Mollywood actors to take salary cuts as shootings resume

Producers association had said the way forward is to reduce the cost of production

HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS/INDIA-REVENUE

Even as several filmmakers in Kerala and elsewhere have resumed shooting and pre-production works of movies, reports emerge that Mollywood actors have expressed willingness to take paycuts in view of the financial stress faced by producers due to the pandemic.

Earlier, the Kerala Film Producers Association (KFPA) had pointed out that the Malayalam film industry was facing its "worst-ever crisis" and added that the only way forward is to reduce the cost of production by half. “If this industry has to move forward, there is no other way,” KFPA member Renjith was quoted as saying.

The association had also asked the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) and Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA) to consider the possibility of actors and technicians reducing their remunerations.

According to The News Minute, AMMA discussed the same in a meeting last week and on Wednesday, sent a letter to the members of the association, requesting them to support KFPA during this time of crisis. "Since lockdown can come at any place at any time, many movie shoots that were stopped in between have not been started yet. Considering the loss that was caused, the situation of many people in the industry is pathetic. We can guess the economic loss incurred to the producers. They have given a letter to AMMA regarding this. We have been with them in all difficult times in the industry. We remind everyone to extend this support in future too," The News Minute quoted the letter from the association as saying.

AMMA said while it can intervene in the case of movies that have began shooting, for those that are yet to begin, the association concerned will have to bring this to the notice of the actors.

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