JP/19/BUSTER
pakai logo JIFFEST Buster Keaton silent films brought to life in JiFFest
M. Taufiqurrahman The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
Three films from the man whose "stone face" showed every emotion from joy to despair, comic genius Buster Keaton, feature in this week's promotional program for the Jakarta International Film Festival (JiFFest).
The silent films, The General (1927), The Cameraman (1928) and Steamboat Bill Jr. (1928) will be accompanied by a full-blown orchestra playing music that jazz performer Dwiki Dharmawan, film score composer Thoersi Argeswara and businessman-cum-pianist Jaya Suprana composed by re-interpreting the films' original scores.
The event will take place from Dec. 2 to Dec. 4 in the Atrium of Plaza Senayan in Central Jakarta.
In the program, the films will first be screened in their entirety along with their original scores before an orchestra takes the stage, playing the new scores to accompany a second screening of the films.
In between the concerts, a workshop on composing music for films will be held with Thoersi as a speaker.
The event is among promotional activities being held ahead of Jiffest, which opens on Dec. 9.
Keaton, who was once called "the most silent of film comedians" and was a highly gifted director, appeared in 121 films and directed 48.
Known for his trademark deadpan expression, porkpie hat and slapshoes, Keaton was set apart from other silent clowns by his artistic control.
The General, considered the greatest civil-war film of all time remains the most famous of all silent films.
Set during the American civil-war of the 1860s, The General, directed by Keaton, contains the most expensive single shot of the entire silent era in which a steam engine falls into a river after a connecting bridge collapses.
The film, however, suffered at the box office.
The Cameraman, Keaton's first film for Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM) studio was one of the best comedies ever made.
Steamboat Bill Jr., the last of Keaton's independent works for producer Joseph Schenck, has been considered the funniest film ever produced by the actor.
The performance of the new musical scores is much anticipated as the composers are three of the country's most talented musicians.
Thoersi, a graduate from a California-based film school has composed original scores for some of the country's award-winning films such as Pasir Berbisik (The Whispering Sand), Gie and Eliana, Eliana.
Dwiki, a seasoned musician of the progressive jazz outfit Krakatau, has been composing scores for TV soap operas (sinetron).
Suprana, owner of Jamu Jago, top producer of traditional Javanese herbs, is a classically trained musicians who has performed extensively both here and abroad.
in-box (abu2)
Screening schedule
Dec. 2 The Cameraman
5 p.m. film and original score 7 p.m. film and live music score by Dwiki Dharmawan
Dec. 3 Steamboat Bill Jr.
1 p.m. film and original score 3 p.m. film and original score 5 p.m. workshop on composing music for fil 7 p.m. film and live music score by Thoersi Argeswara
Dec. 4 The General
1 p.m. film and original score 3 p.m. film and live music score by Jaya Suprana 5 p.m. film and live music score by Jaya Suprana 7 p.m. film and original score