Tapping filmmaking talents in schools
Tapping filmmaking talents in schools
By Yusuf Susilo
BANDUNG (JP): A month-long film workshop for high school
students is being held in Bandung, West Java.
The workshop, which was kicked off on Sunday March 4, involves
10 mentors and a number of experts, including Shanty Harmayn,
Rayya Makarim, Harry Dagoe and Arthuro GP.
Eko Harsoselanto, who initiated the organization of the
workshop along with two colleagues -- Ismail Fahmi and Amanda
Marahimin from the Pop Corner Foundation -- said, "This workshop
is not intended to turn students into filmmakers."
The main goal, they said modestly, was to open wide the
students' minds that a film can be used as a means of expression.
Eko and his colleagues held the first such workshop in Jakarta
in 1999 with 45 senior high school students participating and
eight films being made. In 2000, the second workshop was also
held in Jakarta, participated in by 50 junior high-school
students and produced 10 films.
Many more students than were expected wanted to enroll in the
workshop. Actually, it was designed to take in 50 participants,
who would be divided into 10 groups with a mentor each. In order
not to disappoint those who could not get a place, another class
was established. This class produced three films. In all, the two
workshops produced 21 films, one film short of the 22 expected.
While earlier workshops were organized by Pop Corner, this
year's workshop enjoys support from Anak Sampoerna Guidance
Program, an aid scheme showing concern for arts education,
through its working partner, [ki:] communication.
With this support, Pop Corner can hold the workshop in four
cities: Jakarta, Bandung, Yogyakarta and Surabaya. Two hundred
junior high school students are expected to join the workshops,
which will run from March through June.
The workshop introduces a unique and interesting teaching and
learning method, a combination of a class system and tutorship
blended with theoretical knowledge and practical skills. Every
Sunday, participants will studied the theory of film, which will
include a general introduction to films and other film elements
like the story idea, the script, casting, directing, lighting,
camera work and editing.
On other days of the week, they will go to school as usual.
During the shooting period, each group will think of their own
story based on a major theme given by the organizer and write the
script. This year's theme is Our World. Then they will look for
the cast and direct the film. Last year, for example, the cast
included the participants' friends, teachers and even parents.
For this activity, the organizer will cover the cost of film
shooting and editing while the participants will have to provide
a portable video camera.
At the end of the workshop, in the fourth week, each group
will present their film before the organizers, the sponsors and
the guests of honor (parents and teachers). "Our experience shows
that this is a very touching moment.
"It is on this occasion that parents and teachers give their
comments on the work and the hidden potential of their children
and students," said Eko.
Good appreciation
After organizing two film workshops, as well as workshops on
short-story writing and music for high school students quite
successfully, Eko dismissed the assumption that Indonesian
children, and youngsters in particular, have poor film
appreciation. The workshops show that these youngsters actually
appreciate popular arts, particularly films. "Just bear in mind
that they have been born and brought up with television and other
forms of technology-based entertainment. It is not surprising to
find a lot of references in their heads," Eko stressed.
It is these references that have lent liveliness to the
atmosphere of the workshops. In a session where Shanty Harmayn
gave an introduction to films, followed by Rayya Makarim's
discussion on scriptwriting, the TV, CD, VCD and Internet-
generation youngsters were actively and confidently involved in
the debate, firing questions one after another.
One of the participants, Endus, of SMP Taruna Bakti Bandung,
said that he liked to watch any film -- Indonesian or Oscar-
caliber. He said he nurtured an ambition to be a famous actor,
not an engineer, a doctor, a civil servant or a politician. That
is why, he added, he is taking part in this workshop, to get some
knowledge which he would not obtain from school.
Not all the workshop participants are like Endus, though. Many
are taking part simply to gain a new experience. They do not care
whether they will have a film career. "I'm still in search of my
identity," one Sundanese girl said in her Jakartan-Melayu
dialect.
Taking into account the psychology of development, we will
soon realize that these youngsters have not firmly made up their
minds yet.
Pop Corner was right when it designed this workshop as a place
where high school students, crammed with rote learning everyday,
may enjoy a wider perspective of democratization appreciation and
a broader opportunity to express themselves. It is not a place
where you can learn to be a filmmaker.
However, it is true that some of the participants have become
more determined to have a career in the film world after joining
this workshop. Another problem in this respect is the support of
parents and teachers.
That is why, said Imron of [ki:] communication, the workshop
is also designed to arouse the awareness of parents and teachers
that an arts education is (also) important and that you can make
a good career in the film world.
At this juncture, Pop Corner and its partners are bringing
youngsters closer to the film world. "If this potential continues
to be tapped, within a decade we may see good filmmakers," Shanty
Harmain expressed her hope, which may also be shared by us all.
If the government feels called upon to tap these youngsters'
filmmaking potential, it may provide the necessary facilities. It
need not intervene too far. Experience clearly shows that it is
none other than the government -- in this case the now-disbanded
Ministry of Information -- that has put our national film
industry out of business.