Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) on Tuesday implored the Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to allow the resumption of post-production work in a letter.
FWICE also emphasized the fact that resuming post-production work will help many technicians and daily wage workers who have been the most hard-hit by the lockdown to get back to work.
With a letter that the organisation tweeted out to the Chief Minister’s Office, they asked the Thackeray to allow recording studios to resume functioning to enable the completion of incomplete projects.
“We would like to bring your kind notice that there are numerous projects of the media and the entertainment industry which are halted due to lockdown and can be completed soon as only post-production activities are pending. If permissions are given to carry out such post-production activities, which could be done in closed studios with a minimum workforce, it would be a great relief to producers who have poured in huge funds,” the letter read.
Along with many others, the letter written by the film organisation to the CM was posted by film critic and trade analyst Taran Adarsh on Twitter and Netflix Post-production director Vijay Venkataramanan on his Linkedin Account.
Given the fact that crores of rupees were blocked due to the sudden stalling of projects, FEFSI (Film Employees Federation of South India) had earlier beseeched the government to permit the post-production services. In response to the appeal, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palanisamy obligingly decided albeit with a few restrictions.
The resumption of post-production activities, if that happens in Mumbai, will presuppose mandatory travel passes for workers with strict social distancing measures and wearing of masks along with other measures advised by the centre and the state government.