New Delhi: There was a time when actors would work in back-to-back shifts around the clock and would often forget the names of the characters they were supposed to be playing. Much has changed since then. A superstar today is known for his unwavering focus on work-life balance with regulated early morning shifts, while a young mother, Deepika Padukone, is supposedly pushing for an eight-hour shift as well.
Veteran producer Anand Pandit believes the debate over an eight-hour shift is unnecessary. As he puts it, “Many leading stars are known to work in a very regulated way, and I believe it is a good approach. It’s time to work smarter, not longer. A pragmatic approach towards filmmaking and managing large-scale productions is the need of the hour. Better planning, mutual respect, and smarter work practices on set will benefit everyone. We must move beyond the idea that 14-hour or even longer shifts are more conducive to creative excellence.”
The “longer hours equals better output” mindset is obsolete, he thinks and says, “Filmmaking at its core is a creative medium, and there may be times when a shift extends due to unforeseen reasons. A hybrid model with exceptions for complicated scenes can also be followed. Stringent time management on sets is otherwise a very good practice that the South Indian industries have been following forever.”
Shorter shifts could also lead to a rotation-based system, opening up more roles for crew and technicians. “Creating a culture where time is valued and work-life balance is protected will not only lead to happier crews but better films,” he concludes.