Yogyakarta's Kasat Mata wins VAB Award 2003

Yogyakarta's Kasat Mata wins VAB Award 2003

Tantri Yuliandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

"Ooh yeah!" Muki, the mute lead of Studio Kasat Mata's animated
short Jogja Run, managed to voice just before getting run over by
a speeding bus.

Muki wasn't the only one hit by a bus. The 3-D animated
character's creators were floored by the Rp 150 million (about
US$16,854) they received from Yayasan Kelompok Kerja Visi Anak
Bangsa (YKKVAB) for winning the Visi Anak Bangsa Award 2003.

"We see their (Studio Kasat Mata) potential in the industry.
Of course they are still rough, but they have the potential (to
be successful) in the future," said one of Visi Anak Bangsa's
founders, noted director Garin Nugroho. The other founders are
Agus Pambagyo, Debra Yatim and Yanti Sugarda.

Garin said it was important for Visi Anak Bangsa to support
the animation industry in Indonesia because it received little
other support.

"Our aim is to help creative and innovative young people to
create and get their creations recognized by the public," Agus
Pambagyo said, explaining that Studio Kasat Mata had been chosen
by the four founders of YKKVAB from 11 other nominees.

Studio Kasat Mata groups nine creative youths from Yogyakarta,
all between the ages of 21 and 25, a majority of whom come from
Gadjah Mada University.

The group made its debut at the Indonesian Independent Film
Festival (FFII) in 2002, with a seven-minute animated feature
titled Kelolodhen, Javanese for having something stuck in your
throat.

Muki, Studio Kasat Mata's signature character, proved to be
his creators' lucky charm when the film made the festival's top
10 in the student/public category out of 747 contenders.

Kelolodhen was also recognized at the 2002 Jakarta
International Film Festival (JiFFest) and the Konfident
Independent Film Festival of the same year.

Kelolodhen was followed by the one-hour Loud Me Loud,
featuring Muki doing Mission Impossible-,Entrapment-,
Matrix-like stunts, and Jogja Run for comical T-shirt-maker
Dagadu's anniversary.

"In one year Indonesia's creative talents have been able to
produce more than 1,500 independent creations. It's incredible.
But they all still suffering a crisis in production funding,
which has held them back," Garin said.

The Rp 150 million prize, he said, would mostly go toward the
production of Kasat Mata's upcoming feature-length 3-D animated
movie, expected to be launched in December.

Apart from the cash prize, the winners also will receive
cinematography assistance from Garin, pop culture workshops from
Bre Redana and Rizal Mantovani, and scriptwriting workshops from
Jujur Prananto, the scriptwriter for last year's box office
surprise Ada Apa dengan Cinta? (What's Up with Cinta?).

"We will also teach them how to market their products, how to
find sponsors for promotions and how to launch their products to
the public. We will help develop their economic skills besides
their products," said Garin, who received a special mention at
the 2003 Berlin Film Festival for his Aku Ingin Menciummu Sekali
Saja (English title, Bird-Man Tale).

Some of the profits from Kasat Mata's upcoming project will go
toward next year's Visi Anak Bangsa Award, Garin said, adding
that next year the award would be open to the public.

"But if this fails, well it doesn't matter, it was an idea,"
he said, adding that next year's award would not be limited to
and would include other forms of visual and performance arts.

Groups that will be considered for the award are those that
work within an art form with future economic value, efficiently
and proficiently make use of technology, show high aesthetical
value, demonstrate the ability of production management, and are
highly innovative and creative.

"Doesn't have to be films, it could be the theater as well,"
Garin said.