Guess What? Hanny Saputra

Director Hanny Saputra, 31, has a penchant for what he calls "informative controversies". Particularly when he gets to make telecinematic productions on them.

Last year critics hailed his award-winning debut production, Sepanjang Jalan Kenangan (Down Memory Lane) -- about a suicidal deviant missing out on parental love -- as a "riot of a true story".

This year they may have to settle for another term to describe his second production. Temporarily titled Heboh (Indonesian slang for "It's A Riot"), the 48-minute telecinema about a prostitute accused of contracting AIDS will star artists Nurul Arifin and Gito Gilas.

"We'll start shooting on Feb. 16. Most of the shots will be taken in Indramayu (a fishing town in West Java)," Hanny said.

"It's more than just about a prostitute terrorized by villagers fairly ignorant about the disease. It will inform people about animalistic human behavior, and humanity."

"It's my way of holding an AIDS campaign."

A Jakarta Arts Institute graduate, Hanny produced documentaries on Indonesian company profiles before producing Sepanjang Jalan Kenangan. The telecinema won him eight awards at the 1997 FSI TV-awards show, including awards for best director and drama. (02)