Words Yuliasri Perdani Illustration Mufty Fairuz

Screenwriting and music go hand in hand for Salman Aristo, the screenwriter behind a number of critically acclaimed and popular movies, including Laskar Pelangi (Rainbow Troops), Sang Penari (The Dancer) and Garuda di Dadaku (Garuda in My Heart). When he is not in the mood to create a new script, he picks up his bass guitar and plays with his folk rock band, Silentium. “Music for me is a source of inspiration, a mood lifter and recreation,” the former MTV Trax magazine journalist said. While strumming a guitar at his story development office in South Jakarta, Salman, 40, spoke about his favorite moviemakers, the most compelling protagonists and a Batman villain he adores.

I can’t live without …

Books, music and movies.

My best qualities are …

I am always curious, critical and have a high ability to adapt.

And my worst …

I am impatient, tend to jump to conclusions and stubborn. Sometimes, I miss the details.

Writing stories for me is ...

A learning process both for me and those who listen to the stories. It is also a search for the meaning of life.

Moviemakers who have influenced me a lot …

Woody Allen, Richard Linklater and Yasujirō Ozu.

My favorite writers …

Chairil Anwar, Asrul Sani, Pramoedya Ananta Toer and Arswendo Atmowiloto.

If I were a movie character...

I would be a character in an Arifin C. Noer film who is trying to find his place in society.

My favorite protagonist ...

Jerry McGuire and all protagonists in Woody Allen’s movies.

The best villain ever …

The Joker in The Dark Knight […] mostly because [Heath] Ledger played it so well. Plus, the Joker has always been my favorite villain since I was little.

Movie with the most surprising plot twist I ever watched ...

Usual Suspect [a 1995 neo-noir mystery crime thriller], which tricks us through our habit of judging people by their appearance.

Best spot to write …

I can write anytime and anywhere as long as the place is not too quiet.

The hardest script I ever wrote ...

Sang Penari, because the movie is adapted from the Ronggeng Dukuh Paruk trilogy — which we may classify as part of the Indonesian literature canon. I used all my knowledge and ability to write it and the script required me to delve into the gray area of our history.

It would be a dream come true to write about ...

A Chairil Anwar biopic and Arswendo Atmowiloto’s Senopati Pamungkas. Aside from the fact that
I am a big fan of Arswendo Atmowiloto, I believe Senopati Pamungkas is one of our magnum opus. I have long been obsessed with adapting it for the silver screen.

If facing trouble, I would ...

From screenwriting, I learned that the art of solving a problem is the art of knowing. I will sit and think about the problem systematically.

I would never ...

Do things that I don’t like.

My biggest achievement is ...

When my story is relevant.

I still have to learn ...

Many things, including in screenwriting. Whenever I find a new book on screenwriting, I always buy it!

My journalistic career taught me...

Discipline as a writer.

My career in cinema gave me ...

The privilege to share stories

Music for me is ...

A source of inspiration, a mood lifter and recreation.

I am in a band because …

I love to do creative collaborations. I want to learn from other artists.

People will be surprised to know that …

I am chatty.

If I could meet the 20-year-old me, I would tell him ...

Learn the basics and pay attention to details.

One thing that I would like to change from the country’s movie industry ...

The government’s perception of cinematic works. The law views movies as a tool, not as a medium of artistic expression. Due to this perception, movies are subjected to censorship and supervision.

My life motto …

Life is about storytelling. The rest is just details.

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