Actors to lose money if they fail to promote films

The Marathi film producers and filmmakers are increasingly finding it difficult to get their actors to become an integral part of the film���������s promotion, prior to its release. Following the recent decision by the Tamil Film Producers Council (TFPC) to deduct 20% of the actresses��������� fees if they are absent for the film promotions, Marathi producers are more than willing to incorporate this strategy. ���������The Marathi film industry does not work in a disciplined and organized way. If actors feel like going for promotions, they do but if they don���������t feel like it, they conveniently give it a miss,��������� said director Gajendra Ahire. The Marathi industry is in its developing stage and a systematic method for the working of the industry is being considered. ���������The industry is not that mature yet. Earlier there used to be no contracts,��������� said Amit Bhanushali, producer of films Popat and Mumbai-Pune-Mumbai.He further added, ���������There is a clause in contracts which specifies the time an actor/actress should allot for shooting and for promotion, but it is not taken seriously. There should definitely be a clause and similar to that of the TFPC and it will be implemented in the coming months.���������Ultimately it is the producer���������s money at stake and they need to ensure that they get it back, feels Raman Senad, producer of Aghor. He said, ���������I had incorporated a strict clause in the contract of actors/actresses earlier, but was told by a few people to go a little easy on it.���������He further added, ���������I suffered, but from my next project, I will include a clause which specifies that some amount of the actors��������� fees will be withheld till they honour their commitments. I will also encourage other producers to do the same.��������� Actor Umesh Kamat feels that it is the lack of planning that causes cancellation of promotional activities. He said, ���������The Marathi industry lacks planning and scheduling of dates. Actors are in full support of promotional activities as it is for the benefit of the film. But here the promotion starts seven days before the release of the film which is not enough. And then there is the chance of release dates getting postponed. We have other commitments and cannot delay those.���������Vijay Kondke, president of the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Chitrapat Mahamandal, is praising TFPC���������s decision and has plans to do something similar in the Marathi industry as well. Vijay said, ���������We have been having discussions about implementing something of this sort for a while now. Now that the TFPC has done it, we will request them to send a copy of their draft and work something out on those lines. It is the need of the hour and I urge the producers to be strict and include a clause in their contracts which makes it compulsory for actors to be present for the promotion of the film failing to which, a certain amount of the fees will be deducted.���������