OFDC asks filmmakers to stop shooting till March 31

Odisha Film Development Corporation in an official statement has urged the filmmakers and production houses to call off their shoots for films and web series.

Mumbai: Due to the concerns emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Odisha Film Development Corporation (OFDC) requested the Odia filmmakers to halt their productions.

On Wednesday, the OFDC said: "In light of #COVID19, we request all producers, directors and independent filmmakers or their units in the state to stop shooting of films, TV series/shows, web series etc, from 19 March to 31 March."

Since the outbreak of the crisis, numerous film organisations have issued similar guidelines.

An official statement, issued by the ODFC Managing director Dr. Nitin B. Jawale, read: "In the light of the outbreak of COVID19 pandemic disease all over the world including India and similar directives issued by different associations in this field, Odisha Film Development Corporation of Odisha requests all producers, Directors and Independent filmmakers or their units in Odisha to stop shooting Films, TV Series/Shows, Web series etc from 19-03-2020 to 31-03-2020."

"We would appreciate your kind support in this matter to contain the spread of this highly infectious disease," the statement further read.

In other news, Indian Motion Pictures Producers' Association has sent out a note to all entertainment formats to call off shooting till March end as cases of coronavirus have increased to over 100.

The official statement released by the body has mentioned stopping the shooting of films, TV serials, web serials, and all other entertainment including digital formats.

The meeting was attended by the representatives IMPPA, Federation of Western India Cine Employees, Indian Film and Television Directors' Association (IFTDA), Western India Film Producers' Association (WIFPA), and Indian Film and TV Producers Council (IFPTC).

In the wake of spurt in cases of coronavirus across the country, the Central government on Saturday decided to treat the deadly virus as a "notified disaster."

Coronavirus, which originated in China's Wuhan city in December last year, has so far spread to more than 100 countries, infecting over 1,30,000 people.

With inputs from ANI.