Shooting for Telugu films has been halted since August 1st of this year. After more than 15 days, it is now being reported that Tollywood filming will resume next week. The Film Chamber and Active Producers Guild are also said to have decided that no actor will be entitled to day-to-day remunerations from now on, as was previously the practice.
Furthermore, they are thought to have agreed on an 8-week window for any project's OTT release, implying that no film will be released on the OTT platform before 8 weeks of its theatrical release.
For those who are unaware, the decision to temporarily halt production was made because the film's production costs have risen multifold in recent years, while theatrical revenues have reached a new low. Due to the high ticket prices, audiences avoid going to the movies following the COVID-19 pandemic. The Producers Council has proposed that general theatre ticket prices be reduced from Rs 100 to Rs 70, and multiplex ticket prices be reduced from Rs 150 to Rs 120, inclusive of GST. However, nothing has been made official yet.
According to the press release, "With changing revenue situations and rising costs post-pandemic, it is critical for producers to discuss all of the issues we face as a community of filmmakers. It is our responsibility to improve our ecosystem and ensure that our films are released in a safe environment. In this regard, all Guild producers have voluntarily agreed to postpone shootings until August 1st, 2022, in order to engage in discussions and find workable solutions."
