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Jakarta, Indonesia, 24th November 2006 — random pictures first film MASKOT will be competing for the Saravati Award for Best Film Script in this year’s Bali International Film Festival (BIFFest).  It is one of five films in the category; among them are Berbagi Suami, Denias, 9 Naga, and Jomblo.

“We’re thrilled to see the momentum this film has generated and hope that more people will have an opportunity to watch the film”, says director Robin Moran.  MASKOT recently received a Best Supporting Actor award in Festival Film Jakarta 2006 in October for Butet Kartaredjasa’s performance as Misran.  It is currently nominated for Best Script and Best Film in the 2nd Asian Festival of First Films (AFFF) in Singapore, and is in competition in the 8th Jakarta International Film Festival (JIFFest) this December.

AFFF 2006 nominated films and documentaries will premiere at public screenings in Golden Village cinemas and the Arts House during the week-long Asian Festival of 1st Films (November 29 to December 5, 2006).  The winner will be announced during a Gala Award Ceremony held on December 6, 2006 in Singapore.

BIFFest will be held on Bali Island on 12th – 16th December 2006, and the Annual Saravati Award will be presented on 16th December 2006 in Bali, Indonesia.

MASKOT will be screening twice in this year’s JIFFest.  First on December 14th, 2006 at 13:30 in Studio XXI at Plaza Indonesia EX, and next on December 17th, 2006 at 13:30 in Djakarta Theater.  Tickets will be free of charge and will be given on a first-come-first-served basis.

The film is about a boy who is told he can inherit the family business only if he finds a new chicken mascot for the company.  But his father’s assistant does everything he can to stop the boy from becoming heir.  The film stars Ariyo Wahab, Butet Kartaredjasa, Uli Auliani, and Epy Kusnandar, accompanied by a slew of cameos of famous actors such as El Manik and Dedi Sutomo.  Further information about MASKOT can be found at http://maskot.randompicturesindonesia.com.

about random pictures
random pictures started on April 2005, to respond to the growing need of creativity in TV & film productions in the past couple of years. The company was built by two freelancers, who feel that their extensive background and experience from the industry, was a motivating drive to initiate their position as the next wave of directors, producers and consultants in TV & feature film productions.

For additional information,
Contact:  Aan Sumarno / Yuri Wibisana
p.t. random pictures indonesia
Tel/Fax: +62-21-765-8485
info@randompicturesindonesia.com
www.randompicturesindonesia.com

# # #

Jakarta, Indonesia, 30th October 2006 — random pictures first film
MASKOT was short listed from an entry of 330 submissions from 60
countries to be nominated in the highest categories of this festival.

“We’re
very excited to receive nominations in the categories mentioned. It’s
such an honor to be acknowledged by the international community of our
first effort into the medium”, says director Robin Moran. MASKOT
recently received a Best Supporting Actor award in Festival Film
Jakarta 2006 for Butet Kartaredjasa’s performance as Misran.

The
AFFF nominees was presented by award-winning Cannes and Venice Festival
winner and Academy Award Nominee, director Mira Nair (“Monsoon
Wedding”, Salaam Bombay, and Vanity Fair) and actress Fann Wong
(“Dragon Eye Congee”) at the AFFF 2006 nomination night announcement at
the Q-Bar, Singapore.

Nominated films were from countries
including China, France, Germany, Japan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, India,
Israel, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and USA, the 22
nominated first films and documentaries will compete for nine awards in
the categories of: Best Film, Best Director, Best Producer, Best Actor
in a Leading Role, Best Actress in a Leading Role, Best Script or
Screenplay, Best Cinematographer or Editor, Best Documentary, and Best
Director (Documentary).

The nominees were chosen by an
international selection committee made up of eminent filmmakers,
producers and directors including Alex Law (Hong Kong), Kunal Kohli
(India), Raymond Lee (Philippines), Daw Ming Lee (Taiwan) and Sirkka
Moeller (UK), who congregated in Singapore last month to review over
300 hours of film and documentaries and to make their nominations for
the respective categories.

AFFF 2006 nominated films and documentaries will premiere at public screenings in Golden Village cinemas and the Arts House during the week-long Asian Festival of 1st Films (November 29 to December 5, 2006).

MASKOT recently has been re-released
in Blitz Megaplex Bandung. “When we were offered, we took it as an
opportunity to give the public a second chance to view this film”, says
Robin. Kineforum will be screening the film at Taman Ismail Marzuki
this Friday 3rd November to Sunday 5th November 2006, with an open
discussion with the director on Saturday 4th November 2006. The film
stars Ariyo Wahab, Butet Kartaredjasa, Uli Auliani, and Epy Kusnandar,
accompanied by a slew of cameos of famous actors such as El Manik and
Dedi Sutomo. Further information about MASKOT can be found at
http://maskot.randompicturesindonesia.com.

About random pictures
random
pictures started on April 2005, to respond to the growing need of
creativity in TV & film productions in the past couple of years.
The company was built by two freelancers, who feel that their extensive
background and experience from the industry, was a motivating drive to
initiate their position as the next wave of directors, producers and
consultants in TV & feature film productions.

For additional information,
Contact:  Yuri Wibisana
p.t. random pictures indonesia
Tel/Fax: +62-21-765-8485
info@randompicturesindonesia.com
www.randompicturesindonesia.com

# # #

For those of you who didn’t get a chance to watch my film, it’s being screened at the new Blitz Megaplex in Bandung.  It’s a limited time screening so catch it within the next week.

For those of you who’ve noticed that the Maskot campaign has started, there’s more stuff coming.  Tomorrow (Sat, 29 April), Ari and I will be interviewed on Metro This Morning at 7:30am.  If any of you are up, check us out.  Otherwise, be on the lookout.  We’re setting the chicken loose very soon.

Due to circumstances beyond our control, "Maskot" release date has been
pushed back a month. We’re now locked for release on May 3rd, 2006. Be
on the lookout.

In the meantime, we’re using what extra time we have to polish our post-production needs.

Now it’s getting freaky. My brother just came back from the States, and
brought me a Xmas present. When I opened it up, I was in complete
disbelief. He got it from American Eagle Outfitters store. What are the
chances?

As I was having breakfast recently with a friend, we were having a very
thorough discussion on the recently released Indonesian films. He
suddenly pointed out that the reason he wasn’t completely happy with
one film was because the soundtrack was predominantly in English. His
comment made me quite heated because first of all, we were conversing
in English. I wondered how he could possibly have the odacity to boldly
make a statement like that when he himself cannot see the influences
that have subjected him to become the person that he is today. A
successful Indonesian business man wearing European clothing and speaks
fluent English (better than Bahasa). Me, I’m a lost cause. And this
discussion has been bothering me for a while. I’m wondering if we are
so blind as to ignore our culture slowly deteriorating and succuming to
the ideals of external sources. I’m not nationalist either mind you; I
just wanted to get this thought out. What I’m trying to argue is why
our films have a certain non-Indonesian-ness about it.

How can
we miss it? We are constantly bombarded with information left, right,
and center. Buy the latest car (all foreign), gadget, handphone,
computer, toy, clothes, shoes, drink, whatever; you get my drift.
There’s nowhere in this city where you’re not being sold something or
another. Go to the warung, the crates are Teh Botol or Coca-cola, the
stickers are of a combination of cigarette companies (or one giant
one). What’s worse? Go to the supermarket and look at the array of
local products using English as a selling point. Pasta gigi Close-up.
Lagi error? Minum Soupy Snax!! What the fuck is Soupy Snax in Bahasa?
Of course, then there’s the Internet. The vast wasteland of
unadulerated information where you can literally get anything you want
from pics, music to movies (yes food too but it has to be delivered).
All of these things can be downloaded, and consumed at the comfort of
your own home. Computer illiterate? Go to your favorite pirate DVD
store and pick up the latest season of 24 for Rp. 5000 per disc (Rp.
30,000 for the season). Since audience reach is key, English is the
predominant language. Don’t believe me? Just Google my name.

Whether
we like it or not, we are not just Indonesians anymore. We’re a hybrid
nation. We are the result of information that has trickled into our
brains without our realization. And due to that, we express ourselves
now in gado-gado style, whether it is in conversation, articles, music,
TV and now movies. There is no one to blame but ourselves for allowing
all of this information to be available to us. We are our own censors.
We decide what we allow or not allow into our brain. We decide what
ideas we accept or reject. So, the next time you do something, think
about why you like your Nike shoe, your Armani suit, your assortment of
sushi and sashimi, and your teh manis? However, if someone can define
what it means to be an Indonesian, without citing Pancasila, religion,
or government, I’m all ears.

…you’re being pitted with the greats in the Sunday issue of the
Jakarta Post.  Originally printed on January 8, 2006.  It’s available
online but no pics like the print.  Check it out here.

Mind you they got the following wrong:
My age - I’m 30, not 31.
Butet’s last name - is Kartaredjasa, not Kartawidjaya.
Butet’s character name - is Misran in the film, not Masran.
Spelling of Ariyo’s first name - in the article they spelt him as Aryo.
and slightly misquoted me about people commuting - supposed to be 4 hours not 8 hours.

Starting
next month, random pictures will be shooting its first feature film.
And since I’ll be directing it, I’ll be absent from the face of the
earth until this egg is laid. So until then, always use protection.