'Sinetron' can be high-quality works

'Sinetron' can be high-quality works

By Rita A. Widiadana

JAKARTA (JP): A sinetron television drama can be as artistic
as a wide-screen film if it is properly made by talented film
makers, insisted noted playwright and film director Nano
Riantiarno.

According to Nano, sinetron is an alternative media for film
makers to express their artistic skills which have been blocked
by the pitiful condition of the national film industry.

"Despite the sluggish film industry, people in the film world
should maintain their creativity. Through sinetrons, film
directors, artists, cameramen and screenwriters can create high-
quality art pieces," he maintained.

"The establishment of private television stations has provided
ample room for local television series," he said.

Between August l994 and August l995, about 2,970 television
drama episodes were aired on the state-owned TVRI and private
stations TPI, RCTI, SCTV, Indosiar Visual Mandiri and AN-teve.

Nano added that many film directors are still reluctant to
shift to sinetron because they consider it less skillful.

"This is not true. It is a matter of a change in medium, from
CinemaScope to television format. A good artist should be able to
produce high-quality items in any media," Nano argued.

Nano, who also leads the controversial Teater Koma, has
produced a number of sinetrons, including Suryakantakwa.

He admitted that many people often associate sinetrons with
cheap soap operas, telenovelas (Latin soap operas) and slapstick
comedies. The majority of sinetrons on Indonesian TV are low-
quality and therefore tarnish the medium's image, he said

Nano said the industry is still in its infancy. Its producers
are still searching for the proper concept.

"I think we should let them produce as many sinetrons as
possible because it is important for the development of this
industry. Once established, people will easily judge the quality
of each production," he pointed out.

Ishadi S.K, a communications expert and former TVRI director,
shares Nano's opinion, saying that despite the various
shortcomings in television series production, some sinetrons,
mainly those produced by prominent directors, are artistic. Many
of them get stories ideas from daily life as well as local
literature. The large audience they attract has encouraged more
directors to turn to sinetron.

"It is clear that high-quality TV series have their own
market," said Ishadi, currently head of the research and
development department of the Ministry of Information.

In the l980s, TVRI ran a number of high-quality TV dramas such
as Losmen (Hostel) by the late Wahyu Sihombing and his wife
Tatiek Maliyati, as well as Aksara Tanpa Kata (Letterless Words),
Tuanku Tambusai (My Master Tambusai) and Sayekti dan Hanafi
(Sayekti and Hanafi) by the late Irwinsyah.

A number of private TV stations followed with a television
drama produced by prominent film directors like Teguh Karya, the
late Arifin C. Noer, Slamet Rahardjo Djarot, Ami Priyono, Putu
Wijaya and Dedi Setiadi.

Teguh Karya, whose films have won 52 Citra awards -- the
Indonesian version of the Oscar -- has produced a number of
television dramas, including Pulang (Going Home), Arak-Arakan,
(Parade), Bayangan Cermin Palsu, (The Shadow of a Fake Mirror)
and Alang-Alang (Grass).

"I will continue working although the local film industry is
collapsing. Even if I fail in sinetron I'll never give up," Teguh
pledged.

Teguh has a strong foothold in sinetron and he is aware that
the quality of this film genre is strongly affected by market
demand. Two weeks ago, his creation Alang Alang won the
international Joey Award for best television drama from John
Hopkins University in the United States.

Alang Alang is about overpopulation in Indonesia. It is
entertaining and touching while maintaining its effectiveness as
a government family planning campaign.

"The award will encourage other directors to produce their
best pieces. It is proof that Indonesia can actually create
international-standard television," Teguh said.

The late Arifin C. Noer also helped shape the sinetron
industry.

One film critic said that Arifin's works have proved to many
audiences that sinetron is worth watching.

Arifin's Tasi Oh Tasi (Tasi Oh Tasi), Bulan Dalam Baskom (Moon
in a Bowl), Sebuah Dongeng Cinta (A Love Story), and his last
production Keris, (Kris) are all remarkable.

Arifin explores social problems in Tasi Oh Tasi. The film is
about Tasi, a young prostitute who has to survive in Jakarta. His
treatment of the character and the soundtrack, lighting and
editing are very clever.

Arifin made this simple television drama into a beautiful
piece. Arifin, who died early this year, was quoted by Kompas
daily as saying that through sinetron he would like to stir
people's emotions as well as discuss solutions to various
societal problems.

Siti Nurbaya and Sengsara Membawa Nikmat (Blissful Suffering)
by Dedi Setiadi were the most awaited sinetron programs aired by
TVRI in l992.

Siti Nurbaya was adapted from Marah Roesli's novel which
discusses the fate of Minangkabau (West Sumatran ethnic group)
women who must strictly follow tradition. The television drama is
very realistic and the setting and characters support the story's
flow. Dedi cast young artist Novia Kolopaking as Siti Nurbaya and
senior actor H.M. Damsik as the antagonist Datuk Maringgih. The
two successfully stirred the audience's emotions. This highly-
acclaimed sinetron received high ratings, making it commercially
viable.

Siti Nurbaya, Sengsara Membawa Nikmat and the latest sinetron
Si Doel Anak Sekolahan (Si Doel The School Boy) have also
attracted viewers in Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Singapore and
the Philippines.

Nano is right. High-quality sinetron has its place on
television.