FDC cuts rental costs to boost film production

Entertainment Report :

For a long time, the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC), once the heart of Bengali cinema and the Bangladeshi film industry, has been in a state of disrepair. Gone are the days when every corner of the BFDC was abuzz with lights, cameras, and action.

High production costs have driven directors away from the BFDC to film elsewhere leaving the once-bustling facility largely empty. This has led to irregular salaries for its staff, compounding the organisation’s woes.

In an effort to revitalise the BFDC, a plan to reduce rental fees for equipment and studio floors has been introduced. This experimental initiative, aimed at attracting more filmmakers to shoot at BFDC, will run for six months.

According to a circular signed by BFDC’s Project Director Md Rezaul Haque,
the rental rates for floors 1 and 6 have been revised.

Previously, the rates for set construction and filming on these floors were Tk 2,550 and Tk 6,500, respectively.

Under the new pricing scheme, they have been reduced to Tk2,000 and Tk5,000. Similarly, the rental for set construction and filming on floor 2 (without air conditioning) was Tk5,100 and Tk13,000, respectively, which has now been reduced to Tk4,000 and Tk9,000.

The rates for floor 2 (with air conditioning) have also been revised, from Tk5,100 and Tk18,540 to Tk4,000 and Tk11,500 for set construction and filming, respectively.

Camera rental fees have also been significantly slashed. The cost of renting a Red Dragon camera has been reduced from Tk6,120 to Tk 3,000 for local productions. For outdoor shoots within Bangladesh, the fee is now Tk3,500, down from Tk6,630. For international shoots, the rate has dropped from Tk19,500 to Tk10,000.

Sony camera rental prices have similarly decreased. The previous fee of Tk5,100 is now Tk2,000. For outdoor shoots in Bangladesh, the rental fee has dropped from Tk5,610 toTk 2,500, and for international shoots, the price has gone from Tk16,500 to Tk7,000.

The charges for digital editing machines have also been reduced, from Tk2,100 per shift to Tk1,500, while digital color grading costs have gone from Tk3,150 to Tk2,500 per shift.

Additionally, the fees for other equipment, such as lighting, audio gear, and set construction materials, have also been lowered.

Several conditions apply to these new rates. If filmmakers bring in external equipment, they must obtain prior approval from the BFDC, and electricity charges will be billed based on shifts.

All rental payments must be made according to the official schedule.