Foreign film import

From Media Indonesia

The sluggish national film business has been a great concern to the Indonesian people in general and the film makers and film distributors in particular. The situation will remains so as long as Indonesia is free to import Western films. A question now arises: Are we serious in handling the national films so that they become the host in their own country?

In my opinion, the national films have difficulty competing with Western films because of the following reasons:

* Almost every Western film is managed by film professionals, quality human resources. While our film makers still lack such expertise.

* Western films are produced with the support of sophisticated equipment and technology as evident in the lighting and sounding systems, make-up and other minor aspects.

One of the constraints to achieve this stage is the availability of enough funds. Or perhaps the conglomerates may help to provide the funds needed.

There is still one important thing which calls for serious attention of the film makers, i.e. the theme of the film. Western films allow free creativity and every creation is duly appreciated.

The last question may be: Is it necessary to limit the import of Western films, at for the time being?

ABU BAKAR

Jakarta