Shooting of 'Fatahillah' starts

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Surjadi Soedirdja, the main producer of Fatahillah, is scheduled to witness the initial shooting for the film on Saturday in Lombang, kilometers east of Indramayu, West Java.

The day before, the governor, along with other dignitaries, invited guests, the film's stars and filmmaking crew, will attend a prayer service at the At-Taqwa mosque in Cirebon.

The leading actor in the film, Igoh Ilham, a student at the Cirebon-based State Administration Institute (STAN), will be formally introduced by Surjadi to those in attendance following the Friday prayer.

Noted movie directors Chaerul Umam and Imam Tantowi will work jointly on the making of the film dubbed "Indonesia's greatest film of the 20th century" by the project's coordinator, H.M. Johan Tjasmadi. They will be assisted by photographic director M. Soleh Ruslani, cameraman Thomas Susanto, artistic director El Badrun, sound director Hartono and film editor Rizal Basri.

The entire project, which includes the production of the feature film, as well as a 13-segment television series, will cost Rp 2.25 billion.

Fatahillah, or Pangeran Jayakarta, is widely regarded as the founder of Jakarta in the 16th century. He is known as the hero of Sunda Kelapa who led a revolt against the Portuguese who were attempting to colonize the area, which is now Jakarta, the capital of the Republic of Indonesia. (bas)