The payment of authors of children's works should be more than that of adult authors

Mehran Rasam: All over the world, the rights and royalties given to a children’s author are more than those for an adult author.

According to Pana; the producer of children and young people television programs believes that “children and young people” films must be produced in greater quantities and, considering the shortage of cinemas in Iran, at least two cinemas should be dedicated to screening these works in every city.

Mehran Rasam, in an interview with the Pana reporter, pointing out the importance of storytelling in programming and filmmaking for children and young people, said: In the past, children and young people audiences were given great importance, and managers and officials asked us to make story-driven works. If we still remember the enduring works of Marzieh Boroumand, we know that these films were made in the children and young people sphere; but today, as soon as there is talk of producing a children’s film or series, the general assumption is that these works should be low-budget.

He added: All over the world, the rights and royalties given to a children’s author are more than those for an adult author. In Iranian cinema, many producers made good works, but from a certain point onwards, they lost their motivation and turned to bitter works. Cinema in other countries is mainly pursued with the goal of entertainment, but in my opinion, Iranian films have become afflicted with a bitter outlook and storylines.

Stating that children and young people cinema needs the production of films with happy and sweet stories, this producer stated: In my opinion, the production and screening of children and young people films has a good psychological impact on society. Films like “City of Mice” must be made and screened more.

Pointing to strategies for prospering children and young people cinema, he continued: These films must be allocated subsidies to flourish. Today’s filmmakers of children and young people cinema still operate in this field out of their love, passion, and concern for this cinema, but this is not enough. Children and young people films must be produced in greater quantities and, considering the shortage of cinemas in Iran, at least two cinemas should be dedicated to screening these works in every city. Meanwhile, in foreign countries, some cinemas have 34 screens, and every kind of film is shown in these screens.

In response to whether the children and young people film festival has helped the prosperity of Iranian cinema, Rasam said: The holding and dynamism of this festival is very good. Even if this event lasts for just one day, it makes its impact in that short span.

He noted: All cinema stakeholders, including cinema owners and governmental policy-makers, must help children and young people cinema make progress. The Ministry of Education can help this sector because there are about 14 million students studying, and if one-tenth of this population goes to the cinema, children and young people cinema will flourish. Previously, the plan of screening films such as “The Singing Cat” and “Patal and Little Wishes” was implemented in schools and achieved results, and one can think about continuing this trend.