TFPC meeting: Tamil film shoots to be suspended from Nov 1

The Tamil Film Producers Council (TFPC) has issued a press note stating that the body has adopted six resolutions.

TFPC members, along with theatre owners, multiplex owners, and distributor body members, were in a huddle in Chennai to discuss some crucial issues like the space between theatrical release and OTT streaming and the astronomical rise in the cost of production.

Following the meeting, the stakeholders agreed upon and adopted six resolutions, which are:

1) There should be an interval of eight weeks between the theatrical release and OTT streaming of films starring top actors.

2) Taking cognisance of the fact that some actors, actresses, and technicians take advances from a producer but instead work on other projects, leading the producer to incur a huge loss. In the future, the actors and technicians must honour their commitments towards projects for which they have already taken an advance payment and enter into agreements for other projects only upon completion of the existing commitments.

It further stated that since Dhanush has received advance amounts for several projects that are yet to take off, he should consult with the producer council before entering a new project.

3) New guidelines will be formulated to address the lack of screen allotments for small-budget films. So, it is being requested that no announcement of new film projects take place after August 16 for the time being.

4) Producers whose projects' shooting is underway are advised to wrap filming by October 30.

The August 16 deadline for project announcement and the October 30 shoot completion deadline are being made in order to formulate and promulgate the new guidelines.

5) Shooting for all films will remain suspended to discuss the astronomical rise in the cost of production vis-à-vis artists' and technicians' salaries and make some reformations to that end.

6) Every issue relating to the film industry will be arbitrated by a Joint Action Committee comprising producers, distributors, and theatre owners.