The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) wrote a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday, asking for permission to resume post-production work in the media and entertainment field.
The letter, signed by Ashoke Pandit, chief advisor of FWICE, reads, “With reference to the subject matter, we would like to bring to your kind notice that there are numerous projects of the media and entertainment industry which is halted due to lockdown and can be completed soon as only the post-production activities such as editing, sound recording, music recording and others are pending. If permissions are given to carry out such post-production activities of these projects, which can be done in closed studios with a minimum workforce, it would be a great relief to the producers who have poured in huge funds and that they shall be all set to release their projects immediately after the lockdown is lifted.”
The letter by FWICE further reads, “We assure you of complying with all the necessary guidelines pertaining to the health, safety and security of the workers involved in such post-production activities if permitted to do so.”
Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) is the film industry workers union based in Mumbai. As per the data available of 2020, it has 5, 00, 000 members.
The entertainment industry came to a screeching halt in March. The shooting of several films was stopped and even the release dates were also postponed. The step was taken to curb the spread of the COVID-19 infection.
As the movie theatres across the nation are shut due to the lockdown many much-awaited films like Gulabo Sitabo, Laxmmi Bomb, Shakuntala Devi, Ludo and others will be released directly on an OTT platform soon.