'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.