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.