Indonesian film industry tunes up for its own swan song
Indonesian film industry tunes up for its own swan song
By Gotot Prakosa
JAKARTA (JP): Makers of 26 movies produced between 1996 and
1997 are waiting to hear the fate of their works currently in
limbo in PT Interstudio Laboratorium.
These movies have not been processed because their producers
could not afford the finishing costs. Both postproduction and
reproduction costs are calculated in dollars, while the projected
earnings will be in the depreciated rupiah.
The situation highlights the crumbling state of the Indonesian
movie industry and shows that the current film production and
distribution methods, through mainstream channels, can no longer
be sustained. Therefore, there is a need to seek an alternative
means to end the crisis.
Movies that survive the ongoing turmoil are those that are
using alternative methods of production and distribution, such as
Daun di atas Bantal (Leaf on a Pillow) by Garin Nugroho and
Christine Hakim; Telegram by Slamet Rahardjo and Kuldesak, by
directors Mira Lesmana, Riri Reza, Nan T. Achnas and Rizal
Mantovani. Currently still in postproduction is Sri, directed by
Marselli Sumarno.
Daun is now playing at Plaza Senayan and Pondok Indah Mall.
There are two means of producing feature films. First, the
movie is produced for commercial purposes and produced by a
producer who also acts as the main investor.
Movies here are seen more as a commercial commodity, created
to satiate the need of an existing market. The distribution line
of these films centers around small independent movie theaters in
city suburbs and provincial towns, and open-air screenings.
The 26 films mentioned above fall into this category; in fact
the life of independent theaters depends heavily on the
production of these films. Popular among lower class audiences --
the main patrons of independent theaters -- the collapse of the
national film industry may force these theaters out of business.
Before the economic crisis, independent theaters feasted on a
diet of sex, violence and mystery, just like the above-mentioned
movies.
These low-budget works were produced for approximately Rp 200
million (when US$1 was Rp 2,500) and could be offered to local
distributors for Rp 300 million.
As the dollar exchange rose to above Rp 15,000, film
reproduction costs that used to be Rp 3 million to Rp 4 million
skyrocketed to Rp 14 million to Rp 16 million. Production costs
soared to at least Rp 400 million to Rp 500 million.
Distributors could not increase their purchasing budgets,
which have stayed at Rp 300 million. The resulting situation is
devastating since, according to Hatoek Subroto, the producer and
owner of PT Elang Perkasa Film, distributors nowadays pay with
postdated checks payable after six months.
Subroto's company has restricted its activities to renting
film shooting equipment.
The second means of production is through alternative methods,
usually undertaken by those with perseverance and enthusiasm.
From preproduction and the creation of a proposal onward, the
producers have to innovate their own system of production.
Christine Hakim Films finished Daun di atas Bantal by
searching for unbinding investors. The movie later received
assistance from the National Film Management Committee (BP2N) and
financial help from the Hubert Bals Foundation in the Netherlands
and prerelease earnings from Japan.
In the end, the movie was released on time and participated in
the Cannes Film Festival in France. The film received an award at
the Kobe Film Festival in Japan and was distributed in Europe and
Japan.
PT Ekaparaya Tata Cipta Film, together with France's Artcam
International, produced Telegram, directed by Slamet Rahardjo.
This movie received aid from BP2N and prerelease earnings from
various foundations and French TV stations. Among those, the
Huber Bals Foundation assisted with the postproduction costs. The
movie will be released next month.
Kuldesak, produced by Miles Production, is an omnibus film, so
called because it is directed by two or more directors. Kuldesak
is a compilation of four short feature films, produced in a
collaborative spirit. Each of the films is directed by a young
moviemaker; Mira Lesmana, Riri Reza, Nan T. Achnas and Rizal
Mantovani. Each director used their own style to create a movie
with a "young generation" theme.
Production costs were met through donations, from movie stocks
to equipment. The actors and crews were not paid -- they even
chipped in. At the end, the movie obtained funds from the Hubert
Bals Foundation and it will hit the screens this October.
PT Sinema Sejati, together with the Film and Television
Department of the Jakarta Arts Institute, IKJ, produced Sri,
directed by Marselli. This film was also a collaborative effort.
Sinema Sejati waived the operational costs as the film crews and
actors did not receive payment but instead will receive a
percentage of future earnings. The movie is still in the editing
process, assisted by postproduction funds from BP2N. According to
Marselli, Sri will be released late November.
Two weeks ago, the producers of the 26 commercial films met
with Minister of Information Mohammad Yunus to arrange funding
from BP2N so their films could be released soon.
If not, they argued, the declining supply of foreign films and
audiences' demand for local films would eventually force
independent movie theaters to close.
The producers are hoping to receive funding from BP2N since it
has been receiving levies from the reproduction certificates of
foreign films distributed in Indonesia since 1971.
This fund should be Rp 43 billion, although only Rp 3 billion
is thought to be left. The whereabouts of the money is now being
questioned by the film community, led by noted actor and director
Sophan Sophiaan.
It seems that the movies stuck in Interstudio Lab will be
there for the time being. This means, one by one, suburban movie
theaters and those in provincial towns face a slow and tortuous
death. The buildings may well end up as warehouses or simply
remain abandoned.
The writer is a movie director and lecturer at the Film and
Television Department of the Jakarta Arts Institute.