Will you watch your favourite soap tomorrow?Cine employees strike work

Television and film production schedules have been hit with around 200,000 workers affiliated with the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) going on strike from today 1 October, 2. FWICE president Dharmesh Tiwari says that this is a non-co-operation move. The strike affects all 22 crafts including actors, technicians, and musicians. “Last year we had signed a MoU with the four film producer associations. Despite that there are difficulties," he pointed out. He notes that television producers shoot for as much as 30 hours at a stretch. This is despite the fact the fact that the limit is eight to 10 hours. Then there is the fact that payments come in after 120 days. "In the interim we pay money for conveyance from our own pocket. There are also agents involved when we have told producers that workers should be paid directly." Another grouse is that often workers not affiliated with the FWICE are employed by producers. These workers are paid less than what is stipulated in the MoU. The key question is how have television producers been affected? Producer Rajan Shahi who has the number one show Bidaai on Star Plus admits that he is badly affected by the strike. "I had to shoot this very important scene and had erected a very costly set. Now with the cine employees going for a strike I will have to bear a major financial loss." He adds that some of his actors are going out of Mumbai for a week tomorrow evening about which they had informed him beforehand. "Now with the shooting coming to an indefinite halt I don’t know how I will shoot the sequence. Had I been in the loop I could have extended the shooting. I have not been informed officially about it. "What does a producer like me do who abides by all the laid down rules? I have strictly asked my people to hire only those who are the members of the association be it art director, associate director or anyone for that matter. Also I have no outstanding payments and I have often been commended for this. To top it all I have not got the correct picture of the whole thing." "Generally, I have four episodes in the bank but with the shooting coming to a halt for two days it would definitely affect the telecast. In case of Bidaai , either my script will be altered or the episodes will have to be changed." Associate producer of BR Films Surinder Malhotra who has a daily show Sujata currently on on air says, “We have only tomorrow’s episode and no further bank. I feel this strike is a fight against the channel.” Creative Eye Producer Dheeraj Kumar who has five shows on air (Betiyaan, Veeranwali, Maayka, Jai Maa Vaishnodevi, Waqt) says, “We have a bank of 3-4 episodes for all our shows but it is not a relief. With the help of the television federation, we should ensure that the matter gets resolved. It is a loss to the production house as well as to the workers.” Vikas Goopta, Creative Head whose popular soap Kis Desh Mein Hai Meraa Dil is currently one of the top grossers on Star Plus informs, “The strike is ofcourse going to affect the show as we shoot cut to cut. I had an important sequence to shoot with the lead actor of the show but all the pre-planning has gone for a toss now. Though we have the telecast ready for the next two days but during such times quality does suffer. Atleast we must be kept in the loop and give us a month’s notice so we work accordingly. Vikas continues, “About the employment of non-members I am not the right person to comment but payment according to me should be according to the ability and the talent of a person. Now if a spotboy is better than his counterpart then the same pay isn’t justified. It should entirely depend on your creativity and ability. If the strike continues the Monday telecast of the show would surely get affected.” Shakuntalam Telefilms' Shyam Bhattacharya says that the production house has a bank of two days for its shows such as Dulhann (Zee), Bandhan (Colors) and Santan (Star Plus). "However, thereafter it will be trouble for us. No channel is keen to show a repeat telecast. We spent Rs 5 lakh to create a set in Kamalistan studio for Dulhann . The shoot was to commence today but there is nothing we can do now." He adds that a meeting between channels, production houses and FWICE is likely to take place on 4 October 2008. On his part Tiwari says that if a meeting is called between the different parties then the FWICE would be willing to come to the table. As the strike will also affect actors Tellychakkar spoke to a few of them to know their reactions. Divyanka Tripathy who is playing the lead in Dulhan (Zee) says, “Due to the strike I am sitting at home. Personally, I support the issue that FWICE is taking up. Actors come and go but the technicians slog it out for long hours. Let’s not forget that they too are humans and need adequate rest. While I support the cause, I’m not in favour of a prolonged strike. You can’t be showing repeat telecasts for long.” So now that you have got an unexpected off how will you spend your time? “When we get such offs, I prefer to sleep for long hours. I got up at 2.00 pm today. I wouldn’t want the strike to last till Navratri. Besides I haven’t planned anything for the festival.” Sayantani Ghosh who is currently seen in Naagin and Ghar ek sapna says, “The demands made by FWICE are reasonable and completely justified. However, a prolonged strike isn’t good for anyone including the agitators. I hope this can come to an early end. During such days, I indulge in all those activities which I normally can’t afford to. This morning, I went to the parlour and now I’m out shopping. I also have a couple of meetings lined up for today. If the strike is to last till Navratri then, I head to Kolkata for Durga Puja . Ali Merchant is currently playing the lead in Rubi says, “ This morning I got a call from the production team informing me the shifting of the call time to 2 pm. I am happy as an actor as I have got an off today but it is certainly bad for the producer. The Monday telecast would suffer as being a bi-weekly the pressure is more.” Juhi Parmar who essays the role of in Star Plus’ Kumkum says, “I don’t know the details but what I know is that they are asking for an increment in their wages. If the strike continues for a couple of days it would definitely affect the show as a daily has a bank of a maximum of two episodes. I am definitely in favour of the strike as they truly deserve a better pay package. The technicians are the ones who work really hard and get paid the least. They do not get the kind of increments that we actors get. But I want things to be sorted out peacefully.” We do hope that things get resolved soon and we are not deprived of our daily dose of TV.