Culture Minister: XR Technology Can Strengthen the National Film Ecosystem

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Culture Minister Fadli Zon stated that the utilisation of XR technology could serve as a strategic step in strengthening the national film ecosystem. Fadli also emphasised the importance of developing content that is not only entertaining but also possesses educational and inspirational value, particularly highlighting themes of science and technology. “We need to encourage the creation of works themed around STEM that can inspire the public while strengthening Indonesia’s cultural competitiveness,” said the Culture Minister in a statement confirmed from Jakarta on Friday. Furthermore, in a meeting with film producer and director Dendi Reynando and Upie Guava, Fadli conveyed that Indonesia possesses a vast wealth of story sources with great potential to be adapted into film works, whether drawn from scientist figures or the long history of the Nusantara civilisation. “In addition to capable technology, we also need to strengthen ideas and storylines as the main foundation, which is then supported by the utilisation of technology to realise optimal film quality,” he added. This film is being developed as a science fiction work with an XR technology approach that has been researched and developed independently in Indonesia for approximately three years, including the construction of studio infrastructure and enhancement of human resource capacity. Upie Guava stated that XR technology provides high flexibility in the production process, allowing filmmakers to present various visual settings efficiently without dependence on physical locations and high costs. “With XR, directors can experiment and imagine more broadly without being limited by conventional production cost constraints,” he said. Meanwhile, Dendi Reynando affirmed that Pelangi di Mars is designed as part of a sustainable strategy for developing local IP. The characters in the film are being directed towards licensing and derivative product development, thereby providing added economic value and competitiveness in the national market. In addition, Dendi conveyed that XR technology also holds great potential for use in film production with various settings, including historical films that require complex visual reconstructions at more efficient costs. “This technology enables us to present various settings, including the past in historical films, without needing to build expensive physical sets. Moreover, the utilisation of technology can also provide more diverse viewing alternatives to the public,” he concluded.