Many dubbers speechless after English-only TV rule

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)