Foreign film import

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