The “Sinetron”ization of Indonesian Movies

Lately, I am seeing a little epidemic around Cihampelas Street—and perhaps, other Streets as well: Many large Movie posters with outrageous titles. Hmmm, the titles such as “Mas Suka … Masukin Aja”, “MBA (Married By Accident)”, “Merem Melek” and “Kawin Kontrak Lagi”. Previously, another title goes, like, “Mimpi Basa hhh” or “ML (Mau Lagi)” or else. Well, surely the answer of all these is for the sake of profits etc … but still! Using common phrase that used by so-called “ABG Labil”: PLEASE, DONG!

I am one of Indonesian Movie lovers actually, because lately there are many impressive movie-makers in Indonesia such as Mira Lesmana, Riri Riza, Joko Anwar to name of few. There efforts in regaining the prominence of Indonesian Movies are inevitable. But now, these kinds of movie-title slightly make me raise eyebrows: “What happened?” I mean, when I see titles such as “Maaf Saya Menghamili …” etc, I do still get the joke (I still a little bit concern about the title, though).

All of the sudden, these kinds of movie emerged which worries me, not about the title but also the quality of the movie itself. The format of those movies basically using the same format used to make a “Sinetron”. Also, the screenplays are based on “Sinetron” also. Well, I do get the point of the “minimizing spending and maximizing earnings” … but, please: Indonesian Movie should have an identity instead of fully profit-seeking only (please emphasized the word “only”).

I am just hoping that this epidemic won’t last long, because I do believe that Indonesian Movie community has a lot of talents. I still had faith in Indonesian Movies… Movies such as Laskar Pelangi, Ayat-Ayat Cinta etc has proven that we don’t have to rely on outrageous title and “Sinetron” kind of storyline to make a good movie. Sometimes we do need something controversial in order to gain attention, however, we also need to make a good quality movie rather than ‘controversial-but-cheesy-movie’ only.

“Just Stand Up” – Charity single: 15 Hottest Female Singers Stand Up to Fight Cancer!

First off, I had to coming clean to all of you: For a while, I haven’t move on from my devastation after our so-called Dana Lestari did not approve my scholarships applications(which is something that I really wanted). For a long time, I could not forget it and I mourning my loss over and over again. But now, I finally found my saving grace. Just Stand Up is a song written by Babyface and produced by L.A Reid. There are 15 female singers which sing the song: Mariah Carey, Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Rihanna, Fergie, Sheryl Crow, Miley Cyrus, Melissa Etheridge, Ashanti, Natasha Bedingfield, Keyshia Cole, Ciara, Leona Lewis, LeAnn Rimes and Carrie Underwood.

The song was released as a charity event to fight cancer,  all of the 15 singers will share the stage to perform the song live on Sept. 5 during the “Stand Up to Cancer” television special, set to air simultaneously on ABC, NBC and CBS. Other stars expected to turn out for the hourlong fund- and awareness-raising program include Jennifer Aniston, Lance Armstrong, Katie Couric, Sally Field, Salma Hayek, Meryl Streep, Forest Whitaker and Reese Witherspoon.

Founded in 2007, Stand Up to Cancer is a program of the Entertainment Industry Foundation that calls on entertainment-industry people and platforms to help fight cancer.

The chorus line which said:

“If the mind keeps thinking you’ve had enough
But the heart keeps telling you don’t give up
Who are we to be questioning, wondering what is what
Don’t give up
THROUGH IT ALL, JUST STAND UP!”

Finally I could set my inner peace, pals! I think it’s not just a song for fight Cancer …. Whenever you feel down, stumble on something or failing on something… Just listen to the voices of ladies singing: “Through it all, just stand up.”

JUST STAND UP (you can hear it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yI4WDU8IMYk )

Beyonce: The heart is stronger than you think
It’s like it can go through anything
And even when you think it can’t it finds a way to still push on, though
Carrie: Sometimes you want to run away
Ain’t got the patience for the pain
And if you don’t believe it look into your heart the beat goes on

Rihanna: I’m tellin’ you that
Things get better
Through whatever
If you fall, dust it off, don’t let up
Sheryl: Don’t you know you can go be your own miracle
Beyonce: You need to know

CHORUS
Sheryl: If the mind keeps thinking you’ve had enough
But the heart keeps telling you don’t give up
Sheryl/Beyonce: Who are we to be questioning,
wondering what is what
Don’t give up
THROUGH IT ALL, JUST STAND UP!

Fergie: It’s like we all have better days
Problems getting all up in your face
Leona: Just because you go through it
Fergie: Don’t mean it got to take control, no
Leona: You ain’t gotta find no hiding place
Keyshia: Because the heart can beat the hate
Leona: Don’t wanna let your mind keep playin’ you
Keyshia: And sayin’ you can’t go on

Rihanna: I’m tellin’ you that
Miley: Things get better
Through whatever
Rihanna: If you fall
Miley: Dust if off, don’t let up
LeAnn: Don’t you know you
Natasha: Can go
LeAnn: Be your own
Natasha: Miracle
Carrie: You need to know

Ensemble: CHORUS
If the mind keeps thinking you’ve had enough
Melissa: adlibs
But the heart keeps telling you don’t give up
Melissa: adlibs
Who are we to be questioning, wondering what is what
Don’t give up
Melissa: adlibs
THROUGH IT ALL, JUST STAND UP!
IF WE ALL, JUST STAND UP!
Mary: You don’t gotta be a prisoner in your mind
Ciara: If you fall, dust it off
Mary: You can live your life
Rihanna/Carrie: Yeah
Mary: Let your heart be your guide
Rihanna/Carrie: Yeah yeah yeah
Mariah: And you will know that you’re good if you trust in the good
Ashanti: Everything will be alright, yeah
Light up the dark, if you follow your heart
Mary: And it will get better
Mariah: Through whatever

Ensemble: CHORUS
If the mind keeps thinking you’ve had enough
But the heart keeps telling you don’t give up
Who are we to be questioning, wondering what is what
Don’t give up
THROUGH IT ALL, JUST STAND UP!
Ensemble: CHORUS
If the mind keeps thinking you’ve had enough
But the heart keeps telling you don’t give up
Who are we to be questioning, wondering what is what
Don’t give up
THROUGH IT ALL, JUST STAND UP!
Fergie: You got it in you, find it within
You got in now, find it within now
You got in you, find it within
You got in now, find it within now
You got in you, find it within
Find it within you, find it within
Everyone: THROUGH IT ALL, JUST STAND UP!

 

 

 

 

Source: Associated Press

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gx-K7vTYG4vuENwrLlvAOSgdOUuAD92LBUB00

Kontestan Transgender pertama di America’s Next Top Model!

America’s Next Top Model (ANTM) kembali membuat sebuah terobosan di dunia hiburan. Setelah menobatkan model plus-sized Whitney Thompson sebagai pemenang kompetisi di musim ke-10 mereka, kali ini giliran Isis—transgender pertama yang menjadi kontestan dalam reality show yang dipelopori Tyra Banks itu.

Banks selama ini memang berusaha untuk menghadirkan sudut pandang baru terhadap definisi “cantik” di dalam dunia fashion—hal ini terlihat dari seluruh kontestan ANTM yang beragam mulai berbagai etnis, ukuran tubuh sampai kepribadian. Kali ini, nampaknya Banks berusaha untuk membuat terobosan lebih lanjut—termasuk menampilkan kontestan yang mengidentifikasikan dirinya sebagai “perempuan yang terlahir dengan fisik pria.” Isis, yang sebelumnya bekerja sebagai resepsionis mengatakan bahwa dirinya berharap dapat mencapai impiannya di ajang teresebut.

Neil Giuliano, presiden GLAAD (sebuah organisasi pembela hak-hak kaum gay, lesbian dan transgender) menyatakan dukungan terhadap Tyra Banks yang telah membuat keputusan bersejarah yang memungkinkan seorang transgender dapat berkompetisi di ajang seperti America’s Next Top Model.

Tyra Banks sendiri sempat diisukan meninggalkan reality show tersebut lantaran mengalami konflik dengan rekannya, Jay Manuel dan ingin lebih fokus di acara talk-show nya The Tyra Banks Show. Manajemen Banks menolak isu tersebut—nampaknya langkah Banks memasukkan nama Isis di ajang ini merupakan sebuah jawaban bahwa America’s Next Top Model masih ada dan akan terus eksis.

Sumber: http://www.usmagazine.com/transgender-contestant-to-compete-on-antm.