Panjim: Film shootings in Goa are all set to resume with the Government granting approval for the same. However, the production house will have to submit an undertaking assuring to adhere to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and general guidelines imposed by the government in view of COVID-19 outbreak.
While no film shooting permissions would be granted in the containment and micro-containment zones; the crew members will have to submit consent forms with regards to their health and fitness. The government has made the installation of Aarogya Setu app, mandatory for all those related to shooting and other ancillary activities.
In a circular issued, the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) has warned that it will withdraw the permissions in case the production house was found violating or not adhering to the SOP and other guidelines.
ESG Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Amit Satija said the State government has granted approval for the resumption of ‘Film Shooting’ operation in Goa, subject to the following of SOPs and general guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“All the Line Producers and others concerned will have to give an undertaking with regards to the SOPs and guidelines currently in effect, while submitting the application for obtaining film shooting permissions to the ESG,” he said.
“However, if at any given time it is brought to the notice of the authorities that the SOPs and guidelines laid down are not being adhered to, then the permissions allotted will be withdrawn immediately. ESG will not be liable to refund payments made towards the permissions withdrawn due to the violations,” the CEO added.
As per the SOP, the production house has been directed to minimize the number of people on the sets as much as possible. Further, they have been issued directions that wherever it’s possible, departments that can work remotely, should be allowed to do so. Also, the total number of crew members involved in shooting cannot exceed more than 100 to 110 for ‘Non-Fiction’ and 50 to 55 for Fiction.
While banning shooting in containment zones, ESG has said that shooting should be preferred to be done in the open areas, away from the residential and densely populated areas.
Every set will have to have a dedicated COVID-19 helpdesk. This desk will monitor the people of the crew and in case a member is found ill, those people will have to be reported to the nearest health centre immediately.
Pregnant women or spouse whose wife is pregnant are banned from visiting the site.
Wearing of mask, PPE kit, hand sanitization and physical distance has to be maintained.
Those crew members coming from outside the State have to follow the State government’s SOP upon entry.
