Fate of 'sinetron' lies with viewers

By Yogita Tahil Ramani

JAKARTA (JP): Members of the jury for this week's Indonesian Sinetron Festival have specific criteria for selecting nominees and deciding on the winners.

Ultimate judge of the success or failure of any TV show lies in the hands of viewers with their remote controls. Rating points, or lack of them, are the crucial determinant in advertising revenues for teleserials, known locally as sinetron.

The Jakarta Post talked with those tuning in at home to find out what is fueling the booming business of local teleserials.

Nilasari Savitri, program manager of production house PT Avicom, producer of Badai Pasti Berlalu and other teleserials:

Favorite actress? Krisdayanti in Abad 21 (21st Century). I knew she was a great singer, but I had never expected her to act so well.

Deddy Mizwar is my favorite actor. I haven't seen (teleserial) Mat Angin, but Deddy takes on any role quite effectively. He's a veteran and there is no doubt about his acting ability, be it in comedy or dramas.

I can't name one comedy teleserial that I like from those nominated.

My favorite drama is Si Doel Anak Sekolahan III. It depicts reality and does it well enough. It is something that people can relate to in everyday life. It is fun to watch.

People need more teleserials like that to snap them out of their dream worlds. At the same time, it does not get them down.

Despite Christine Hakim, the stars, the promotion, and the fact that most of us were glued to the tube trying to find something extraordinary in Bukan Perempuan Biasa (No Ordinary Woman), there was nothing special. It was ordinary, unspectacular.

If I could change anything in teleserials, I would try to depict more reality, and not sell dreams to people. That is wrong. But for now, I don't think it's feasible to do so, because the Indonesian public has yet to accept that kind of concept.

All Indian, Indonesian, Chinese and Mexican series are the same. I would rate them all as average.

Purwati Nuryani, a 22-year-old housemaid:

My favorite actress is Ayu Azhari (a brain tumor victim in Isri Pilihan). Her acting is so good, like she really had the tumor. And she is so beautiful, you really feel sorry for her.

I know she was nominated for Perkawinan Siti Zubaedah (The Marriage Of Siti Zubaedah), but I have not seen that one. I hope she wins though.

My favorite actor is Reynold Surbakti in Shangrilla and Asmara (Passion). When he plays the villain, he is really mean and it shows. But when he is nice and romantic, his acting seems so intense.

I don't agree with any one of the nominations for comedy. I don't like Deddy Mizwar's Mat Angin. I love Ngelaba because Parto, Eko and Akri's acting is really out of this world.

My favorite drama is Tirai Kasih Yang Terkoyak (The Torn Curtain of Love). I don't know why. I don't remember the names of the actors and actresses, but I loved the story. It was really sad.

I don't like Bukan Perempuan Biasa. I don't like the way Christine Hakim speaks.

I would change the way the women dress in the teleserials. It is shameful that Indonesians wear such short miniskirts and revealing clothes. They should wear more decent clothes as I am sure they will look more beautiful.

They should be covered. They should not reveal their bodies like that.

In order of preference, I like Chinese teleserials, then Indonesian and Indian.

Frisca Saputra, public relations officer of dance company Eksotika Karmawibhangga Indonesia:

I looked forward to Abad 21 for the movie actress Widyawati. I have always liked her. But after watching a few episodes, I don't remember liking anything about Abad 21. Nothing realistic about it.

There were some scenes between a mother and child which I felt were totally contrived. I know a lot of people who would never react the way the characters did.

My favorite drama is Si Doel Anak Sekolahan III. It makes a lot of sense to me, because most of the things that happen in it is how I would react. There is no nonsense. I can relate to that, because I have lived through some of the incidents that happened in the show.

I don't watch too many teleserials because I can't relate to most of them.

Gita Jiwatram, a housewife:

I like Ayu Azhari in Istri Pilihan (Preferred Wife). She acts fabulously and is so cute. She doesn't have to say it, but she shows through her acting the quiet acceptance that she can still take care of her husband and kids, even with a brain tumor.

My favorite actor is Jeremy Thomas, also in Istri Pilihan. His acting is fairly good and he is very loving in romantic scenes.

I don't really like any of the comedies shown on TV, because there is no content and the dialog is stupid. It is not like the old days of the Srimulat comedy troupe, or Ateng's acting in the role of Bagong (in Ria Jenaka).

From those nominated for drama, I like Abad 21 solely because of the way it is filmed. I think people love seeing fairy-tale houses and estates, and beautiful clothes and beautiful people, just like in Indian movies. It's really entertaining.

Sumiati, a 21-year-old housemaid in Jakarta:

Ria Irawan, in Bidadari Yang Terluka (The Wounded Angel), is the best actress. I like her acting because the story is very real and she performs well. The plot is about fighting over family inheritance.

Reynold Surbakti is my favorite actor in Janjiku (My Promise). He is handsome and he acts well.

For comedies, my choice is Si Kabayan, because Didi Petet is hilarious.

Drama? I like Tirai Kasih Yang Terkoyak. It's a beautiful story, and I love the acting of the entire cast. The story is about inheritance and rape. I was sad that Ryan Hidayat died... his role was really good. He went away so abruptly.

I don't understand how Bukan Perempuan Biasa was nominated. It is so boring. All they show are flashbacks from the past, over and over again.

I would not change anything in teleserials. I would just cancel these series: Sebuah Permintaan (A Request), because I hated Ongky Alexander's acting in it, Bukan Perempuan Biasa and Kupu Kupu Kertas (Paper Butterflies).

The last one is all wrong, the story seems fake. How can the man be married and yet they show him running after his former girlfriend?

If I could choose which teleserials to watch, my first pick would be Indian, then Chinese and finally Indonesian.