TV series to show world through child's eye<\/p>\n
Rita A.Widiadana, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali<\/p>\n
A child's view is probably the most honest perception we can
\nbelieve in. Through the eyes of the innocents, one might learn a
\nlot about diverse cultures, religions and lifestyles of people
\naround the world, including the Balinese.<\/p>\n
In the summer of 2004, London-based Rooftop Productions plans
\nto film the Balinese culture through the eyes of a Balinese child
\nraised in Britain as part of its 13-part TV series called Rooted,
\nwhich examines culture and religion around the world.<\/p>\n
Sophie Chalk, executive producer of Rooftop Productions,
\nproposed the idea of filming in Bali. She has visited Indonesia
\nmany times, and believes filming in Bali would be an opportunity
\nto dispel some misconceptions about the island and the country
\nafter the Bali blast on Oct. 12, 2002.<\/p>\n
\"In the program, we will take a child born of Balinese
\nparents, who lives in Britain, to Bali to discover the roots of
\ntheir family's culture,\" she said.<\/p>\n
While filming, the director will try to expose the child as
\nmuch as possible to the authentic life of a Balinese child --
\nincluding attending religious ceremonies, going to school,
\nhelping around the home, playing with local children and other
\nactivities.<\/p>\n
\"We need to find a child aged between eight and 12 years old
\nwho has grown up in Britain, but whose parent or parents
\noriginate from Bali and are Hindu,\" she said.<\/p>\n
The production company intends to bring the child and at least
\none parent to Bali for a week-long shoot in March or April 2004.<\/p>\n
\"Through the British-born child's experience, we will learn
\nwhat it is like to grow up and live in Bali.\"<\/p>\n
The aim of the Rooted series is to encourage a better
\nappreciation of life in a variety of countries outside the West.<\/p>\n
\"We will witness culture, religion, education, family and
\ncommunity life and become aware of the differences within and
\nbetween countries.<\/p>\n
\"Our goal is to encourage a greater appreciation of religious
\ndiversity, of the wider world and different societies and
\ncultures,\" Chalk said.<\/p>\n
This is one of the primary goals of Rooftop Productions while
\nfilming thirteen half-hour programs for the United Kingdom's
\nmainstream Channel Five TV.<\/p>\n
Rooftop Productions is a non-profit television production
\ncompany based in London. It works closely with the Charity
\nChristian Aid, which sponsors many of its productions as part of
\nits commitment to educational development. The company carries
\nout projects around the world regardless of religion, race or
\ncreed.<\/p>\n
Rooftop's primary goal is to make factual programs about
\ncountries outside Europe and the West in order to maintain high-
\nquality international programming and to encourage understanding
\nof different cultures and ways of life.<\/p>\n
Each episode of Rooted features the life of an immigrant child
\nin Britain as they return to their country of origin, where they
\nmeet their relatives and try to recapture the culture and
\ntraditions they left behind.<\/p>\n
Rooted is already a hit and Channel Five TV has commissioned
\nanother season. Among the episodes already aired are those
\nfeaturing children from Sri Lanka, North India, China, the
\nUkraine, Senegal, Egypt, Ethiopia, the Dominican Republic,
\nJamaica, Kenya and Bolivia.<\/p>\n
In its Balinese episode, Rooftop is working jointly with the
\nBali Film Commission (BFC), established in April 2002 by the Bali
\nTourism Authority.<\/p>\n
Deborah Gabinetti, a consultant at BFC, told The Jakarta Post
\nthat they were very excited about working with a reputable
\ninternational production company such as Rooftop.<\/p>\n
\"We are now working with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism,
\nas well as the Indonesian Embassy in London, to scout a suitable
\nBalinese child in Britain, but our deadline is short,\" she said.<\/p>\n
She urged anybody knows such a child to contact the BFC or
\nRooftop Productions at its London bureau.<\/p>\n
The program, she said, would enable people around the world to
\ntake a close look at Bali and to learn more about the island and
\nits culture through a direct experience.<\/p>\n
\"This will certainly promote Bali and Indonesia in general,\"
\nGabinetti said. At the BFC, she collaborates with Putu Susi
\nErlina, Ruddy Legoh and many other talented individuals.<\/p>\n
To encourage children around the world to watch the series,
\nRooftop has set up a Rooted website at
\nhttp:\/\/www.globalgang.or.uk\/rooted, featuring the first season
\nalong with stories, diaries and video clips from each episode.<\/p>\n
Anyone who knows a Balinese child living in Britain who might
\nbe interested in taking part in Rooted should contact the BFC at
\nTel: +62 (0361) 237 272; Fax: +62 (0361) 247 822 or write to
\nExecutive Producer Sophie Chalk at sophie.chalk@btinternet.com.<\/p>",
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