PopCorner: Approaching teens through pop culture<\/p>\n
By Hera Diani<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Angga, a student at SMU 70 high school
\nenthusiastically provided a synopsis of his group's upcoming
\nshort film. The film, Groove wasn't brought in a day, tells the
\nstory of an unpopular girl, an outcast in school and a frequent
\ntarget of bullies. Until one day when the girl gets supernatural
\npowers and strikes back, in the vein of Carrie.<\/p>\n
Angga and 49 of his peers are taking part in a film workshop
\nfor high school students that is being held every Sunday from
\nJuly 30 to Aug. 27. In each session, the students are given the
\nbasics of film, writing scenes, directing, editing and camera
\ntechnique from noted film figures such as director Riri Riza and
\nproducer Mira Lesmana.<\/p>\n
The students will be given the chance to show their own films,
\nwhich must be no longer than 10 minutes, and a jury will select
\nthe winner. Divided into 10 groups of five people, the groups
\nmust stick to the theme Dunia Kami (Our World).<\/p>\n
\"We chose the theme to give the teenagers the opportunity to
\nexpress themselves and show their daily world,\" Eko Harsoselanto
\nfrom PopCorner, the workshop's organizing committee, told The
\nJakarta Post.<\/p>\n
The film workshop is the second ever held by PopCorner. The
\nevents have attracted many teens between the ages of 13 and 18,
\nand this year the committee had to turn away 150 people due to
\nbudget limitations.<\/p>\n
\"The budget is often the obstacle for us to hold such events.
\nOnly a few parties are interested in funding events for teenagers
\nbecause they only reach a small number of people. As for
\ndonations or funding institutions, they said events for teenagers
\nwere not a priority, not like democracy-related activities,\" said
\nFebriyanto, or Briyan, the chairman of PopCorner.<\/p>\n
The members of PopCorner are funding the film workshop from
\ntheir own pockets.<\/p>\n
Founded in April last year, PopCorner is made up of graduates
\nof the University of Indonesia's School of Social and Political
\nSciences. The group is made up of everything from reporters to
\nbusinesspeople, with one thing in common: they want to help
\nteenagers express themselves.<\/p>\n
\"There are already a bunch of NGOs dealing with the reform
\nmovement, drugs and everything. So we thought it would better to
\napproach teens through the media they are most familiar with, pop
\nculture,\" said Briyan, who is an advertising executive.<\/p>\n
He said Indonesian teens were being bombarded with pop
\nculture, through the television, movies and comic books. \"Instead
\nof just passively accepting it, they can create something through
\nthe media.\"<\/p>\n
The first activity of PopCorner was its film workshop, which
\nwas followed by a short story writing workshop. Each event was
\nattended by noted figures from these fields.<\/p>\n
According to Eko, the teens attending the workshops have
\nbrilliant and creative ideas. The winner of last year's film
\nworkshop, for example, was a satire of the frenzy in Indonesia
\nover telenovelas (Latin America soap operas).<\/p>\n
The film, made by students from SMU Gonzaga, was titled Sudah
\nsore! Sebentar lagi jam lima! (Hurry up! The clock soon strikes 5
\np.m.!). It shows a teenage boy hurrying from school after being
\nbeeped on his pager. But on his way to his destination, he
\nencounters numerous obstacles. When he finally reaches home, it
\nbecomes apparent he did not want to miss an episode of his
\nfavorite telenovela, which airs every day at 5 p.m.<\/p>\n
The students only used a video camera to shoot the film, but
\ntheir camera technique was quite good.<\/p>\n
\"If we want to brag, the workshop could be seen as the event
\nwhich gives these students the spirit to go on and make
\nindependent films,\" Briyan said.<\/p>\n
The next stop for PopCorner will be a comedy competition,
\na journalism workshop and a workshop that will allow the
\nteenagers to produce TV programs.<\/p>\n
\"That is if we have the budget, off course,\" Briyan said,
\nsmiling.<\/p>\n
To help overcome the shortage of funds, PopCorner has a
\ndivision called the Writer's Habitat, which produces scripts or
\nnewsletter for companies, with the money earned being used to
\nhold these workshops.<\/p>\n
PopCorner has gained popularity among teens, especially in
\nJakarta. Every weekend, its \"office\" in Kebayoran Baru, South
\nJakarta, is packed with teenagers just hanging out.<\/p>\n
\"We're also working to provide a library for these teens,\" Eko
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
PopCorner also has its own mailing list, with over 60 people,
\nnot only from Jakarta, but also Bandung and Surabaya. Some
\nUniversity of Indonesia graduates who are now studying abroad are
\nalso on the mailing list, which mostly sends out leaflets
\ndiscussing the latest developments in the media.<\/p>\n
As for parents, according to Eko, many of them thank PopCorner
\nfor providing such positive activities.<\/p>\n
\"But we feel guilty sometimes, because many students plan to
\ntake study similar topics when they enter university. If not
\ncommunications, it will be art, whereas they concentrated on
\nscience in school,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Like Billy, a sophomore at SMU 34 and a participant in last
\nyear's film workshop. Without hesitation, he said he was going
\nto study film at the Jakarta Art Institute.<\/p>\n
\"I love films and I think Indonesian films will be more
\nappreciated in the future,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/popcorner-approaching-teens-through-pop-culture-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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