Miscues stifle independent film scene

Miscues stifle independent film scene

Joko Anwar, Contributor, Jakarta

It sometimes seems that every 20-something with filmmaking
ambitions thinks all they need to do is get their hands on a
video camera. Forget about learning about skills and the art of
filmmaking.

They cannot be blamed, however, because senior filmmakers have
a similarly narrow attitude: Let's churn 'em out for a quick buck
and to hell with giving the audience quality entertainment.

While good filmmakers make decisions about which medium they
want to use based on what kind of look and feel they want, most
local filmmakers choose digital video simply because it is much
cheaper.

Most local movies are produced on a shoestring budget in the
ugly medium, then transferred to film.

"Indonesia is the most loyal country among digital video
users," renowned filmmaker Garin Nugroho told The Jakarta Post.

While filmmakers can argue that the medium seems to be the
best option to continue making movies during this time of
economic hardship, the decision may also be among those holding
back its progress.

Local filmmakers have been unable to keep up with the progress
of their counterparts from neighboring Asian countries.

Thailand's well-made historical epic Suriyothai, for example,
will soon be released in the U.S. by Francis Ford Coppola.

In the meantime, Indonesian filmmakers are still struggling
with the basic technicalities of their craft.

Reflecting the problems affecting the industry was the
recently held second annual Indonesia Independent Film Festival
(FFII). It is intended to nurture local talent and encourage
filmmaking but so far has failed to succeed in either goal.

The competition is open to members of the public from any age
group and background. Perhaps only in this country could you find
people with such a wide range of ages and skills competing in the
same film festival.

The categories are limited to beginners and professionals. The
organizer defines professionals as those who have made more than
two "independent" films, which would mean that director Quentin
Tarantino, after he made Reservoir Dogs, would thus have been
eligible to enter the "beginners" category under such criteria!.

Those who happened to attend the awards night probably could
not decide whether to feel enthusiastic or concerned about the
event, especially after the winners were announced.

While the winners were naturally pleased with themselves, the
also-rans, many of whom had traveled long distances from their
homes in other parts of the country, could not hide their
disappointment as the show was beamed live by organizer SCTV
private TV station.

Those who entered the competition as "professionals" were even
more disappointed: The ceremony hosts announced that there was no
winner in this category.

Despite pathetic attempts from the hosts to keep the
atmosphere up, boos were heard from the disgruntled participants.

"There wasn't a single entry which met professional
standards," one of the jury members, artist Paquita Wijaya, told
the Post later.

The next day, FFII's website was full of hate postings from
the participants. They condemned the competition as unfair and
charged that the jury did not have a clear standard to judge the
entries.

Perhaps, they have a valid complaint but the jury was right,
too. Hopefully, their decision, painful as it was, will spur
budding filmmakers to think hard about doing a better job.

Last year, SCTV aired the films of the winners and nominees,
which was an embarrassing decision because most were poorly made.

The only exception, perhaps, was Nanang Istiabudi's D.A.R.K.
which was well made on a 16mm format.

Local film producers are not won over by the festival's
efforts.

"I saw movies which won the FFII last year but artistically
they did not impress me," highly regarded film producer/director
Riri Riza told the Post.

So, the independent film scene stumbles on, with anybody and
everybody able to call themselves a filmmaker. But for the few
young, independent filmmakers with talent, it's still a case of
going it alone in getting their films made.