Aspiring filmmakers get advice from ‘Laskar Pelangi’ creators

Hundreds of young people filled an Udayana University auditorium Sunday, waiting to catch a glimpse of producer Mira Lesmana and director Riri Riza, the creators of the box office hit Laskar Pelangi.

The youths enthusiastically besieged the celebrated moviemakers when they entered the large hall Sunday afternoon.

Riri and Mira were asked question after question by their fans before posing for photographs and giving autographs.

But, the event was more than just an exhilarating display of youthful adoration of celebrity. Riri and Mira were at Udayana’s Faculty of Letters to inspire people to make their own mark on the country’s history.

“I would like you to start documenting your lives, your ideas, your visions. Bali is an island rich with beauty and anxiety,” Mira said, adding that anxiety was the very thing that drove her down the road of visual storytelling.

She also reminded her audience about this nation’s open and multicultural nature, where pluralism is not only respected but also rejoiced in.

“Indonesia does not consist solely of Jakarta. Each and every place in Indonesia is unique, and you should explore the rich cultural legacy of our nation,” she said.

Riri said film could certainly foment change in communities.

“Yes, I do believe that a movie has the power to change. Gantong village is a fine example of that power,” the young poet Purnama said, referring to the site where Laskar Pelangi was filmed.

The filming process and the subsequent popularity of the movie has transformed the once unknown village into one of the newest and most attractive tourist destinations in Sumatra.

“The movie has managed to capture not only the natural beauty of the place but also the struggle of its people against poverty and limited access to education,” she said.

The 2008 film was based on a best-selling novel with the same title, the first in a tetralogy by author Andrea Hirata.

The book turned Andrea into a household name.

Harum, a student from SMA 3 senior high school, said she had fears about turning an idea into a film.

Harum urged the country’s filmmakers to help aspiring directors and producers by organizing regular workshops.

The Udayana University film workshop, with Riri and Mira having passionate discussions with aspiring filmmakers, was part of a series of activities organized by Kompas Muda to celebrate its 4th anniversary.