Hanung Bramantyo Admits Initially Not Wanting to Be a Director, Considered Film as a Capitalistic Tool

Kapanlagi.com - Commemorating National Film Day, which falls on today's date (30/3/2020), six renowned Indonesian directors held a video conference with the theme of 'Film Directors in Indonesia' discussion. The names involved include Hanung Bramantyo, Joko Anwar, Upi, Riri Riza, Nia Dinata, and Garin Nugroho.

Before starting a live discussion on the Indonesian Film Directors Club (IFDC) Instagram, the directors talked about their backgrounds and how they got into the film industry. Interestingly, Hanung said that he was never initially interested in the world of film, let alone becoming a director. Why?

"From the beginning, I didn't like films. I was a theater kid, a studio kid. Films were seen as a capitalistic tool at that time. I really didn't like it. My friends and I in Jogja lived in the studio, learning fine arts, theater, painting, dancing. Films were seen as a hedonistic activity, where people had to go to the cinema, dress up neatly, watch. It was something different for me," said Hanung.

1. Meeting Teguh Karya

However, Hanung Bramantyo's view of the film world changed 180 degrees when he visited the late Teguh Karya's Popular Theater. Suddenly, he had a desire to become a director.

"What made me change my mind and like films was when Mas Djaduk invited me to Teguh Karya's Popular Theater. At that time, it was just for fun, but there I saw cultural work, artistic work. It turns out that to create a shot, Mr. Teguh, wow, it's like painting, blocking is arranged, costumes are arranged, that's when I felt it was interesting," he added.

2. Asked to Attend Film School

Furthermore, Hanung Bramantyo asked to learn from Teguh Karya. However, the filmmaker refused to become his teacher and asked Hanung to attend the Jakarta Institute of the Arts film school.

Although initially reluctant to go back to school, Hanung eventually forced himself. And this husband of Zaskia Adya Mecca gained a lot of knowledge while being there.

"At that time, I didn't want to go to school, I was used to living in a studio and believed that art could only be delivered through studio life. I told Mr. Teguh that I wanted to live here, stay here, and learn from you. Mr. Teguh's response was: 'No, I'm old, you should go to IKJ.' Oh, why does it have to be IKJ, I don't like school, I'm very traumatized. But whether I like it or not, because Mr. Teguh asked me to, I did it. That's where I learned film theory and ended up like this," concluded the director of the film 'Bumi Manusia'.

(kpl/abs/nda)