Bengali TV Serials Shooting Stalled Due to Payment Issues, Telecast of Shows on All Channels Affected

Kolkata, August 23: The stand-off between artists and producers of Bengali TV serials remained unresolved for the sixth day today, with no shooting taking place in any of the eight studios of the city. According to a PTI report, the producer's association said that it was ready for talks with no pre-condition, while the artiste's body maintained that dialogue would start only after getting a formal letter from the other side. The actors have not been working since August 18. The telecast of all shows are affected and they are running old shows on the channels.

Forum General Secretary Arindam Ganguly said that the Forum wanted that all artists should get their dues as decided in a meeting between the Federation of Cine Technicians and Workers of East India and the producers on July 7 and they should not be forced to work for more than 14 hours. Welfare Association of Television Producers (WATP) however said that the 14-hour stipulation may not be feasible during outdoor shoots as it takes time to make arrangements before shoots. Some of the demands of the Forum were payment of salaries of every artist be paid within the 15th of the next month and the hourly basis of payment if the shooting schedule of an artist exceeds 10 hours.

According to a Times of India report, the artists have alleged that they haven't stopped the work, the producers have stalled the shooting, while the latter has denied the allegations. Earlier, the members of WATP had alleged that a few actors work in a number of projects in a single day, and spend only 3-4 hours on the shooting floor as they have other projects too. But they demand the payment for the entire day.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 23, 2018 12:45 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).