PopCorner: Approaching teens through pop culture

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.