KUALA LUMPUR: Reopening the film industry, subject to strict standard operating procedures (SOPs) from its associations and the government, ought to be done soon.
Film production associations hope to meet Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to discuss industry-wide SOPs before Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
Four association leaders agreed on this in a Facebook Live forum titled "No One Left Behind?" organised by the Facebook page Malaysia Freelance Production Crew-TV /Film/Video at 4pm today.
The hour-long forum was moderated by Red Communications managing director Lina Tan, and the four participants were Malaysian Television Producers Association (PTVM) president Datuk Jurey Latiff Rosli, Malaysian Documentary Association (MyDocs) executive director Lina Teoh, Malaysian Film Producers Association (PFM) president Panchacharam Nalliah or Pansha, and Malaysian Association of Advertising Filmmakers (PPFIM) president Khoo Kay Lye.
Jurey said: "Our industry has been affected badly by the Movement Control Order (MCO), and many of us have suffered loss of income as a result of the halting of filming. This is why we have got to get together to speak in one voice, appealing to the government to have the industry reopened.
"Even though we agree with the MCO, we believe that as an important income generator to the economy, we should be allowed to reopen subject to stringent SOPs."
Pansha said: "It is good that the Communications and Multimedia Ministry said yesterday that the government will consider reopening the industry after Hari Raya. It is good to open it faster, since production crews, actors and actresses have suffered. We sincerely hope (Prime Minister) Tan Sri Muhyiddin will agree to a meeting where we can finalise good SOPs which the government can enforce."
He also said that June would be a good time to reopen the industry.
Teoh said: "A lot of people have been frustrated because of the prolonged MCO. We want to work with the government, and have a discussion on opening the industry with suitable SOPs. As producers we have a responsibility to crew members."
Khoo said: "Just as other industries which have reopened maintain strict social distancing and observe stringent hygiene standards, we can do the same. We will minimise people on the set, for example."
Pansha said that the associations discussed the SOPs with crew members and artistes, and everybody had to adjust to the "new normal".
"Production costs will go up because films cannot be done as fast as before. It is going to be a new, unpredictable experience for all of us, which everybody must get used to."
Jurey said that everybody on the set has to be more disciplined and organised to be safe from Covid-19.
"We all have to take responsibility, make our sets a lot more hygienic, and make sure everybody adjusts to this new situation, governed by the SOPs."
Yesterday, the Communications and Multimedia Ministry said in a statement that it was considering the associations' appeal that film producers be allowed to resume filming despite the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO).
The ministry said that the National Film Development Corporation (Finas) had studied the associations' recommended SOPs, and these would be presented to Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah.