Statement from the Producers Guild Of India 👏

So well put forward. Pretty stupid that cinema hall owners can't even understand such a simple thing!

https://twitter.com/producers_guild/status/1261152148890415106?s=19

Practical points. I can understand both sides of the argument. Theatre owners are obviously scared that after everything is over, the audience preference will shift gears as it's been happening throughout the world. I don't see theatres opening for some time now so this entire period of complete OTT releases will eventually lead to more people preferring to watch everything online even after this pandemic is over. Atleast multiplexes, urban areas will see this trend no matter what social distancing measures are taken. It's inevitable. So they are playing the 'threat of boycott' game.

But producers have no other option than to do this. It's logical and practical especially for mid sized and small movies. They gotta pay stuff from their own pockets waiting for theatres to open again. So unless the theatre owners and the likes can help them financially to bear the losses,they have no right to get angry and bitchy about it. This is not happening in the normal state of things. It's happening in the midst of a global pandemic. The least they could do is understand and not throw 'we feel betrayed' statements.

Originally posted by: AllThatCritique

Practical points. I can understand both sides of the argument. Theatre owners are obviously scared that after everything is over, the audience preference will shift gears as it's been happening throughout the world. I don't see theatres opening for some time now so this entire period of complete OTT releases will eventually lead to more people preferring to watch everything online even after this pandemic is over. Atleast multiplexes, urban areas will see this trend no matter what social distancing measures are taken. It's inevitable. So they are playing the 'threat of boycott' game.

But producers have no other option than to do this. It's logical and practical especially for mid sized and small movies. They gotta pay stuff from their own pockets waiting for theatres to open again. So unless the theatre owners and the likes can help them financially to bear the losses,they have no right to get angry and bitchy about it. This is not happening in the normal state of things. It's happening in the midst of a global pandemic. The least they could do is understand and not throw 'we feel betrayed' statements.

Exactly. And not like these theatres care about small/medium budget films. They always get the worst show timings, less no. of shows, etc. They really need to understand that there will always be an audience for theatres and this is just temporary for all the films that have already finished shooting. Once everything is over and shooting resumes and theatres reopen, people will be back to business.

The only question is- when!

Sounds fair, balanced and articulated well. That abrasive INOX rant was so unprofessional and obnoxious. "Retributive action" like wtf! They showed no empathy for the producers who are suffering just as badly as they are (if not more).

OTT is thriving now and it makes complete sense for producers to choose alternatives. It is a matter of survival, after all. If the producer goes bankrupt, they will never be able to make movies in the future that can be exhibited in theatres. But if the OTT deals help them survive this storm for the time being, they can continue being in the business and continue releasing films in theatres once the pandemic ends. So even though it sounds counter productive, OTT is helping exhibitors as we speak.

And INOX of all people shouldn't act all self-righteous because they (multiplex chains) did pretty much the same to single screens. How Kodak was replaced with digital cameras/phone cameras. Nokia was replaced by smarter phones. It is just how businesses evolve and develop. INOX should grow up, get a grip and move with the times instead of acting like a crybaby.

ETA: Let's consider an alternative scenario wherein shoots were banned in India for 6 months and Indian films cannot release. Wouldn't exhibitors show Hollywood movies to continue remaining in the business? Should Bollywood and other Indian industries throw a hissy fit and rant against exhibitors for choosing HW over them? No, that's not how it works. So instead of trying to guilt-trip the industry and threatening them to not release movies on OTT platforms, they should rather be empathetic and be united in this crisis.

What an articulate and empathetic letter.👏

I feel bad for the producers after reading this. No insurance, bearing all the losses, also trying to provide for some of the daily wage workers. Some of them did try to help them.

Everyone and everything is in a bad state right now. I hope things get back to normal soon.

Funny.

Bollywood movie producers are not these simple poor people who make films because they love films. They very rarely lose money in films. That is why films are made though many of them flop.

Producers make money on a film by

Selling film to distributors

Selling Satellite rights

Selling Music Rights

Selling film to OTT platforms.

For instance, though Kalank flopped I doubt if Dharma Production lost any money, it is the distributors and exhibitors who must have bore the brunt..

It is the exhibitors who suffer the most if the film flops and many of them do. Maybe that is the reason why they sell food at exorbitant prices, but then who does not like extra profit.

So, if exhibitors refuse to screen movies of certain production houses then these production houses should not cry and crib.

Just as producers are within their right to bypass exhibitors while releasing their films, exhibitors too are within their rights to take an action they deem appropriate.

Both theatre owners and producers have minted money when the sun shined brightly. Quite obvious the one who gets a way out will go for it. In this case producers are getting a way. While the popularity will be less, profits too will reduce but there isn't any other option

The distributor loses the most in current scenario.

IMO its the government's responsibility to support movie theatres during this kind of pandemic

Very well articulated letter! 👏

It's absolutely logical and wise to release such movies on OTT platforms as when producers are suffering losses each day, you can't expect them to wait till everything becomes normal which may be till December or next year. Exhibitors have no empathy and whenever a movie flops, they start demanding money from producers and actors.

When cinema halls open, it's not even possible to release more than 2-3 movies every week and as per the numbers, hundreds of Bollywood movies release in a year. The industry is shut for 2 months as of now which means like 60+ movies are pending plus more movies of the next month and those that have not completed shooting.