are happening over Zoom calls. So, when the actors are on set, they have a fair idea about the shoot and the studio ends up saving some time.

    He also points out that actors are travelling with their own vehicles. Apart from that writers, people from post-production are mostly working from home. The production house is also providing sanitised vehicles for people who used to travel by public transport.

    There is no fixed date for the telecast as they need to be sure about the banks of the episode. August is a likely period.

    Optimystix Entertainment’s lockdown special show Kuch Smiles Ho Jayein… With Alia starring Anusha Mishra and Balraj Syal is off air now. According to Desai, it was a short series with just five episodes as it was the need of the hour. The studio is now focussing on its prime fiction show.

  • Locomotive Global’s Sunder Aaron on “Seeker” & upcoming projects

    Locomotive Global’s Sunder Aaron on “Seeker” & upcoming projects

    MUMBAI: Sunder Aaron’s Locomotive Global develops, produces and distributes Indian-themed TV projects for both the local and international markets. The company has now partnered with Sameer Nair’s Applause Entertainment and Gurinder Chaddha’s Bend It Films & TV for an international drama series named Seeker. Meanwhile the company is focussed on creating IPs and acquiring content.

    Elaborating more on this co-production and the series, Locomotive Global co-founder and principal Sunder Aaron tells indiantelevision.com that the story ideas and characters were created by him and Chaddha a couple of years ago. It was only recently that they approached Sameer Nair’s Applause Entertainment for the project. “Sameer has some terrific ambition for his company and the projects that they are doing and they are going to be doing going forward. So, it’s a really terrific firm,” he adds.

    The story is at the initial stage where the writers are busy in drafting the script. According to Sunder they will be ready to roll the camera by around the first quarter of 2021.

    Sunder also mentions that the shooting will happen in India as well as abroad. He says, “The story is based on the background of India. However, internationally, audiences and viewers are interested in authentic storytelling no matter where it comes from. First and foremost we want the viewers in India to enjoy this show, but I am sure we will find global audiences as well. We will get the primary idea of shooting location once the script is completed. Post that we can finalise the locations and do the recce. In season three we will take the story abroad. We have thought about creating multiple seasons of this show.”

    As far as direction is concerned, Chaddha will direct the pilot episode. Post that, depending upon the requirement, she may direct other episodes as well.  Typically, in a premium scripted television there is not one director. So in the case of Seeker, Chaddha will be the lead director who will make sure the tone and quality that she sets in the pilot episode gets followed by the other directors.

    The production house is in talks with multiple Indian and international directors. It is a hour-long ten-episode series. No production will happen overseas. As Applause Entertainment is the main studio, they will hire the line producers and simultaneously look after production work in India.

    He further adds, “Sameer has a very creative team at Applause, Gurinder and my company, the three of us will be looking at hiring key people. It is a joint production effort; we are producing it together. Casting will be done when things are finalised as there are many characters and we need to go a little deeper into things.”

    According to Aaron, funding will be done by Applause Entertainment.

    “We will put our series on a premium broadcast channel platform. We are also talking to several OTT platforms," he adds.

    By the first half of 2021 Locomotive Global will be ready with close to four premium television series that ilwill be taken to production. He says, “There are a number of shows which are under development. We are constantly acquiring IPs. We have acquired the rights of American series named Ray Donovan from CBS Studios International that will be remade in India. It will be mostly done by 2021.”

    The Making of Star India, was acquired by Locomotive Global Inc. in partnership with Sidharth Jain's company Story Ink. Sidharth Jain and Sunder Aaron  are producing the project together.  He is using the book as a primary source material for another scripted drama series set in the late 90s and early 2000s. He thinks that a lot has happened at the beginning when Star TV came to India. At the launch of the industry a lot of stories and shows were made on Silicon Valley and the internet boom but nothing on Indian television.

    He says, “I think the Indian television is an extraordinary story waiting to be told. We are adapting it in a way that will fictionalise that era and period. It will be something like Succession and Mad Men. We have started the development and we are working with writers but it will take some time.”

    Addressing the challenges that he foresees in the coming future, he notes that the most obvious challenge is production getting back up and accessing key talent.

    “Presumably, people will begin full-fledged shooting by the start of new year, but then it will be difficult to get technical talent. A lot of actors will be unavailable because they will be booked. Another important thing is to find another shooting location apart from Mumbai. We will have to look at other places where we can shoot like Hyderabad and Goa. I am doing a film project in Goa.”

    Aaron’s Hindi general entertainment channel Q India has also been severely impacted by the pandemic caused by Covid2019. Q India is completely advertising supported and it faced many challenges in terms of viewership and advertisement.

    He concludes, “We do not charge a subscription fee for the channel. We were on the verge of a lot of good projects but that got stalled due to pandemic. We are constantly working to evolve the channel under challenging circumstances. Despite the pandemic and the set back, I am sure I will get out of this situation. We were planning to create vernacular channels but that has got pushed now.”