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.