BTW: Scowling and
pouting to fame
“Well, hi there chickadees!
What lovely people we have here today – you all look gorgeous!
“Oh, but it’s so sad I can’t employ everyone for my
spectacular new sinetron series High School
Headscarf Ghost’s Revenge, but I absolutely know you’ll
understand. The Bung Karno Stadium seems a little crowded with hopefuls, so
let’s get sorted.
“As you’ve read in the talent call, we only need white-skinned
adults who look like adolescents minus acne, so if your Pop was a Caucasian –
well that should be fine. If you’ve got blue eyes and black hair, even better.
“I see you’re having a wardrobe malfunction there, dewdrop. Straps aren’t what they used to be, are they? Is that your cellphone number tattooed on
your …? Well, I do admire ambition. Fame’s
heading your way fast, sweetlips. After the series you can sell shampoo or
toilet cleaner on TV.
“For the rest of you – better luck next time, cherubs!
“Wait a minute – you, the dark guys. We’ve got interchangeable parts for security guards
and thugs. Have a word with my personal
assistants while I chat up, sorry, chat with these beautiful people.
“Any questions? You say you can’t act? No worries snookums, I can’t direct. Ha, ha.
That’s a joke, right. You want this gig? So laugh. You’re not auditioning for Twelfth Night. Frankly, the fewer brains the better. Now we’ll give you a test.
“I want the guys to imagine they’ve just been jilted. Let me see you frown and snarl … get those
mouths tightening and eyes hardening.
Flare the nostrils – great, great …how about a bit of wall punching,
even better.
“Now the girls. Pout,
please. Sweep hair back, fold arms,
stare into the distance, play with neckline, roll eyes. Marvellous, just marvellous.
“The next bit is tricky, but I know you’ll all go full
throttle. We call it the sneaky
scene. It’s compulsory. Crouch behind
that artificial shrub and look like you’re eavesdropping. Now the same with a door slightly ajar. React. Look aghast. Mmm, not too bad.
“I’ll just bandage Fifi’s forehead, and she’ll lie down. Yes, I did memorize your number, but thanks
for showing me again. The guys will be
given white jackets, thick rimmed glasses and stethoscopes.
 |
| "Sinetron give a misleading portrait of life" |
“What, can you write a prescription? Yeah, for cyanide, and
you can take a dose. I call the shots round
here and we don’t need smart arses on the set.
Not you, Fifi, yours is smart enough.
“You’ll see we’ve brought a car into the studio. You’re right, it is the latest Mercedes
W222. This is a teenage series centered
around a state school, so we need to keep the props authentic.
“The driver is the principal and he’s going to run you over
because you’re ruining his career with black magic. So fall in front of the car
as though you’ve been hit.
“Fifi, that was very good.
Hey boys, did you see how she rolled over and displayed her .. you did? That’s
star stuff. You’ll get to Parliament yet. Now, now girls, no eye gouging.
“Finally we’ll try the family denouement scene ready for
Ramadhan. The plot is complex - our script team pored over this for weeks - so
pay attention. All sit on the sofas. Thrust has brought Lust home, but she’s
not wearing a jilbab. Mom explains that
no-one beds her boy who isn’t modestly attired.
Lust agrees, and a headscarf magically appears. Good, eh? I feel an award coming on.
“OK. Boys glance
sideways at each other. Say nothing. Nod.
Appear wise and noble. Excellent. Girls
sob into tissues and look pious. Even
better! Cut!
“Leave your resumes and we’ll call you if the screen tests shake
out. Fifi, I need to know more about
your talent, honeychild. It’s been a
hard day, but you guys make me feel so proud to be in such a creative industry.”
Duncan Graham
(First published in The Jakarta Post Sunday 25 January)
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