Jakarta nightlife to be on silver screen

JAKARTA: Jakarta night prowlers take note! A local film company is currently in the production stage of a film based on the hottest-selling book Jakarta Undercover: Sex `n the City, a non- fiction work that details Jakartans' debauched nightlife.

Rexinema, a local film studio that has released box-office films such as Jelangkung, Alexandria and Cinta Silver (Silver Love), said that its crew was currently shooting for the film.

Executive producer of Rexinema Erwin Arnada was quoted by Detik.com newsportal that the film would be released for the cinema in early 2006.

Catwalk model Luna Maya (in photo) and best actress nominee at the 2005 Indonesian Film Festival (FFI) Cornelia Agatha are two leading players in the film.

Jakarta Undercover, written by crime journalist Moammar Emka, details the nooks and cranny of Jakarta nightlife, taking its readers to travel the city's red light districts from its brothels, striptease and karaoke bars and massage parlors to gambling dens.

The book sold impressively with early copies being snapped up like hotcakes. Its publisher has shipped more than 100,000 copies of the books since 2003.

Responding to demands from readers, Emka wrote a second edition of the book titled Jakarta Undercover 2: Karnaval Malam (Jakarta Undercover 2: Night Carnival) -- JP