Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 19:
The sudden increase in the production of Manipuri digital films instead of the traditional celluloid films by the State film producers have landed the Manipur Film Production Development Corporation (MFPDC) which have been set up to promote Manipuri films in a very unfavourable financial situation, said a highly placed sources.
Sources informed that MFPDC which once used to earn around Rs 6 to 7 lakhs annually can barely earn Rs 50,000 in a year thereby making it impossible to pay the salaries of its employees.
The present strength of the MFPDC employees is 30 excluding the Managing Director, added the source.
Informing that the Beta camera and editing machines which have been bought at the cost of Rs 20 lakhs are presently lying ideal at the MFPDC office as Celluloid film production has virtually come to a standstill in the State, source said that other equipments such as 16 mm, 35 mm camera and projectors have not been able to earn any income as there are no customers.
Sources also said that none of the producers are willing to hire the Beta cameras from the MFPDC as most of these cameras are being continuously used by producers from the Doordarshan who uses the films filmed by the 3CCD cameras for converting into Beta cam format.