Goa govt mulling setting up film city in state

The Goa government is contemplating setting up a film city or film hub in the state, which can create revenue at par with the Tourism or Mining industry, a senior official said today.
"The Goa government already has a proposal for film city which is being worked out. The details of the proposal can't be disclosed right now, but for sure the film city will be a reality soon," Damodar Naik, Vice Chairman, Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) told PTI.
Refusing to divulge whether the proposal involves public or private funding, he said, "The government wants that there should be a film city as it can generate revenue at par with the Tourism and Mining industries."

He said many films are shot in Goa and that the state has become the most preferred destination for shooting.
"If we provide facilities in the state, shooting (undertaken here) will increase. Its benefit will percolate to everyone," Naik said.
The filmmakers in the state have been lobbying for a film city for a long time now.

"Three years back, there were efforts to bring together experts on this subject. A proposal was also prepared for the same," said Swapnil Shetkar, a Goa-based filmmaker who has directed and produced a series of Konkani films "Home Sweet Home".
He said the film industry, which is non-polluting in nature, has the potential to generate a whopping revenue for the state.

Shetkar further said the film city would also create employment opportunities for youths, who are currently looking at metro cities to earn livelihood.
Actor and Radio Jockey Aryan Khedekar, who has ten films under his belt, said, "There are private players who are ready to invest in the film city. Let the projects happen in the mining belt, which has huge tracts of land available."
He said the state has abundant natural resources which can be used to create the film city or a hub.
"Mumbai film industry is increasingly looking at Goa... We can tap on that aspiration," he added.