PopCorner: Approaching teens through pop culture

By Hera Diani

JAKARTA (JP): Angga, a student at SMU 70 high school enthusiastically provided a synopsis of his group's upcoming short film. The film, Groove wasn't brought in a day, tells the story of an unpopular girl, an outcast in school and a frequent target of bullies. Until one day when the girl gets supernatural powers and strikes back, in the vein of Carrie.

Angga and 49 of his peers are taking part in a film workshop for high school students that is being held every Sunday from July 30 to Aug. 27. In each session, the students are given the basics of film, writing scenes, directing, editing and camera technique from noted film figures such as director Riri Riza and producer Mira Lesmana.

The students will be given the chance to show their own films, which must be no longer than 10 minutes, and a jury will select the winner. Divided into 10 groups of five people, the groups must stick to the theme Dunia Kami (Our World).

"We chose the theme to give the teenagers the opportunity to express themselves and show their daily world," Eko Harsoselanto from PopCorner, the workshop's organizing committee, told The Jakarta Post.

The film workshop is the second ever held by PopCorner. The events have attracted many teens between the ages of 13 and 18, and this year the committee had to turn away 150 people due to budget limitations.

"The budget is often the obstacle for us to hold such events. Only a few parties are interested in funding events for teenagers because they only reach a small number of people. As for donations or funding institutions, they said events for teenagers were not a priority, not like democracy-related activities," said Febriyanto, or Briyan, the chairman of PopCorner.

The members of PopCorner are funding the film workshop from their own pockets.

Founded in April last year, PopCorner is made up of graduates of the University of Indonesia's School of Social and Political Sciences. The group is made up of everything from reporters to businesspeople, with one thing in common: they want to help teenagers express themselves.

"There are already a bunch of NGOs dealing with the reform movement, drugs and everything. So we thought it would better to approach teens through the media they are most familiar with, pop culture," said Briyan, who is an advertising executive.

He said Indonesian teens were being bombarded with pop culture, through the television, movies and comic books. "Instead of just passively accepting it, they can create something through the media."

The first activity of PopCorner was its film workshop, which was followed by a short story writing workshop. Each event was attended by noted figures from these fields.

According to Eko, the teens attending the workshops have brilliant and creative ideas. The winner of last year's film workshop, for example, was a satire of the frenzy in Indonesia over telenovelas (Latin America soap operas).

The film, made by students from SMU Gonzaga, was titled Sudah sore! Sebentar lagi jam lima! (Hurry up! The clock soon strikes 5 p.m.!). It shows a teenage boy hurrying from school after being beeped on his pager. But on his way to his destination, he encounters numerous obstacles. When he finally reaches home, it becomes apparent he did not want to miss an episode of his favorite telenovela, which airs every day at 5 p.m.

The students only used a video camera to shoot the film, but their camera technique was quite good.

"If we want to brag, the workshop could be seen as the event which gives these students the spirit to go on and make independent films," Briyan said.

The next stop for PopCorner will be a comedy competition, a journalism workshop and a workshop that will allow the teenagers to produce TV programs.

"That is if we have the budget, off course," Briyan said, smiling.

To help overcome the shortage of funds, PopCorner has a division called the Writer's Habitat, which produces scripts or newsletter for companies, with the money earned being used to hold these workshops.

PopCorner has gained popularity among teens, especially in Jakarta. Every weekend, its "office" in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, is packed with teenagers just hanging out.

"We're also working to provide a library for these teens," Eko said.

PopCorner also has its own mailing list, with over 60 people, not only from Jakarta, but also Bandung and Surabaya. Some University of Indonesia graduates who are now studying abroad are also on the mailing list, which mostly sends out leaflets discussing the latest developments in the media.

As for parents, according to Eko, many of them thank PopCorner for providing such positive activities.

"But we feel guilty sometimes, because many students plan to take study similar topics when they enter university. If not communications, it will be art, whereas they concentrated on science in school," he said.

Like Billy, a sophomore at SMU 34 and a participant in last year's film workshop. Without hesitation, he said he was going to study film at the Jakarta Art Institute.

"I love films and I think Indonesian films will be more appreciated in the future," he said.