Digital technology endangers local film
Joko E.H. Anwar, Contributor, Jakarta
Expect more poorly made movies this year as many local filmmakers dump their cheap, shot-on-video efforts onto local theatergoers.
Despite the hype that digital video can be an equally viable alternative for shooting movies as 35-millimeter film, which has become the worldwide standard, audiences have yet to be satisfied with the result.
But it's cheap, only about one fifth of the total cost of movies shot on 35 millimeter.
As the medium has become the favorite choice to cutting costs, more so-called filmmakers think they can just grab a digital video camera and start making movies -- often, unfortunately, at the expense of audiences.
Late last year, we witnessed the poorly made horror entries Titik Hitam (The Black Spot) and Kafir (The Unbeliever a.k.a Satanic).
The moviemakers may argue that both entries put in a decent performance at the box office, but it would not be that easy for them to find a viewer who loved the movies as many people watched the flicks out of curiosity.
Meanwhile, established filmmakers agree that the year 2003 will be crucial for the newly-revived and still fragile local film industry.
While the medium seems to be the best option for local filmmakers to continue making movies during this time of economic hardship, the medium could also put the newly-reborn industry into self-destruction mode.
"If the audiences keep being let down by such movies, they will stop coming to theaters to see local films. And thus the industry will be die a second death," cinematographer/director German G. Mintapradja told The Jakarta Post.
German also said that there were old-time players who already planned to capitalize on the trend by cheaply producing shot-on- video movies and showing them in theaters.
Soon, another poorly made horror flick titled Tabir (Screen) will hit local theaters.
Some filmmakers -- who refused to be named but claimed to being concerned about the survival of the local film industry -- have already condemned the movie.
Let's just hope that embarrassingly bad horror titled Satu Nyawa Dalam Denting Lonceng Kecil (One Soul in the Ring of a Small Bell), which looks like it was made by a 12-year-old, will continue to be shelved by its producers.
Other local movies, which were actually well-produced but could have been better had they had been shot on film, include the recent romantic comedy Andai Ia Tahu (If He Only Knew).
Most of the time in other countries, a filmmaker's choice of movie medium depends on what look he wants his movie to have.
Each medium will give a different look and feel to a movie and many real filmmakers have experimented with various media to create unique movies.
Brad Anderson used high definition digital video to give a different look and feel to psychological horror movie Session 9 in 2001.
The same medium was also used by George Lucas in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones.
"However, the digital medium in this country is still far from being used for exploratory purposes," well-known film director Garin Nugroho said.
"Many (would-be filmmakers) think that since the technology is cheap and quick, they can become Quentin Tarantino overnight," he added.
If this situation persisted, Garin said, our film industry would never really manage to get off the ground again.
"It will be revived for a short period, then it will be destroyed again, and so on. The net result is zero development."
German said that filmmakers should do their field and bibliographical homework before thinking that shooting a movie on video would be a piece of cake.
"It's okay if some filmmakers decide to use digital video, but they have to do it properly," he said.
German consulted with the director of photography of Star Wars Episode II via e-mail before shooting the upcoming Biola Tak Berdawai (The Stringless Violin) which also uses digital video.
German said that film exhibitors, currently dominated by the 21 Group, should screen movies before showing them for public exhibition.
"The group used to be involved in killing the local film industry by refusing to show them, now they're helping kill it again by showing everything offered to them," he remarked.
There are, however, local filmmakers who have intentionally used the digital video medium for exploratory purposes so as to give a different look to their movies.
These filmmakers include Riri Riza who directed the highly praised Eliana, Eliana last year.
Unfortunately, real filmmakers are still outnumbered by profiteers in this country.
Garin said that Indonesia could be the country that ends up availing of movie production digital video technology.
However, that is nothing to brag about if the medium is solely used for crass commercialism.