ITV

Tag: Television producers

  • 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.

  • Ekta Kapoor leads TV frat to make inspiring COVID-19 film

    Ekta Kapoor leads TV frat to make inspiring COVID-19 film

    MUMBAI: You have to hand it to creative czarina Ekta Kapor. If she does something, she does it in style. Like her latest effort at assuaging the ennui that some might be going through thanks to being boxed in their homes courtesy the long-drawn lockdown on account of COVID-19. She has got together more than a score of actors, a bunch of leading TV producers from the Indian Film & TV Producers Council, and put out a short film labelled Quarantine which not only educates, engages, but also entertains about how we can deal with the pandemic.

    It was sometime around the end of the first week of April that she mentioned on the IFTPC WhatsApp group that the TV industry should make a film that would be TV-centric  and that she had a concept which could be fleshed out.  The Amitabh Bachchan Covid2019 short  film  Family with several leading actors had just been released and the view was  that the TV frat should also be doing something to keep viewers entertained and positive.

    She sought volunteers from the group who would work with her to make it a reality. Almost immediately, Binaifer Kohkli, Fazila Allana (Sol India Banijay), Anil Wanvari (The Indian Telly Awards – and the indiantelevision.com group), Abhishek Rege (Endemol Shine India), JD Majethia (Hats Off Productions), Gul Khan agreed and came on  board as executive producers. (Tanushree Dasgupta came in a couple of days later as executive producer).  Dheeraj Sarna – a producer in his own right –was roped in to write the script for the short but entertaining film, with dialogues being penned by him and Anukalp Goswami.  Prolific TV music director Aashish Rego hopped on board to do the background music for the film.

    Full House Media MD Sonali Jaffar was assigned with the creative responsibility, while Guroudev Bhalla was given the task of directing the video, disclosed  actor and producer JD Majethia.

    Another Whatsapp group was formed with those who had volunteered.  “We connected on a Zoom call where the ideas were discussed,” he says. “After brainstorming and discussing with fellow producers a collective call was taken on how this video should be light hearted and yet conveying the important message of staying home. The basic premise was that the actors would simulate as if they were in the Big Boss house and not forcibly locked down in their homes and the story would take off from there.”

    He adds, “After getting the final script the next stage was the casting.  Few were mentioned in the script and few names of actors were discussed who could participate in the video. Some were available and some were not but most of them did their best to make it happen.  It was the collective effort made by the producers, actors, editor and director to shoot this video. Because technically speaking it was not easy to shoot this video on your phone. Guroudev Bhalla did a fantastic job of putting this together. He and along with other executive producers constantly coordinated with actors for every frame of the video. He coordinated with them regarding props or lighting, how their lines should be, who should say what. He coordinated with the editor Vikas Sharma.”

    Binaifer Kohli was one of the executive producers. She mentioned that Ekta Kapoor approached Sonali Jaffar to look at the creative aspect of the film. Kohli assisted Guroudev Bhalla in the direction. Kohli’s primary job was to ensure proper coordination between director, actor and the editor. According to Kohli, the actors did a phenomenal job of pulling this off. As it was not that easy to shoot just with their phone. Ensuring the proper angle and lighting. The entire shoot was done in five days as each actor was allocated different lines.

    She echoes, “Some of the actors shot the video by themselves on their phone, others took help of the family members. It had moving shots where eye level had to be maintained. Lighting was a very important aspect. Whenever the changes were required actors reshot the video there and then. They sought help from the editor on uploading it. We also changed the script according to the person.”

    Ekta Kapoor who spearheaded “Quarantine” says, “This video is an initiative of the television producers association of our country and we got all the top television actors to participate in this video, which was conceptualized over numerous conference calls! It is an effort from all of us in encouraging people to stay home. We hope this reaches far and wide.”

    The entire concept of making this video was to keep it casual, entertaining yet focusing on the importance of staying at home. Says SOL India-Banijay Group founder & MD Fazila AllanA: “In these unprecedented times it’s just nice if one can bring a smile to people’s faces and this was a small endeavour by the TV fraternity to do just that.”

    Full House Media MD Sonali Jaffar instructed the actors about their dialogues and in which manner they have to shoot. She adds, “Shooting at home was quite challenging also as a lot of prop exchanges were going on with the broom. Everyone was instructed to use a plain background as it would be difficult to match lightings. Because some were standing in the balcony some were having other backgrounds so we had to tell them to keep the same background. The other option was to use black and white background but it would have been difficult.”

    “The important thing was whenever we were shooting we shared the clips with the director there and then so that the changes could be made before editing the video. I thank all actors and producers for coming together and creating this beautiful video,” she further added.

    Adds Wanvari: “What is amazing how all of us worked as a team without shying away from whatever we  were asked to do. Even the actors immediately caught on to the idea that was shared with them by the creative director and Guroudev Bhalla. And they were also more than willing to do their bits to help Indians at home. They have all done a fantastic job, the results are for you to see.”

    According to Majethia two versions of the short film have been created, one featuring sign language for the hearing and speech impaired and one without it. He adds, “I think this is the beauty of this video. The idea I personally loved the most.”

    The video is being promoted across all social media platforms Majethia also mentions that the producers are in talks with television broadcasters to play it on national television.

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  • Guild critical of autocratic behaviour towards ‘Parzania’

    Guild critical of autocratic behaviour towards ‘Parzania’

    NEW DELHI: The Film and Television Producers Guild of India and many of its members have expressed regret over recent attempts to intervene in screening of films by certain multiplexes of Gujarat.

    In a release, the Guild said: “Given our rich and diverse tradition it is disturbing to see such a repressive attitude towards the recently released film ‘Parzania’ by these authoritarian individuals.”

    The release added: “Surely the release of a film cannot be tantamount to the whims and fancies of certain exhibitors. Hence the Guild considers it as a sacrilege towards the fundamental rights of citizens and also considers this as a hindrance on their creativity.”

    The Guild is “positive that artistic independence of our talented filmmakers will not be curbed nor will free and fair broadcast be stopped through undemocratic means. The Guild assures the filmmakers that their interests will always be safeguarded.”