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Eugene Panji: Keeping the camera rolling
(Courtesy of Eugene Panji)Now that he knows how to make and fund a movie, director Eugene Panji says he will continue making them: one great film at a time
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(Courtesy of Eugene Panji) (Courtesy of Eugene Panji)
(Courtesy of Eugene Panji)
Now that he knows how to make and fund a movie, director Eugene Panji says he will continue making them: one great film at a time.
Still surprised that his first film, Cita-citaku Setinggi Tanah (internationally known as Stepping on the Flying Grass), has been welcomed and embraced nationally and internationally, Eugene says he has been preparing for his next movie.
'I had always wanted to make a feature film, but I didn't know where to start. I made my debut film together with a crew who had also never made a film before, and it turned out to be a success. Praise the Lord!'
The 39-year-old director and father of two said that his first movie was never meant to be screened commercially at
movie theaters.
'From the get-go, it was a charity movie. It was planned to be screened to raise funds for communities. I never suspected it to be screened at international festivals, let alone winning praise abroad,' the Jakarta native said.
The movie tells the story of fourth-grader Agus and his three close friends who are tasked to write an essay about their dreams. While his friends quickly write about being a soldier, an actress and a helpful man, Agus instead sets out to fulfill his dream: eating tasty dishes at a Padang restaurant.
Agus come from a poor family in the small town of Muntilan, Central Java. He only eats the cheap tahu bacem (marinated tofu) that his mother serves every day. Although simple, eating an expensive meal is Agus' ultimate dream.
Like the first-time crew in the production, most of the cast had never acted before. The child actors were all residents of Muntilan and received acting training before filming.
The film has won praise for delightfully celebrating the everyday over the grandiose, educating the children in the audience without being preachy and charming the adults without being over the top.
Eugene and his team have donated all revenue from the movie to an Indonesian foundation supporting children with cancer, YKAKIndonesia. The foundation provides housing and schooling for children and their parents who are undergoing cancer treatment or therapy.
'The film cost billions and left me broke,' Eugene said with a laugh, refusing to reveal the financial details of the production.
'However, the film has also raised billions and is still making revenue,' he said. The movie has given the foundation three new shelter homes in Bandung, Surabaya and Bali, he said.
The movie became one of the most demanded movies to watch at the Berlinale Film Festival in Berlin earlier this year. It is currently screening at the Toronto International Film Festival.
'Later this year the movie will be screened in Copenhagen, Zurich, Amsterdam, New York and Seattle,' Eugene said.
For the next movie, Eugene is planning to focus on mothers, and it will be released to coincide with Mother's Day and all the revenue will be donated to support women with breast cancer.
'It will also be a charity movie. My team and I have planned that our first three movies will be all for charity. We call it a project of CSR, creative social responsibility,' he said.
Eugene's team is made up friends he met working in advertising.
Prior to making the movie, he was an established name as a director of award-winning commercials and music videos.
'I want to keep making feature movies, but I need money for it. Commercial directing is my day job; I can save money from my projects,' he said.
His first film was planned to have completed production in 2009, but it ended up being completed in 2011. 'I did not manage to save enough money, so I needed to work more and save more money. Such is life,' he said.
Eugene said that he had always known he was into art and making movies. 'I won many craft-making competitions when I was still in elementary school and photography contests during junior high school,' he said.
In 1993, he enrolled at the visual arts and design school at the Jakarta Arts Institute (IKJ). At the institute he met students from other faculties: music, theater, and cinematography.
'I collaborate with them. We began making music videos. I later got more serious in directing music videos and then directing commercials,' he said.
When he gets tired of taking photos or writing down concepts, Eugene retreats to the kitchen.
'I love cooking and experimenting with food. I like cooking for my friends. They love my cooking so much that I often get orders to provide meals for their events or parties. I've become a knock-off chef,' he said.
'If this goes on, I will have to take cooking more seriously.'
