News
Health DG writes script for film/tele-drama industry
Health Ministry guidelines issued this week to the film and tele-drama industry for shooting new material amidst the COVID-19 pandemic could significantly limit creativity if applied to actors.
Scenes depicting intimacy seem out of the question for now and masks have been deemed compulsory, in keeping with general advice meted out to all citizens. The guidelines were issued on Tuesday by Director General of Health Services Anil Jasinghe and rule out touching of eyes, nose and mouth or anything involving crowds.
“There is very limited space to shoot a real movie but at least they issued these guidelines,” said Ashoka Handagama, leading filmmaker. “That gives a signal that they are concerned about it, that they want to restart the industry.”
There is, however, room for improvement, Mr Handagama said. For a start, the advice could be fine-tuned to suit both the industry and health authorities through discussion. The guidelines were issued without consultation with film or tele-drama makers.
Among other things, general instructions to wear masks, to not spit on the ground and to practise greeting with “non-touch technique” such as “Ayubowan” will apply. Each costume must be kept separately, washed thoroughly and not shared.
Crowd scenes are to be avoided where one metre distance cannot be maintained between persons. And there are rules for preproduction, for directors and producers, for transport, filming, make-up, food and post-production.
Mr Handagama expressed concern about the future of foreign movies that were planned to be shot in Sri Lanka–such as an Indian biopic of cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan.
“There are also some other movies that are stuck,” Mr Handagama said. He is aiming to start shooting a film with Spanish and French actors in August but is uncertain whether restrictions at the airport will be relaxed by then. There could be solutions such as carrying out continuous PCR testing but these have to be discussed.
“We can ensure that production teams are small and even restrict crowd scenes but we cannot impose restrictions on the act,” he observed. “And cinema and the entertainment industry is a very important part of the economy. There must be a revival plan.”
Filmmaker Prasanna Vithange has also been working on a script during the curfew. He said there is now an issue with funding, in addition to having to follow guidelines. Those dependent on the industry, including actors, are also looking for work. But, for him, there was no question of endangering actors or other staff.
Many tele-drama productions have started and they do not always follow best practices, Mr Vithanage said. There was a feeling in some outstation areas that “now it’s normal”. This was not encouraging, he pointed out: “The virus is among us so I hope that the guidelines will be followed.”
As for acting and filmmaking, everyone on set could wear a mask–but not the actors. “I’m talking about making films or tele-dramas about the pre-COVID days,” he said. “If they are about post-COVID days, it’s possible.”
Vimukthi Jayasundara, filmmaker, felt guidelines applied only to “behind the camera” and had nothing to do with acting or “in front of the camera”. The mask-wearing and other non-touch guidelines, he interpreted were for crew other than performers.
“What the health authorities could do is help us by testing our and crew members,” he said. “We can thereafter ensure that outsiders are not allowed to come in so we are sure of the people we are working with on set.”
An overriding concern was about the continued closure of cinemas and theatres, which restricts viewing even if film production were to recommence.