Many dubbers speechless after English-only TV rule

JAKARTA (JP): Mention programs dubbed in English, and housewives irritated at having to scan Indonesian subtitles once again are not the only ones scowling.

Amid the worst economic crisis to hit the nation in the last 30 years, many local dubbers are losing their jobs simply because they are not proficient in English.

With TV stations dutifully complying with the requirement of the newly enacted Broadcast Law that all non-English programs can only be dubbed in English, the dubbers are bearing the brunt of the measures.

Even after they took their gripe to the House of Representatives for a review of the policy last August, Minister of Information R. Hartono stood his ground.

TV stations have had to spend huge amounts on hiring an ensemble of dubbers, translators, editors, dubbing experts and operators to cope with the new measure.

This is on top of suffering losses from the left-over roster of programs previously dubbed into Indonesian but yet to be aired.

With the law and the monetary crisis hovering over their heads, their only resort was using local dubbing agencies instead of those abroad and the consolation of a brief amnesty period on implementing the regulations.

The initial deadline was extended from Oct. 31, 1997 to the final day of last year.

Siska, a freelance dubber at PT Idola Citra Utama dubbing agency, said many of her former colleagues were "literally starving" without regular work.

"Out of the 30 here (at Idola), only five of us have remained, as, thankfully, we speak the language," she said.

"There was one person who used to run a salon business earlier but it wasn't doing so well, so she had stopped it. She has started it again. Ninety percent of the people have nothing to do."

"Some who were formerly thieves were employed as dubbers before because they had good, strong voices and could get into character," said Idola Citra Utama dialog coordinator and mixing operator, Edy.

"Now, they have gone back to stealing again," he joked.

Siska said some unemployed dubbers who owned vehicles -- be it a car, motorbike or bicycle -- had been forced into offering lifts to pedestrians for small fees.

But head of private TV station RCTI's translation board, Ito Nurarito, and representatives from other TV stations had more positive stories to tell.

Ito said some dubbers were doing well and had joined "production teams of TV stations while others, who were formerly actors in local drama serials, have gone back into that line".

A dissenting view came from head of Idola Citra Utama, Maria Oentoe, who said she was perplexed by the requirement for English.

"We are Indonesians and not many of us understand the English language. Our country is neither governed by the English nor is it a requirement here to speak the language, so where is the need for it?"

Maria was steadfast in her complaint despite the official line that the policy was required to lessen the effect of cultural intrusion through TV programs.

"It may be an essential addition to one's knowledge. But when there are so many corners in Indonesia where people can barely speak the Indonesian language properly -- like Bali, for instance -- does this not hinder the 'cultural progression' of our own nation?"

Maria said some unemployed dubbers were suffering.

"I feel terrible for those who lost their jobs. Some are now selling noodles on the streets."

The Broadcast Law exempts cartoons, other non-English children programs and religious films from English.

"What will one say if they even want cartoons to be dubbed into English as well?" Maria said.

"With conditions stated by Warner Bros, for instance, so many stations have asked for cartoons to be dubbed into English because it is required of them.

"Dubbers are sometimes high-school graduates and they take pride in their dubbing skills. Now, they find comfort in small parts in radio shows, but that is a fad slowly dying out.

"Nobody knows what will become of them."

Housewife Lasmini said that she and her friends had enjoyed the Indonesia-dubbed programs more than English-dubbed ones.

"Now, it all sounds foreign to me," Lasmini said.

TV station representatives and dubbing agencies find themselves with no choice but to follow the law despite the financial hardships, but some believe cultural confusion may be the undesirable result.

"It used to be Satu Nusa, Satu Bangsa, Satu Bahasa (one island, one nation, one language)," Siska said.

"Now it's one island, one nation, two languages." (02)