Shooting resumes today following health guidelines
TV shoots were shut down across the country for a long time, to curb the spread of the coronavirus. However, starting from today, inter-organisations in the television community, including the Television and Digital Programme Producers Association of Bangladesh, Director's Guild, Actors' Equity, Writers' Equity, Cameraman Association of Bangladesh, Presenters Platform of Bangladesh, Video Editors Association of Bangladesh, Audio Visual Technical Owners Association, Television Media Make-up Artiste Association, Television Assistant Director Organisation of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Television Media Production Manager Association, Bangladesh Media Lightman Association, Shooting Light Owners Association, Shooting House Owners Association and Shooting Unit Microbus Drivers Association have decided to resume shoots, with certain health guidelines. The leading inter-organisations can cancel shoots at any time, depending on the evolving situation.
According to the guidelines, only two to three artistes are allowed to shoot one scene together at a time, keeping a distance of at least 3 feet from one another. No production should be shot without a proper script.
Those who come to work must be in good health, and stay in isolation for fourteen days after the shoot is over. Elderly artistes must be treated with great care, while shooting with child artistes is prohibited for the time being.
Everyone in a shooting unit must have their temperatures checked before entering the premises and wear PPE when possible. Lead actors are instructed to do their make-up and bring their own food from their homes. Shooting houses and transport vehicles must be carefully sanitised before and after work hours. The producers and directors on the sets must monitor if these instructions are being followed.
All guidelines by the health ministry have to be strictly maintained before and after shooting, which will be scheduled from 10 am to 4 pm, as per government rules during the pandemic.
These notices are subject to change, according to the instructions of the health ministry.
Saju Muntasher, General Secretary of Television and Digital Programme Producers Association, mentioned that the inter-organisations wanted to keep shoots suspended for at least two more weeks. However, it was not feasible, bearing the livelihoods of the workers in mind.
Dr Abdun Nur Tushar, President of Presenters Platform of Bangladesh, was one of the core members of the committee, when these rules were made.