Klojen (malangkota.go.id) – In the last two years, national films have experienced very good growth. This can be seen from the increasing number of cinemas and also the number of viewers.
This was conveyed by President Joko Widodo after watching the film "Yowis Ben" at one of the cinemas in a mall in Malang City, Wednesday (28/3). "I think it's a good leap in the last two years," said President Jokowi.
However, the increase in the number of cinemas and film production was not accompanied by an increase in the number of film crews.
"I got word that the making of this film is short of crew. This short of crew is a good thing but we also have to fill the gaps," he continued.
According to him, the shortage of film crew is good news because it opens up job opportunities. But on the other hand, the vacancy must be filled immediately, one of which is through skilled workers produced by Vocational High Schools (SMK).
"There are approximately 120 vocational schools that have film-related majors, but only 18 have been repaired or revitalized. Facilities and infrastructure need to be improved,Update "There are teachers, so we can really fill the shortage of crew in film production," he said.
Therefore, to accelerate the revitalization of the vocational school, the President has ordered the Minister of Education and Culture to complete it.
The film 'Yowis Ben' itself is an Indonesian comedy drama film that was released on February 22, 2018. The film starring Bayu Skak as the main actor is 80 percent using Javanese. The President also expressed his pleasure with the existence of a film that uses regional languages.
"I am very happy that there is a film in the East Javanese regional language. Then below it there is still an Indonesian translation so that everyone can see and enjoy this film. This is a must-watch youth film for those who feel young. Yah very good, lots of funny stuff, lots of gives-nya and the storyline is also good," he said.
The President also hopes that with the increasing number of cinemas showing national films, it will provide opportunities for filmmakers to grow and be creative. "Providing opportunities and chances for filmmaker in our country is growing because the number of viewers is large. This means that making films (has the potential) to be profitable," said the President.
Also present to accompany President Jokowi at this event were Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Minister of Education and Culture Muhadjir Effendy, Head of the Creative Economy Agency Triawan Munaf, and East Java Governor Soekarwo. Also present were several cast members of 'Yowis Ben', including Bayu Skak, Brandon Salim, and Devina Aureel.
Based on data reported by the Indonesian Film Catalog (KFI) website, the number of viewers in 2017 was 42,7 million viewers, an increase compared to 2016 which reached 37,2 million viewers.
According to KFI data, the number of cinema screens in Indonesia has increased rapidly in the last five years. As of December 2017, there were 263 cinemas with a total of 1.412 screens. The number of screens at the end of 2017 increased 2,3 times compared to the end of 2012 when there were 145 cinemas with a total of 609 screens.
Deputy for Protocol, Press and Media, Presidential Secretariat
Bey Machmudin
