Active Producers Guild halts film shootings to chart a new roadmap amid falling revenues

TROUBLE IN TOLLYWOOD | Film industry divided over decision to halt shootings from August 1

- Neeshita Nyayapati

Post-pandemic, the Telugu film industry has been struggling to get back on its feet, with many producers – big and small – reeling from heavy losses. With the exception of films like Pushpa and RRR, majority of the Telugu theatrical releases have had a lukewarm response at the box-office. This is mainly due to the emergence of OTT platforms and a lack of motivation for the general public to go to theatres, say producers. The brunt of the box-office lull in the industry is being faced by the daily wage workers, who have been protesting for a hike in wages for the past few months. With their pleas falling on deaf ears, over 20,000 workers threatened to go on strike, putting a halt to the shootings of several big-ticket films.

On Tuesday, the Active Telugu Film Producers Guild (ATFPG) announced that film shootings will be temporarily stopped across the industry until all stakeholders resolve their issues and chart a new roadmap for the industry going forward. “Post-pandemic, with the changing revenue situations and increasing costs, it becomes important for producers to discuss all the issues we are facing as a community of filmmakers. It is our responsibility to improve our ecosystem and ensure that we are releasing our films in a healthy environment. In this regard, all producer members of the Guild have voluntarily decided to withhold shootings from August 1, 2022, to sit in discussion until we find workable resolutions,” ATFPG announced in a statement.