The producer is considered the backbone of the film. The producer makes the investment required to make the film, and raises the money required for production. Therefore, investors are important at various stages from pre-production, production to post-production. Whether it is the initial stage of film writing or the film that has been shot and edited, production is an indispensable aspect for a complete film.

However, what kind of policy has the bill to amend and unify the film-related laws brought to strengthen this aspect? What problems has the bill addressed? Is the bill, which has already entered into clause-wise discussions, producer-friendly? Or what issues from the production side are still to be covered in it? What are the complaints of the producers? Come, let's dig into the producers' issues here:

Listed in the industry, no concessions

Producers who have been raising their voices on the bill for a long time and have been going to the legislative management committee from the ministry with demands for amendments have the same complaint - 'The bill tried to control us, not encourage us. When the government looked at the film sector from the perspective of entertainment, we were deprived of industry concessions.'

Producer Ramkrishna Pokharel complains, 'Even though film production was listed as a national priority industry, Nepali films have not yet received industry concessions.' This is not just his, but a common complaint of all filmmakers. As he said, just as the industry produces materials, producers produce films. They sell from domestic to global markets. They invest millions of rupees at a risk. They provide employment to thousands. However, Pokhrel says that in the case of Nepali producers, there is no provision for tax exemptions that other industries have been getting.

'We also export films. Films are also listed as an industry. But what benefit did the production side get as an industry? We hear more complaints from exhibitors about this,' Pokhrel says, 'Especially if a film is produced, it can be exhibited. Therefore, there should be a provision in the bill to provide some concessions targeting the production industry.'

The state treated us as if it said you became a major in the army but did not give us weapons. We say industry but we have not received the services that the industry gets. This should be addressed by the bill. : Khagendra Lamichhane, Coordinator of the Film Bill Suggestion Committee Coordinator of the Bill Suggestion Committee and General Secretary of the Nepal Film Producers Association Khagendra Lamichhane demands that Nepali producers should get services/facilities as per the norms of the industry. 'The state treated us as if it said you became a major in the army but did not give us weapons. We said industry but we did not get the services that the industry deserves. This should be addressed by the bill,' said Lamichhane.

After all, Nepali films have proven themselves as strong products at the domestic box office. Purna Bahadur's Sarangi did half a billion rupees in business. From the currently showing Paran to Anmol KC's Jerry on Top , Nepali films have been making a strong industry. However, even though that sector is called an industry, it is not kept in a concessional position. Recently, 11 film-related organizations submitted a suggestion letter demanding an amendment to the bill that sees the film sector as entertainment only. Where, the word 'industry' has been emphasized and given priority in the preamble of the film. The film sector has been explained with various words including self-reliant artistic and commercial films have been amended as 'industry'. Pokharel adds, 'We had to focus on how more and more Nepali films can be made. So, how can producers be encouraged? There is no such bill that targets new producers and creates institutional infrastructure.'

The bill has not provided any protection or protection to new and upcoming producers. There is no place for them to feel any security from either the state or the film industry. : Shanta Nepali, filmmaker As Pokharel said, producer and filmmaker Shanta Nepali says that the bill does not have any provisions targeting new and upcoming producers or 'independent' filmmakers. Nepali, who is also a member of the suggestion committee formed on the bill, believes that the bill has failed to embrace a policy of protecting new producers. 'The bill has not provided any protection or protection to new and upcoming producers. There is no place for them to feel any protection from either the state or the film industry,' Nepali said, 'The bill always seems to be trying to include only the current mainstream producers. The bill has not seen producers who make films on a small budget.'

Director Naveen Subba believes that Nepali films should have a provision for getting loans from banks for film production like other industries. 'Investors are always taking risks. The success rate of Nepali films is only 4/5 percent. When viewed as an industry, that risk should be reduced. For that, facilities like bank loans and insurance should be included in the bill,' Subba said, 'There should be a system for getting loans from banks by keeping the project under construction.'

Filming location: attraction or repulsion?

The issue of introducing Nepal as a foreign film shooting location has been going on for a long time. However, filmmakers say that foreign films are not coming to Nepal for filming because of the rules that make it difficult for filming rather than attracting foreign films. For example, let's remember the set of the Hollywood film Road , which was made in Australia some time ago. They set up a set to show Nepal right there. But why wasn't a comfortable environment created for this group to come to Nepal and film? Producer Pokhrel says that foreign films have not been able to come to Nepal because the bill did not include such concessions to attract foreign films. Whether it is a foreign film coming to Nepal to shoot or a film going abroad to find a new market, no one is encouraging it. There is no focus on any kind of research in the film. How does the industry run when there is no research and development? : Ramkrishna Pokharel, producer

Pokharel says that the bill is not incentive-oriented but control-oriented. 'There should be a policy that encourages investment in the industry, but it is going in the opposite direction. When the new rules came, there was a lot of talk of control and regulation, but nothing about encouragement,' Pokharel said, 'Will tax exemption be given to films shot abroad? Will they get back whatever they spend?' In fact, the state and the development board have been carrying the slogan of introducing Nepal as a filming location for a long time. In fact, Nepal is an open studio for film shooting. However, the bill does not include any attraction for filming here. Section 4 of Chapter 2 of the bill includes various complicated rules, including the requirement for foreign films to obtain approval from the ministry for filming and the requirement to apply through a production company registered in Nepal. Why is it complicated? When there is a Film Development Board, do you have to go to the ministry to get approval again? There is no concession or 'scheme' there either.

The government of that country provides various facilities to films shot abroad. Filmmakers are attracted to film by showing concessions ranging from tax exemptions to refunding money. But there is no concession for filming in Nepal. Currently, there is an economic slowdown in filmmaking around the world. They go to film wherever there is more concession. Pokhrel says that the bill should provide concessions to bring such filmmakers to Nepal. 'There is no incentive for foreign films coming to Nepal to be shot or films that are going abroad to find a new market. There is no focus on any kind of research in films. How can the industry run without research and development? The government had to make a provision to invest in that too,' he said.

There is a 40 percent cash discount for foreign films shot in India. The Indian government has made a provision to give a 'bonus' if a certain number of technical and Indian subjects are included. Even in New York, there is a 35 percent tax discount. There is a subsidy for local films. However, there is no such subsidy and concession in Nepal. As a result, films like 'Road' are shot in Australia by making sets that look exactly like Nepal.

The cumbersome process of obtaining permission for shooting foreign films should be transferred to the Development Board. The process of obtaining permission from the ministry is complicated, there is a lack of people who understand films. : Deepak Rauniyar, director

According to director Deepak Rauniyar, the bill has failed to provide such concessions to attract foreign films, which has resulted in the loss of local income and employment opportunities. 'Here, there is only bureaucratic control and censorship. Censorship is controlling the films rather than classifying them,' Rauniyar said, 'The complicated process of obtaining permission for filming foreign films should be transferred to the Development Board. The process of obtaining permission from the ministry is complicated, there is a lack of people who understand films.' Khagendra Lamichhane argues that the filming and permission processes for foreign films should be done through the Film Board's single-door system. 'If everything is done by the ministry, what is the point of the board, so the board should be kept under the single-door system,' Lamichhane said.

'Film Treaty' to attract foreign investment

The world has adopted co-production treaties. Even neighboring country India has signed film production treaties with many countries. However, director Deepak Rauniyar says that this bill, which is based on the old act drafted during the Panchayat period, has not been able to envisage a co-production treaty.

As he said, with the passage of time, the days of waiting for money from producers to produce films are long gone. Now, films are being made with the investment and grants given by various countries. The 'co-production' treaty was started with that same thinking and the idea of ​​cooperation. Therefore, the need for such a treaty has arisen to attract foreign investment and increase the market and investment for Nepali films. 'Since the bill does not allow foreign investment and international co-production, Nepali films are being made with small grants,' Rauniyar says, 'while now it is time for Nepali films to increase their budgets. That is only possible when there is such an agreement.'

Rauniyar says that the Nepali government should think about making an agreement instead of being limited to the grants given by various countries. What benefits will there be for Nepali producers if an agreement is made? For example, Nepali producers can currently get 20-40 thousand euros in grants from France's 'CNC'! However, if Nepal signs a co-production agreement with France, crores of rupees could enter Nepal.

The film market for producers has become small. Policy initiatives are needed to increase the number of theaters and seats, especially in Madhesh, the Far West and rural areas. : Naveen Subba, Director

Director Naveen Subba says that this type of treaty will directly affect the film production market and access to the global market. 'The lack of foreign investment in film production is a big problem. If FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) were opened, the number of theaters would increase and there would be a possibility of foreign investment in production,' Subba said. 'The film market has become small for producers. Policy initiatives are needed to increase the number of theaters and the number of seats, especially in Madhesh, the Far West and rural areas.' Subba also adds that the bill is still silent on films made by citizens of Nepali origin living abroad and their investments. Moreover, the bill does not include rules to resolve the dispute between being a distributor-producer and a theater-owner-producer. Shanta says that the bill should provide subsidies and concessions for new Nepali producers. 'Since the state cannot provide any grants and concessions for films, it is very difficult for producers with new ideas and enthusiasm to enter and survive in this field,' she said, 'Therefore, like in foreign countries, the Nepal government should pave the way for new filmmakers to receive training, workshops, grants, and co-productions.' A new section has been proposed to add a 'film fund', which will support production.

Hall is also a heritage

Director Naveen Subba sees the need for a separate 'visual archive' to preserve Nepali films as national heritage. The bill has only viewed films as entertainment. Producer Ramkrishna Pokharel believes that this approach has not allowed films to be viewed as heritage. Pokharel agrees with Subba, 'Now the board has started giving ID cards to old filmmakers.' त्यस्तैगरी फिल्म पुरानो हुँदै त्यसलाई संरक्षित पनि गर्नु पर्‍यो । फिल्म मात्रै होइन हल पनि हेरिटेज हो । त्यसलाई संरक्षित गर्न नसक्दा खेरि धेरै हलहरू मासेर गए । उद्योगसँग सम्बन्धित धेरै इतिहासहरू मासेरै गयो । त्यसलाई विधेयकले सम्बोधन गर्नुपर्छ।'