This Valentine’s Day, Chris invites submissions for a Jakartan tribute film to celebrate the Big Durian.

After Ubud’s recent victory as the top city in Asia – due in part to the recent filming of “Eat, Pray, Love” with Julia Roberts there – it is highly likely that Jakarta could also benefit from a major movie being set here.

Past internationally-financed movies about Indonesia or containing Indonesian characters suffered during the New Order era of censorship, and had to be either shot in another country or set elsewhere.

Shot in the Philippines

Set in Phuket, Thailand

To my knowledge, the only other widely-released international movie in recent times permitted to film (partially) in Indonesia was the music documentary “Global Metal” – see the trailer here.

However, even this – seemingly tame – film contained some “controversial” scenes of mass demonstrations, mob violence and police brutality:

The “Indonesia” chapter of “Global Metal” –
possibly inspiring for Bonek football hooligans.

And while Indonesia still tends to censor/ban locally-produced movies that are politically sensitive, sexy or containing actors/actresses of dubious moral integrity, there is an alternative:

“Jakarta, I Love You” – The Movie

As has been done recently in two other famously large metropolises, you can create a collection of short stories; one in each major area/district. The rules seem to be that the short movie/segment goes for about five minutes, takes no more than two days to shoot, and is shot only in one part of the town. Some of the stories involve romance, some don’t; but as we approach Valentine’s Day, these stories tend to be more popular…

And as Jakarta recently placed #2 in Top Ten Worst Cities For Expats, some positive publicity for Indonesia’s capital city would be a welcome boost to the city’s reputation. Having said that, it doesn’t have to be all positive; the first line of “Paris, je t’aime” was a driver complaining about a lack of parking spaces in Montmartre.

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So come on, all you wannabe film writers, why don’t you pitch your idea/s below?

Please include as much detail as you feel comfortable. Here are some ideas, to get you thinking:

1. A basic storyline

   

   It can be an original piece, or adapted from another source; some recent examples include “The Expat” by Kirk Coningham, and one of these short stories, previously published on Indonesia Matters.

2. A setting or location

   Where should the film be shot? Past films using famous/infamous Jakartan locations include:

   Pondok Indah

   Jl Casablanca

   Jeruk Perut

   or somewhere else?

3. A list of characters

   

   If needing or seeking inspiration, you could include an occupation or location from “Jakarta Inside Out” by Daniel Ziv, or some of these “only in Indonesia” people:

   Newspaperman	Sewing Guy	Parking Assistant
   Homeless Guy, Jamu Lady

   or someone else?

4. Ideas of actors/actresses

   Who you would like to be in the starring role?

   Qory Sandioriva

   Soraya Abdullah

   Zivanna Letisha Siregar

   Aurah Kasih

   or someone else?

   

   If Dian Sastrowardoyo can play a busway ticket seller in “Ungu Violet”, then anything is possible…