Bring "Hollywood" to Batam

"Children Indonesia is more adaptive, fast absorbing system according to the needs. Sometimes it` kepepet` (they) are more creative. "

(ANTARA)- BATAM,Minister Arief Yahya entourage walked down the halls dungeon.
Aisle dusty, with yellow walls full of scratches; which at a glance shows its age.

The delegation arrived at a similar workshop room, full of machine parts and tools. However, there is still no sign of them close to the exit gate.

Which is just down the hall claustrophobic dim orange light illuminated the ceiling which is not higher than adults it up at some point the group stopped.

"Later this room will be blown up," said a man in the front row.

The above events are not plot the kidnapping or confinement of a high-ranking state. However, only a tour to one of the artificial set for filming in a studio Infinite Studios.

A number of journalists with the Minister of Tourism Arief Yahya recently visited the film and animation studios are located in Nongsa, Batam, Riau Islands Province.

In the creative complex which was built in an area of 10 hectares on top of a hill with a panoramic view of the sea, filmmakers film from inside and outside the country working on various film series and the big screen as well as animation.

In one indoor studio, the production crew was busy in front of the set are made as at the alien spacecraft.

Some round objects such as eggs hanging detained by ropes that look like black slime, an environment that looks very strange.

"It's for the filming Beyond the Skyline," said Mike Wiluan, CEO of Infinite Studios.

Beyond the Skyline is a sequel of the previous film, Skyline, themed invasion of extraterrestrials to Earth.

"May the photos, but it must not be uploaded (upload)," said the son of Indonesian conglomerate Kris Wiluan it to the group's Ministry of Tourism and journalists.

Moving from one studio to another studio like traveling across time and place for every studio has a "world" different.

After the hallways of artificial and background alien movie, Mike brings guests to the leading outdoor studio complex which was built to resemble Chinatown with old store buildings and walls obsolete.

There is a pawn shop, coffee shop, up to the bar. Wall and pillar houses the artificial takluput of detailed touch with patches leaflets and pamphlets advertising lettered Chinese kanji.

Made to resemble one corner of the city of Singapore past with wide paved road about 6 feet, 1 hectare outdoor studio was once used as a film set Blackhat, directed by Michael Mann and starring Chris Hemsworth, best known for his role as Thor.

Currently Chinatown complex is also being used for filming TV series Serangoon Road which will be aired on HBO.

In the open studio complex was also built sets that resemble Prambanan. "Because of the high costs to get there, we made just setnya here," said Mike.

Menpar was then photographed by Mike Wiluan with two lovely nan tourism ambassador in front of the fake Prambanan temple.

Strategic and Competitive
Technical Director Infinite Studios Daniel Harjanto said that currently 90 percent of the use of production services ranging from shooting the film, visual effects, sound, animation is up to consumers from abroad.

In addition to its strategic location in Batam Island, directly adjacent to Singapore and Malaysia, Infinite Studios also offer the most competitive price for the production of the film.

"For the TV series, the cost per episode is about 120 thousand dollars per thirty minutes," said Daniel.

Meanwhile, continued Daniel, the cost of production in the United States could reach 400 thousand - 450 thousand dollars, while in Korea between 185 thousand - 215 thousand dollars.

if many international filmmakers and neighboring countries, such as Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Brunei Darussalam, who are interested in working with the studio that was pioneered in the 2004's.

Infinite Studios also became the headquarters for more than 219 digital artist or animator, of which 90 percent are children of the nation, to produce animated films.

One animated feature films produced in Infinite Studios is Sing to the Dawn or Reaching Dreams, released in cinemas Indonesia in September 2009.

In addition, there is also an animated series that worked like Garfield and Peter Rabbit, which has aired for 108 episodes on Nickelodeon channel.

Most of the animated figures has been designed from outside the studio, while the animators Infinite Studios is focused on the production of the film.

Daniel also admitted that the Indonesian animators have advantages compared with the artists from neighboring countries and abroad.

"Children are more adaptive Indonesian, fast absorbing system according to the needs. Sometimes it is trapped (they) are more creative," said Daniel.

To create animated films over 11 minutes, as many as 20 artists animator takes four to five weeks, said Daniel.

Indonesian artists, according to him, is actually much more competitive because of living in a country rich in culture and art.

"Since the fourth century AD there kingdom in Indonesia, the farmers in Bali can paint and sculpt well. In terms of capabilities, we are superior artistic," said Daniel.

Menpar Arief Yahya also highly appreciate the visit and was impressed with what he has built Mike Wiluan and filmmakers working in Infinite Studios.

"However, if it is directed to the design and marketing, profitability will be higher," said Menpar.

When compared to the design and marketing, "value chain" has a production part profitabillitas lowest among the three because of high production costs. "Later, children are more directed to it," said Arief.

Thus, Indonesia can be a lot of competition in the creative industries, especially film, with creative ideas, no need to waste and a big factory, but has a "value" or higher value, please Menpar.

In addition, Ariel looked at the film could be a medium that has a great contribution to the promotion of tourism in Indonesia.

While watching the trailer and "behind the scenes" movie Blackhat, Menpar very impressed when a number of Indonesian culture as Ogoh-Ogoh parade and Ondel-Ondel become one of the objects in several scenes of the movie were taken in Jakarta and a number of other places in Indonesia that.

"It becomes a way of PR (Public Relations) and good branding (for Indonesia)," said Arief.

As was the case after the Pacific Islands removed through the film Laskar Pelangi. "From there, we see the great influence of the film on tourism," said Arief.

Arief and Mike have opened talks to make the concept of creativity in the center of the complex is called Batam Infinite Studios Digital Valley as a place for young people who are creative, especially in the field of cinema and animation.

Going forward, in addition to being the center of creativity, Infinite Studios may just be one of the tourist destinations on the island of Batam, where tourists can be recreation and learning about filmmaking and animation, please Menpar.


If the great movies like James Bond, Star Wars, and Pirates of the Caribbean was filmed at Pinewood Studios did in the UK, someday may be more and more filmmakers of Hollywood and world famous that carries them to the camera and crew Infinite Studios to shoot in Indonesia to explore a wide variety of natural and cultural richness of Indonesia to enrich the story in their films.