As you read this, the Central Government Of proposed its budget for the fiscal year 2023. The entertainment industry, which has been more or less ignored by the Union budget for many years, is hoping for big things in this budget. Regardless of what the union budget of 2023 may or may not have in store for the entertainment industry, director Kabir Khan has some advice for filmmakers on how to save money.
The movie business is counting on standardization of ticket prices across theatres and formats to entice more people to attend the movies. The price of tickets would need to be lowered before people would rely less on OTT services. During the height of the pandemic, there was a huge uptick in demand for OTT services, leading to higher subscription costs.
However, Netflix did price cuts last year, so we could probably anticipate the same from other streaming services. Similar to how taxes on movie production expenses should be reduced, so too should tax on entertainment. There should also be a flat rate reduction in taxes for local film studios.
Kabir Khan, director of such blockbuster films as Ek Tha Tiger, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, 83, and Tubelight, has offered suggestions for reducing production costs. According to him, it’s common knowledge that, after the pandemic, there’s less money available for the theatre industry as a whole. Expenditures are now a major concern for everyone, thus it’s important that all of them be shown for everyone to see. He made the point that movies often waste money on extras that audiences never get to see, and that this practice ought to be stopped.
He then provided an example of how to make a film on a limited budget to illustrate his point. According to Kabir, a 100-person crew is sufficient for an outdoor shot, even if the crew size might reach 150 in certain cases. Business class flights and five-star hotels aren’t necessary for everyone. Since none of these details is really shown on screen, producers should be frugal. Additionally, he suggested that filmmakers settle for a 180-degree set rather than a 360-degree set. Although the sector has adapted to similar circumstances in the past, Kabir insists that appropriate planning is essential.
