Guidelines issued for Film-TV shoots amid pandemic

The Maharashtra government on May 31 announced that film and television shooting could resume in non-containment zones as a part of the relaxation from June. 

The Producers Guild of India has issued guidelines, a 37-page ‘working protocol’ for the entertainment industry when they resume shooting after the Maharashtra government permits. 

The protocol issued by the body also mentioned that if a person does not follow the guidelines, they would be excluded from filming. 

These are the guidelines television and film production actors and crew members need to follow while shooting:

• Washing & Sanitising hands mandatory at entry, exit and during the shoot
• Triple layer of protection (medical mask and gloves) for each crew member mandatory to wear during the entire shoot
• No physical greetings, no sharing of cigarettes
• Crew & cast member above 60 years to be avoided for at least three months
• Maintaining a minimum distance of two metres
• Every set should have three types of sanitiser available – hand, surface and space, which members will have to use appropriately 
• Portable wash basin and bathing arrangements should be made available
• Every set to have a COVID-19 helpdesk with one or two members as ‘Anti-COVID Boys’
• Every member to submit a consent form of health declaration and follow the protocols of safety by using necessary gears and PPE kits 
• Sets to be divided into zones, color-coded bands for each to ensure social distancing
• Not more than 15 people in a zone, indoor to be divided in 11 zones, outdoor in 3
• Every set to have a medical assistance area including isolation zone, medical staff, ambulance at all times
• Casting to be conducted online 
• Location to be chosen after consulting with ward officers and understanding whether the locality is red, green or orange zone
• If needed, risk assessments to be implemented, authorized Health & Safety authority could be contacted
• All actors, including extras and stuntmen, to prove their negative COVID-19 test, based on doctor’s recommendation 
• Adhere to quarantine rules after testing for actors