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Can a film guild fix what's wrong with Pakistani cinema?

Can a film guild fix what's wrong with Pakistani cinema?

Industry leaders gathered last week to discuss a guild that would protect cast and crew. Here are the details
Updated 29 Mar, 2016

Now that Pakistani cinema is getting back on its feet, the film fraternity wants to do things right.

In the works is Pakistan’s "first film guild", a professional body comprising cinema owners and producers, directors and writers, actors and crew members, that will work together to create a professional environment that respects the rights and appreciates the efforts of all the stakeholders of the cinema industry.

It's a welcome move from Cinepax CEO Hashim Raza and Eveready Group of Companies Chairman Satish Anand, but turning the ongoing initial chatter into action will take some doing.

What would this film guild really do?

Hashim Raza discusses the film guild with the fraternity at a dinner meeting
Hashim Raza discusses the film guild with the fraternity at a dinner meeting

Raza and Anand first floated the idea to some of the industry's greats at a dinner meeting in mid-March, where the guild's purpose was discussed in a brainstorming session.

Some of the ideas shared during the dinner meeting include the formation of a film academy, organization of a neutral award event, scholarships to film schools, mentoring platforms for new entrants, invitations to international guild members and the influence/contribution in film legislation, Raza shared with Images.

In addition to these points, industry members have other ideas in mind.


Dekh Magar Pyaar Se director Asad ul Haq said he'd like to see the guild ensure his taxes are put to good use while veteran actor Bushra Ansari would like to see better regulation of actors' wages.


In conversation with Images, veteran actor Bushra Ansari, who worked in Ho Mann Jahaan and Jawani Phir Nahi Ani, talked about the need for the regulation of actors' wages. She explained that actors often work in films "out of goodwill" for their colleagues, and their remuneration packages can be unfair. Producers quote limited budgets during the casting process and convince actors to come on board for low pay. When the film goes on to make lots of money in the box office, actors don't benefit from those profits.

Dekh Magar Pyaar Se director Asad ul Haq said he'd like to see the guild ensure his taxes are put to good use. "In the '50s and '60s, the Karachi film infrastructure was developed with the help of the government. They gave lands on which the studios were built, they provided discounted cameras. Where are the taxes going now?" He added that the guild should push for Pakistani films' exclusive run at the box office when they are released.

Actors Bushra Ansari and Sania Saeed, HUM Network President Sultana Siddiqui and film journalist Hasan Zaidi at the dinner
Actors Bushra Ansari and Sania Saeed, HUM Network President Sultana Siddiqui and film journalist Hasan Zaidi at the dinner

A lot of the industry members' grievances are partly a result of the lack of communication between stakeholders. The same was noted by Raza, who sees the guild as a remedy for that.

"From all of our conversations with film fraternity we realized there is a clear disconnect between them. Between old and new directors, actors, crew etc, everyone is speaking his/her own language. [There is] no standardization, no family feeling, no sense of common goal/ objective. We were forced to look at other countries as to what did they do when they reached such a point in their respective industry. [Forming a guild] is what they did so we are taking this initiative. Not sure if this is the right time but if not then we are surely getting there. Someone has to take ownership and take the first step.”

Do people harbour reservations about the guild?

It is said that the idea of a film guild received widespread approval and "only constructive opposition".

"People doubt sincerity and commitment because nobody has [formed a guild] before," said Raza. "If we are able to prove our commitment and sincerity, then nobody would oppose [us]. This is going to be an all-inclusive initiative; the purpose is to include everyone, not exclude [anyone]. So I don’t foresee any significant resistance."

However, "the right time" appears key to the formation of the guild. According to cinema owner and film producer Nadeem Mandviwala, it may be too soon to form a guild.


Cinema owner and film producer Nadeem Mandviwala says its too early to form a film guild in Pakistan. On the other hand director Asad ul Haq believes that the proposed guild should just comprise of directors and producers, specifically those who were involved in the "seven films produced last year and the 20 being made this year".


"A guild is formed when different associations, such as an association of film directors, an association of film producers, an association of writers and so on, come together," explained Mandviwala. "At the moment, there is not enough work happening, not enough people in the film industry to even form the associations. Associations existed in the past, and were operational until the '80s, but with the decline of the industry, they became defunct. Currently, there are only 4-5 major distributors and exhibitors in Pakistan, so there's no question of forming an association [of distributors and exhibitors]."

"For comparison's sake, if you look at Pakistan's TV industry right now, there are so many people working in it. Just a technicians' association will have 1000-2000 people alone. There would be 50-100 directors who could make up the directors' association," he added.

Mandviwala went on to suggest that the defunct associations should be revived first, or if the guild seeks to replace them, then its purpose and agenda should be clear.

Asad ul Haq also had reservations about the focus of the guild. He believes that the proposed guild should just comprise of directors and producers, specifically those who were involved in the "seven films produced last year and the 20 being made this year." There's no need to bring on the guys who haven't produced a film in 20 years, he added. "We're the guys who are going to take the industry forward."

"The agenda discussed at the dinner meeting was too long; it should just be three to four core points. The guild should ask the pool of directors and producers to put forward their points and there should be a vote. The majority should be the chief concerns of the guild."

As Pakistani cinema continues its rise in spite of the absence of infrastructure, a film guild could serve to bridge some gaps and remedy some of its flaws. The next logical steps would be define the agenda of the guild, so as to clearly indicate its purpose and constituent members. It's then that the all-important questions of the guild's leadership can be addressed.

Comments

Kashif Mar 29, 2016 02:31pm
The idea is not bad. The question is -- What are the lessons learned from the past? We should not commit the same mistakes as in the past. Mandviwala do have a point that we do not have the critical mass yet. Lets start with forming "Actors Association" followed by "Director", "Writer Association" and then we should formulate a Technicians Association. These all will form A guild.......
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HBN Mar 29, 2016 05:38pm
Unless Pakistan actors dont see bollywood as the ultimate destination, no one can help pakistan cinema.
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Zak Mar 29, 2016 08:12pm
Excellent, now set your standard as Hollywood. Drop substandard Hollywood. Reinforce Pakistans characteristics in the film.
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Critic Mar 29, 2016 08:42pm
@HBN we do not need Bollywood to better our cinema.our cinema is doing good on its own.no to Bollywood and yes to Pakistan cinema
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Seema Mar 29, 2016 11:30pm
What are the immediate issues facing the movie industry in Pakistan that the guild can solve? Perhaps the guild can have a few promising movie projects funded by the government or private investors.
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ASHOK PATEL Mar 30, 2016 06:18am
telugu movies,tamil movies, kannad movies,bengali movies even gujarati movies has less audience then whole pakistani audience.lots of bollywood movies remade from south indian movies.lots of south indian regional movies make more money then bollywood movies point is dont say india has big market ,yes for bollywood movies but not regional movies if south indian regional movies get huge succsess ,why not pakistani movies
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Sajid Mar 30, 2016 07:41am
A guild at this stage would establish a monopoly of those who came first to the cinema revival, and could lead to difficulties for new entrants ultimately leading to decline in diversity and quality of our film industry (again).
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Cinephile Mar 30, 2016 07:59am
More than a film guild, Pakistani films at this critical, nascent point in the upsurge need consistent quality control. Subsidies from the government can help, but given how broken and dysfunctional government enterprises end up being, some collective body (with participation of those who are active in film and television) with generous corporate backing needs to be established that will assist in upgrading and maintaining the film making apparatus and also establish some regulatory oversight over films produced ensuring all films pass certain benchmarks. This will assist in ensuring the longer term sustainability of the current revival phase.
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Syed Mar 30, 2016 02:05pm
They can do it if they figure out the problems professionally and know that viewers's choice.
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say@gmail.com Mar 31, 2016 02:04pm
@ASHOK PATEL - Thank you Ashok Bikol Sahi hai. Agar quality ho hogi with honesty without favouritism - Insallah it will work well. As bollywood movies now days and anti indian caltural they are trying to please western outfit western slangs crapy english and khahani bhi indian moral ki nahin hoti my example is dilwale.. this movies has 98% western only 2% Indian such as actors and hindi. please BE Pakistani and Be Indian....
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