Covid 19 has played havoc with our already struggling film industry.
Many films are ready to be released but cinemas are closed. Producers have invested a huge amount in films. Directors and actors have worked tirelessly for months to complete their projects.
Other staff is also worried about how they would meet their ends if film industry in the country calls a pack-up due to unavailability of screening options and ultimately no financial returns.
The Truth International (TTI) reached directors who have almost completed their films and waiting for the appropriate time to release them
The focus was on the current status of their work, what hope they see as many cinemas may not survive another year, digital release of their films, and the situation of production staff that work with them on their films.
Wajahat Rauf – Parde Main Rehne Do
Wajahat Rauf needs no introduction when it comes to our new revived film industry started at the beginning of the last decade. He has already directed three films, all box office successes. He has completed his next project ‘Perde Main Rehen Do’ with Hania Amir and Ali Rehman as leads.
He is also very concerned about his film as Covid 19 has played havoc with our already struggling film industry, “It always was a tough industry with less than 140 screens and zero support from the government. Now with the cinemas closed, our investments are stuck and we can’t make our next film.”
Does he see any hope as many cinemas may not survive another year? Rauf is upbeat but with the support of government: “To have hope is always good. Again, with government support, we can overcome this. Worldwide there are
relief packages given to affected industries. But I don’t see any movement in the right direction here.”
Asked if he would go for a digital release of his film if this situation persists for long, he said, “Yes. Like most of us, we have also reached out. But due to no real OTT platforms here, we are looking at international platforms. It is a tough sell though.”
He adds that he would urge the state to support the film industry with relief packages, or it would die yet again.
In the current crisis, Rauf has taken good care of his staff but admits that the overall situation in the industry is seemed gloomy.
Yasir Nawaz – Chakkar
The director and actor Yasir Nawaz is also waiting with his film Chakkar, starring Neelam Muneer and Ahsan in leads. He says that everyone who has their film ready is disturbed about the current situation but he also think that the people who have authority over the industry including government are not serious about this profession.
“They think that film making is a side business of producers. Until and unless the mainstream producers, distributors take it seriously, we cannot prosper as industry and film making will remain a hobby of directors and producers, not a full time profession.”
Nawaz’s film was stopped due to the lockdowns after Covid, which also put a burden on him.
Asked what he thinks will happen if the cinemas remain closed for another year, Yasir hopes the rough patch will be over by the end of this year.
“I have talked to many people. They are assuming cinemas will be reopened by November or December but if the same continues for another one and half year, they’ll start to lose hope and pack it up. Cinema owners are waiting till the end of this year, and then they will convert their properties into plazas and other projects/business.”
Asked if he would he go for a digital release, Yasir said, “Film making is a passion especially for directors and actors. We do it for bigger screens and want our films in cinema halls. As far as releasing them on TV and other digital platforms is concerned, I have been directing dramas for last 25 years, so why to make films.
“In India, as there is established regular film industry, they can think about going for digital and OTT platforms. In Pakistan, we don’t have many options like these. So, producers who have completed their films will wait for the cinemas to reopen.”
Saqib Khan – Ghbrana Nahin Hai
Saqib Khan is a well-known name in drama industry. His debut big screen project Ghabrana Nahin Hai starring Saba Qamar, Zahid Ahmed, and Syed Jibran is all set to be released as soon as cinemas are reopened.
Talking about what he sees for his film, he said, “When I started writing this film with Mohsin Ali back in October 2019, the landscape of cinema screens was entirely different from what it is today.
“There was a progressive rise in the number of films being made and cinema screens so we were quite hopeful of reaching out to abroad spectrum of audiences, not only in context of monitory returns but catering to an audience of more diversified taste of cinema.”
Asked if he harbours hopes of the cinemas opening up soon, Khan showed a very little hope, “Yes, Covid has turned our industry upside down, so yes definitely we are a little bit worried because it’s not the same situation and it’ll probably take another couple of years to get back to that pre-Covid point for an industry like ours.
“The situation at the moment does not seem very promising but I’m still hopeful that as soon as the cinemas reopen, we have an array of good films waiting to be released and this will definitely boost the confidence in our audiences, producers, distributors, exhibitors and things will revert to better net soon.”
Asked what other options he sees for his film, Khan replied, “We discussed it and I and my producers are of the opinion that ideally the film is meant for the big screen. That’s how it was conceived and executed from the beginning so we are hopeful that it gets a theatrical release as soon as the cinemas reopen, though the final decision lies with the producers.”
Asked what his technical staff are doing amid this standstill, he revealed that there are no production staff in our industry who rely solely on films. “The crew and vendors related to our industry bank more on the TV and TVCs productions for their bread and butter so most of the people are just sticking to that only and surviving this phase.”
Khan agreed that film production did open a lot of avenues for the crew and vendors but as Covid situation has hit our industry very hard, he personally know a lot of people who went out of work last year but things are getting back to normal after the resumption of TV and TV commercials.
“I guess we’ve somehow on an unconscious level learned that we’ll have to stick with TV as this is most popular medium here and film or digital platforms will not be able to supersede it unless they’re granted the freedom of expression that they enjoy in industries that we are so inspired by and aspire to be!”
