Dubbing- Recording studios might spread Covid 19

The biggest threat to Film Industries across the nation is the dubbing and recording theaters. As I had given you a sneak peek of the scenario that awaits theater goers when the curtain goes up, yet startling information that comes is from dubbing artistes in Chennai and Thiruvanthapuram. These dubbing theaters are nothing but death traps and points that can cause spread of the Corona 19 virus. The situation has reached a flash point that the dubbing artistes are now asking directors to allow them to dub from home. Some of the well to do artistes has invested in mini studios setup at home. The main reason being that the dubbing studios that are functional now are primarily engaged by TV serial producers. The economics of a TV serial production does not allow for studio owners to buy santizers, gloves, masks of the high variety and periodic spraying of disinfectants in wash room areas. In the social distancing norms, the dining hall inside the studio or outside the premises is not possible. It means ordering food from delivery apps. The dubbing of a serial work is entrusted to a senior dubbing artiste who runs an agency that has a wide range of voices that suit the TV actors. The rate is fixed per episode and an advance paid. The final settlement comes after a month. The dubbing in-charge has to pay the artistes daily batta and their fees as well as studio hire. In case of artistes and studios, a package deal is made before the commencement. As there was a three month lull and now that TV shootings have picked up, dubbing industry has begun to thrive. Most of the dubbing theaters are housed in two room apartments and sometimes in makeshift enclosures on roof of a building. Sun TV, Vijay and Zee have strict standards of audio quality and they cannot be done in any seedy studio, other serials all thrive on the small outfits. As the studio owners have not included any provision for extra costs due to Covid 19 safety norms, the old system continues. The artistes say that the studio owners are doing eyewash by giving sanitizers at entry points and spraying disinfectants and sometimes even room fresheners are passed off as cleansing agent. The problem starts from the old cushioned chairs onwards to the popup filter in front of the mike. A dubbing artiste said that when he stood in front of the mike, he could smell the chicken biryani eaten by the previous user. A pop filter, pop shield or pop screen is a noise protection filter for microphones, typically used in a recording studio. It serves to reduce or eliminate popping sounds caused by the mechanical impact of fast-moving air on the microphone during recorded speech and singing. Though the studios wash the filter and put it up, the artistes say that each time a new user comes, a new filter should be used. Though for medium and big budgeted films, this can be affordable, it cannot be implemented for TV serials and small time film producers. Those doing short films, documentaries, small time jingle- advt film makers have no option but to go with the available facility. If a dubbing artiste makes a demand for new popup filter, the studio owners asks them to dub or sing without one. This is very difficult, they say. The dubbing artistes who dub for 6-7 serials a day say that they are hard-pressed for time that they stop to notice if Covid 19 precautions are in place. They say that travelling in autos and cabs during lockdown are a major problem as most of them stink and a quarrel can only let you be offloaded. Yet another aspect is that the dialogue sheet comes straight from the location and nothing is done about it. So far the valve masks were considered must for artistes and staff, but now studio officials say that it is most harmful and must not be worn. The news that Abhishek Bachchan might have got the infection at dubbing theatre (later proved wrong) points to the danger lurking in these studios. Govt has come out with norms for TV serial shootings but nothing for the recording theaters.