Digital technology endangers local film

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.