RI filmmaker connects with kids across the world<\/p>\n
Nauval Yazid, Contributor, Singapore<\/p>\n
Teacher, animator, dancer, musician, director, editor,
\ntranslator, architect -- Tintin Wulia dismisses her many talents
\nwith a giggle when asked to tell her life story.
\n The 33-year-old Balinese woman, who is best known as a
\nfilmmaker, said she was introduced to music in early childhood,
\nthough, \"it took some time before I was able to realize my
\ndream.\"<\/p>\n
Whereas many parents encourage their children to become
\ndoctors or engineers, Tintin was lucky enough to have a mother
\nwho suggested she study music abroad. She obtained a degree in
\nfilm scoring from Berklee College of Music, Boston, the U.S.,
\njust a few years after she completed her other bachelor degree in
\narchitecture from Parahyangan University, Bandung.<\/p>\n
While she has often worked with children, her latest animation
\nThe Adventures of Flo & Kat was another undertaking again.<\/p>\n
What began with an offer from the committee of the Hamburg
\nFilm Festival, when her film entitled Ketok was
\nselected for screening, Flo & Kat has traveled to Germany,
\nIndonesia, Australia and Singapore.<\/p>\n
An avid fan of Howard Shore and Danny Elfman, Tintin explains,
\n\"I started this workshop in Hamburg in 2003, working with
\nchildren from nine to 12 years old. We started with Flo only --
\nhis name is actually Florian -- which the children picked as they
\nfelt it was German sounding.\"<\/p>\n
\"Then, I decided to continue the story by bringing it to
\nBajawa, Flores. Even though it took a while for the kids in
\nFlores to be brave enough to share their stories, here the story
\nwas developed further -- Flo met a girl by the name of Kat. They
\nembarked on an adventure, which would be continued in Darwin,
\nAustralia.\"<\/p>\n
And the latter city proved to be a real challenge for Tintin.
\nShe worked with two groups of children, some of whom were
\nphysically or mentally disabled.<\/p>\n
She was amazed to see that, in spite of the children's
\ndisabilities, they could see an idea through and make it work.<\/p>\n
\"It was terrifying to see one girl write a story while keeping
\nher anger inside. And I met another girl who wanted to express
\nher thoughts, but she was deaf, so she had to be helped by her
\nfriends -- and that was during my first day of the workshop
\nthere. But, in the end, the story continued as planned, although
\nonly one group made the cut to the feature.\"<\/p>\n
The feature itself is an open-ended work, despite Singapore
\nbeing the last stop of the first cycle of the project that
\nstarted as early as 2003.<\/p>\n
According to Tintin, \"That was a request from some Singaporean
\nboys, because they wanted to know what would happen to Flo and
\nKat after they were kidnapped by an alien\", she laughed.<\/p>\n
\"But if the film has to travel again, I will need to establish
\na timeframe to keep the storyline in order, as we have more than
\nenough twists for one storyline, and of course, I'd like to keep
\nthe film going, as I want to see how the kids react when they get
\nolder and see this film again\", she smiled.<\/p>\n
Flo & Kat successfully depicts the diversity of children
\nacross the world.<\/p>\n
It starts with Flo waking up in his room in Hamburg, then
\ntaking the train to school.<\/p>\n
Apparently he oversleeps during the journey and arrives in
\nBajawa, Flores, a land that could not be more different than his
\nhometown. It was snowy when he left the city, and he wakes up to
\npalm trees and beaches.<\/p>\n
Here he meets Kat who is surprised to hear his story, and
\ncomments, \"There's no train in Flores.\" They hop on the bus to
\nDarwin, and what follows is more the work of the imagination of
\ncity children.<\/p>\n
Flo and Kat are abducted by an alien and taken to Alpha Land,
\nwhere viruses are destroying the inhabitants. Flo and Kat are
\neventually separated. And now the children are waiting to see
\nwhether or not they will be reunited.<\/p>\n
\"Each journey took me by surprise, and Singapore was no
\nexception. This is the first time I worked with all boys -- wild
\nbehavior with wild imaginations as well. Their imagination
\nbasically revealed their liking for computer games, with all the
\nalien stuff -- but it gives the film a new, unexpected touch.<\/p>\n
\"They were very naughty. They could not stop playing.
\nBut one day we had to work in a room beneath an office. I had to
\ninvent a game whereby they had to work in silence. So on that
\nday, we kept whispering to each other, the whole day.\"<\/p>\n
Mervyn Quek, the project manager of TheatreWorks Singapore,
\nwhere Tintin held the workshop as part of the TheatreWorks'
\nartist-in-residence program, praised Tintin.<\/p>\n
\"She was so patient with those boys -- I have no idea how. It
\nwas certainly a worthwhile experience having her on board as we
\nhave also become familiar with her work.\"<\/p>\n
Asked about her plans for the future, she said she wanted to
\nmake a full-length fictional feature film, something she has
\nnever done before.<\/p>\n
Resembling the characters of Flo and Kat, the journey of
\nTintin Wulia, the artist, is to be continued ...<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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