In the post-pandemic world, regular film shoots have come to resemble Sci-Fi storyboards

Not too long ago, film sets were spontaneously interactive places bustling with production crews, seamless energy and round-the-clock activity. Since the onset of the pandemic, film sets have become ultra-sanitised, hyper-vigilant spaces that seem to mimic science fiction rather than real life.

Post the rising infection rates all around and even among top-ranking actors, the industry is trying its best to adapt to the challenges posed by Covid-19 and is relying on specialised services to pandemic proof their sets. One man who is spearheading this shift is Aditya Gupta, an industry insider and the brain behind India’s first set safety company, ‘Life First’.

“My aim to start Life First was to help the industry get back on its feet during a pandemic since social distancing is impossible on a set and so many livelihoods depend on this sector. In 2020, we started ‘Life First’ with just two people and a passion to create solutions the industry could rely on in a challenging time. Now we have grown into a team of 170 professionals who can handle 25 to 30 projects at the same time. We have created a germicidal UV-C system that is channelled through 10 x 20 feet hubs, portable robots and 90-litre boxes to destroy microorganisms, viruses, fungus, mould, bacteria and pathogens up to 99.9% in just 60 seconds. The equipment sterilises sets, vanities, toilets and even smaller touchable items like mics, files, gadgets, craft table goodies, brushes, combs and styling tools,” says Gupta.

They have been working with some of the best-known production houses – aided by the help of state-of-the-art sanitation equipment, pandemic adaptive technology and bio bubbles. The mantra of the company being, “We put your life first.”

Among the clients who trust this message are Ram Madhvani, Dharma Productions, Netflix, Red Chillies Entertainment, Excel Entertainment, Amazon Prime Video, Abundantia Entertainment, and many others. ‘Life First’ has also supervised the safety protocols of over 700 ad films.

“We are a team of people who understand the industry really well because there are a lot of unsaid rules and processes to keep in mind. It is important to tell producers to foster a culture of anti-Covid shaming and self-quarantining on set so that people who feel the symptoms stay back home and don’t have to worry about a wage cut. We have recently started filming for Karan Johar’s Rocky Rani, Alia Bhatt’s Darlings, which is backed by Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment and also for multiple Netflix projects like Masaba Masaba (S2), She (S2), Jamtara (S2), Qala, etc, among a host of other projects. We also recently completed the shoot for Phone Bhoot with Excel Entertainment, and the Varun Dhawan starrer Bhediya, ” he further adds.

As a director and chief assistant director for over 12 years with credits such as Andhadhun and OK Jaanu, Gupta now brings his own creative experience to customise safety protocols for his clients. He meets the direction and production teams, figures out shooting logistics, and then designs the protocols in keeping with the locations, crew size and unexpected variables. Restricted access, crowd management, colour coding and sanitation paraphernalia are used to keep the sets as safe as possible.

“Our strategy for these shoots is to create a pod-wise working system. One department is split into three different pods and in case of Covid-19 cases, that one pod is quarantined and not the entire department. Direction and production teams are briefed on starting with low-risk work such as scenes that involve only two actors where the crew size can be curtailed. High-risk scenes in locations like a live market where 100 extras are required are scheduled later,” he says.

The biggest technological breakthrough aiding ‘Life First’ is the ultraviolet light (UV-C) which is germicidal and works through 10 x 20 feet hubs, portable robots.

The idea for this soon-to-be patented portable UV-C hub came from the UV-C box that doctors use to keep their surgical tools in post medical procedures. Apart from using FDA approved, non-toxic herbal and Ayurvedic disinfectants, ‘Life First’ also uses procedures that are in compliance with directives issued by producer’s guilds. The company also helps film units with vaccinations, Covid-19 testing and PPE kit management and is now working to create an air purification prototype that will purify over 3,000 to 5,000 square metres in under two hours.

“We now also customise sanitation and safety solutions not just for film sets but also for various other industries and facilities — award functions, events, concerts, homes, schools, theatres, and offices as well. We have been able to bring back people to work and I believe this is allowing us to give back to society,” emphasises Gupta.

(Cover: Alia Bhatt on the sets of Darlings, another Life First sanitation project)

(Photos: StudioTalk)