Mumbai33 minutes agoAuthor: Ashish Tiwari and Abhinav Tripathi
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Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) is the largest film federation in Asia. There are 34 associations under this federation. In the new episode of Reel to Real, we will learn about FWICE and some selected associations related to it.
It takes the hard work of many people to make a small film or show. Apart from producer-director, artist, cameraman, technicians, spotboy and crew members also play a big role in this. All these people are associated with some association or the other. These associations take care of the interests of all these people.
There are a total of 34 such associations, which are managed by the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE). It is the largest film federation in Asia. 4 to 5 lakh members are associated with it. This federation is the mother body of 34 associations including Actors, Directors-Producers and Junior Artists Association.
At the request of the Federation, during Covid, Salman Khan had helped more than Rs 14 crore. Amitabh Bachchan had distributed lakhs of coupons, the value of one coupon was Rs 1500.
Today in the new episode of Reel to Real, we will know how FWICE and its related associations work. How can one become their member? What are the benefits of becoming a member? What are their demands?
For this, we met FWICE President BN Tiwari, Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (IMPPA) President Abhay Sinha, Cine and TV Artists Association (CINTAA) President Poonam Dhillon, Indian Film and Television Directors Association (IFTDA) President Ashok Pandit and Jr. Have spoken to Firoz Khan, ex-vice president of the Artists Association.
4 to 5 lakh members join this federation, if work is stopped then films will stop being made.
According to FWICE President BN Tiwari, 'Federation of Western India Cine Employees' was started in 1956. It was registered in 1958. By that time many associations had formed. A mother body was needed to control all this. Keeping this in mind, FWICE was formed. Today it has under 34 associations. Altogether 4 to 5 lakh members are associated with this federation.
Today, 90% of the people working in the film industry are associated with these 34 associations. If these associations stop their members from working, then films will stop being made from the next day.
During Covid, Salman, Amitabh Bachchan and Yash Raj Films helped the members wholeheartedly.
BN Tiwari said that till date he has not received a single paisa benefit from the government. He said, 'I had written a letter to the then Chief Minister of Maharashtra Uddhav Thackeray during Covid, but did not get any response from there.
Apart from this, a letter was also sent to Delhi. No help was received from there also. Then I thought that there are so many rich people in our film industry, why not ask for help from them. Then I started asking for help from celebrities. It is a matter of happiness that he helped us openly.
It is necessary for all associations to consider one constitution
FWICE has a constitution, all 34 associations and its members are bound to follow this constitution. If any association goes against FWICE, action can be taken against it. Apart from this, if any member is found involved in any work against his association, then FWICE can declare him a non-member.
Producer Firoz Nadiadwala had to return Rs 3 crores due to Federation action
Due to FWICE action, director Firoz Nadiadwala had to return the money. BN Tiwari told that a film of Firoz was released 8 years ago. After the film, he did not pay his fees to many technical and crew members including director Anees Bazmee. This amount was approximately Rs 2.5 to 3 crores. When Firoz started his new film, the Federation recovered that money.
All the films of Welcome and Hera Pheri series have been produced by Firoz Nadiadwala (left). Anees Bazmee (right) has directed Welcome, Ready and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2.
Federation told members – do not work with Firoz Nadiadwala until he gives money.
BN Tiwari said, 'Before the filming of Firoz Nadiadwala's film Welcome to the Jungle, we wrote a letter to all the artists and technicians working in it. We wrote that you will not work with Firoz until he settles his old accounts. The production company which was supporting Firoz for Welcome to Jungle also asked him to first bring NOC from the Federation. Ultimately Firoz Nadiadwala had to pay that money. After this we allowed the members to shoot.
Some people do not work for the industry despite being in the industry.
BN Tiwari is angry with those people who do not work for the industry despite being in the industry. BN Tiwari said that many actors-actresses become MLAs and MPs, but never work for the betterment of our association. They forget that the association has a big role to play in the situation they are in today.
How is the President of FWICE elected?
Three men from each association are elected to the General Council. Out of those three, only one person has the right to vote. Meaning, one vote from each association is valid. Now suppose, there are 34 associations, then accordingly 34 people together elect the President of FWICE. Now the election of FWICE President is to be held on 13th May.
It is wrong to get payment after 90 days in TV industry, there is debate with producers regarding this.
Artists, directors, creative directors, crew members, technicians and all the members associated with the show working in the TV industry get payment after three months. They work without money for the first three months. BN Tiwari has serious objection regarding this also.
He said, 'I have had many arguments with the producers regarding this. I tell them that if you are a producer, then keep so much money in advance that the workers continue to get their wages. Those who are artists somehow manage, but for other workers working on the sets, three months is a very long time.
Workers work for months without taking leave, the Federation even reached out to the Human Rights Commission for this.
Four holidays are mandatory in every industry, but this does not happen in the film industry. If shooting is taking place then workers have to work for months without taking leave. They don't even know when they will get leave.
Apart from this, work is done for 8 hours everywhere, but here work is done for 12 hours. Sometimes it is more than 12 hours. BN Tiwari has also gone to the Human Rights Commission regarding this matter, but no decision has been taken till now.
Now let's talk about the Producers Association. It is called IMPA (Indian Motion Picture Producers Association). Producers means those who make films or invest money in them. Producers also have some problems. They go to Impa with their problems.
If the actor is reluctant, the Producers Association can ban him.
Its President Abhay Sinha said, 'If any producer is upset with any actor. If that actor is not completing the film on time, then our association issues a letter to that actor. If he doesn't agree even with a letter, the association bans that actor. In this situation, an advisory is issued that no producer will work with that actor until the ban is lifted. Apart from this, we ensure that the actor is not able to shoot in any corner of India.
Now let's talk about Junior Artists Association, but before that let us understand who are junior artists?
People who appear in the background of actors, shopkeepers, taxi drivers and vegetable sellers in films are called junior artists. Actors like Mumtaz, Jeetendra and Gulshan Grover were once junior artists.
Fee of Rs 10,600 to become a member of Junior Artist Association
To become a member of Junior Artist Association, one has to spend Rs 10,600. Once they become members, the association calls them as per the work they get. The association will get a message from the producers that they need four soldiers (for the role) for tomorrow's shoot. Now the association will check who is fit for this role. After this the selected people will be sent for the shoot.
Members of Junior Artist Association are divided into two categories.
Members of Junior Artists Association are divided into two categories. The first is decent class and the second is B class. Those in the decent class are those who have to share the screen with big stars. Suppose, Salman Khan has become a police officer in a film, then those who will be playing the role of constable with him are from decent class.
Whereas in a film a huge crowd has to be shown, out of that crowd, the few faces that are seen on the screen are B-class junior artists. According to Firoz Khan alias Raja, ex-vice president of the Junior Artists Association, if someone's daughter is getting married, the association provides financial assistance of Rs 20,000.
CINTAA – Cine and TV Artists Association
To become a member of CINTAA, a person is required to work in three films or three serials. They give the CD or pen drive of their work to a committee of CINTAA, then the committee interviews them. After being selected they get membership. 35 thousand rupees have to be paid for membership. This money can be paid in three installments.
Today, all the big and small artists in the industry must have taken the membership of CINTAA at some point or the other. If they are not its members and something wrong happens to them in future then CINTAA will never stand for it. If you are its member and something inappropriate is happening to you, then you can complain to the association. The association will stand in support of that artist.
Indian Film and Television Directors Association
Ashok Pandit, President of the Indian Film and Television Directors Association, told how to become a member of the association to become a director. According to Ashok Pandit, preparation to become a director should start from 12th itself. Then doing a direction course from an institute like FTII is also useful. Any person should enter the field of direction only after educating himself completely.
- Usually any person starts working as an assistant director. For this it is necessary for him to become a member of the Directors Association. Work cannot be done without becoming a member.
- When a person becomes a member of the association, he is thoroughly investigated. This also gives information about the background of the person, such as whether there is any criminal case registered against him.
- The advantage of being a part of the association is that facilities like mediclaim and PF are also provided to the members. Producers also work with those people who are members of the association. Producers do not work with directors who are not part of the association.
- If someone is completely new to the field of direction and does not have experience, then for the first few months he gets a work permit from the association. Then, depending on the work, you get the association card in 2-3 months.
Ashok Pandit said that at present there are about 11 thousand members in the Indian Film and Television Directors Association (IFTDA). Which includes both directors and assistant directors.
