SOPs for film shoots, TV serials, animation, gaming soon: Prakash Javadekar

The Government of India stands firm with the M&E industry through these tough times – that was the message that went out to the industry in the inaugural address of Prakash Javadekar, Minister of Environment, Forest & Climate Change; Information & Broadcasting; & Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises, at FICCI Frames 2020 virtual conference, which commenced today.

In a recorded address, the Minister pointed out that virtual inaugurations have become the new normal. He said, “The virtual spaces are the new places to forge partnerships; while the gathering might be virtual, the partnerships formed are real. We have conducted virtual rallies where hundred thousand workers have joined.” Javadekar further said that COVID-19 has given us the opportunity to think afresh on the way we communicate. “Today, we are innovating in various ways to reach out – this is human intelligence,” he added.

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He also informed that Ministry for Information & Broadcasting (MIB) has have decided to help the industry in many ways and assured the industry that MIB will be its partner. “We all need to work together to harness the soft power of India, that is, Media & Entertainment,” he emphasised.

As part of this, the Government is coming up with standard operating procedures (SOPs) for shooting films in India in the light of the pandemic. Further, to accelerate the restart of filmmaking, which has come to a standstill as a result of COVID-19, the Government is also coming up with incentives for production in all sectors, including TV serials, filmmaking, co-production, animation, gaming, etc. These measures will be announced shortly.

Adding further, Javadekar said, “You would be pleased to know that a film facilitation office has been set up for the 80 foreign producers who have taken advantage of this facility. With this, they have got single window clearance for shooting of their films in India.”

Reaffirming the importance of the country’s M&E sector, the Minister pointed out that India’s film and television content is consumed in over 150 countries. “This sector generates millions of jobs, significant revenues and, despite the impact of COVID-19, it is growing at a good pace,” he maintained.

While he acknowledged the fact that India’s share in the global M&E market is small, he was confident that it can grow phenomenally. “Given India’s cost advantage of 40-60 per cent for the same quality of content from advanced countries, we can achieve stupendous results if we work together,” he stressed.

Javadekar called for more entrepreneurs, founders and leaders in the M&E sector to steer the industry forward and bring in more innovation.

“The Government of India stands shoulder to shoulder with the industry in achieving all this,” were his encouraging words.