Pretty Boys Did Not Pass The Selection, Desta And Tompi Teased FFI's Credibility

Gala premiere Pretty Boys (Instagram @prettyboyspictures)

JAKARTA - The 2019 Indonesian Film Festival (FFI) announced a number of films that qualified for the 2019 Citra Cup Curatorial Team's Short List on their Twitter and Instagram accounts on October 24. This is the second stage - after the curation stage - in which films that are included in the Short List are tightened up.

Some of the titles predicted by netizens such as 27 Steps of May, Ave Maryam, Bumi Manusia, Two Blue Lines, Family Cemara, and Kucumbu Body of My Beauty smoothly entered the list. A number of previously unsuccessful films such as Zeta, Danur 3: Sunyaruri, and Preman Pensiun surprisingly also entered.

After this announcement, various reactions emerged. One of them is from Desta and Tompi, who each acted as producer / player and director in their first film Pretty Boys. Even though the film, which was released to the public on September 17, was their debut production, Pretty Boys successfully garnered nearly 700 thousand viewers.

Having a large number of viewers, mixed reactions accompanied the showing of Pretty Boys. Not a few who regretted the lack of sensitivity of filmmakers towards certain groups, there were also those who appreciated filmmakers for having the courage to voice what they felt about the Indonesian entertainment industry.

As the director, Tompi wrote about this on his Twitter account. “Everyone doesn't have to like a work. Assessment or how to enjoy each person is very dependent on the reference or the reliability of their knowledge. But if there is a misinterpretation of the intent of the content to be conveyed, it is better to correct it. "

"Our films are not that good. Our films are ridiculous films. Where does FFI Film get rid of Tom? After all, I don't choose because the work is not good. Who knows, whoever chooses not to understand. Anyway, do we need FFI? Let's just create our own FFI, Tom! ” replied Desta.

Tompi also quoted a tweet questioning Pretty Boys' not qualifying for the 2019 Citra Cup Short List.

"This means that Pretty Boys is still less good at choices according to their educational background and curator's" taste ". We pray for Indo films to keep getting better. Those who haven't entered, don't lower the standards. " This tweet was replied to by Desta.

This means that PRETTYBOYS is still inferior to the choices that match the educational background and "taste" of the curator. We pray that Indonesian films keep getting better. Those who haven't entered, don't lower the standard, okwkwk https://t.co/P0lrXrnur5

- tompi (@dr_tompi) October 27, 2019

Interestingly, at the beginning of its release, Tompi and Desta didn't set any targets, including the number of viewers. Quoted from his talk on the YouTube channel Pandji, Tompi explained, “Because success is mostly judged by two things. Among the critics praised you, fell to the festival. Or praised by the audience, the fall of the box office. "

However, when they reached 500 thousand spectators, Desta, Tompi and also Vincent then held a thanksgiving event because they did not expect the response they received. Tompi also said that he actually set his own target of 500 thousand.

"They did not have a target. From the beginning, Desta and Vincent asked how many, they never talked about numbers. From my personal point of view, from the beginning I made it there must be a target and the target is at least 500 thousand viewers," said Tompi, quoted from Fimela.

Both of them also protested through a video uploaded by a user named Teguh Imam Suryadi. "Do they really involve the editor's association, and all kinds. I don't know whether they involve it or not. But if it involves them, they should not only see the content subjectively, but from taking pictures, from editing, from acting. Not arrogant huh, but the reality is like that. " explained Desta in the video.

Desta also shared that he chose Tompi as the director because he always saw Tompi who wanted to work. So, even though it seemed relaxed, Tompi and Desta were very serious about working on their first film project. To the VOI team, Desta gave his opinion on not passing the Pretty Boys curation.

"Actually I don't care. It just feels weird. But I don't want it if the mechanism isn't clear. It's just a shame it's an FFI class event. " said Desta, Tuesday, November 12.

The Tonight Show television host also explained that since the beginning of the production of the Pretty Boys film, he had not been confused about a sensitive issue that had been widely discussed on the internet.

A few weeks after its release, there were several compact media that reviewed Pretty Boys as a medium that was insensitive to transgender women. Moreover, the story of this film discusses a lot about identity. The image of the transponder in Pretty Boys is negative and tends to be condescending. The jokes made to appear transphobic and homophobic, one of which was written by Tirto in his review article.

“It's a pure story that was born from my experience, Vincent (Rompies), and (Imam) Darto who have been in the television industry for years. Pure explained the reality. " explained Desta.

Desta has been in the television universe for a long time. From one show to another, Desta has always been a comedian who is reliable in acting for television shows.

A similar opinion was conveyed by Tompi to the VOI team. According to him, there is no tendency to insult or demean anyone, like the transgender mentioned.

"This film reflects what we have observed. That's what we see, that's what we tell, "explained Tompi.

Instead, he questioned the ethics of a curator who had reviewed the movie Pretty Boys. He said, people from the media reviewing a film and becoming a curator could sound biased.

Through the Twitter account, FFI or Citra Trophy outlined five conditions for entry into the nomination, namely clarity of ideas and themes that are relevant to the situation, technical and aesthetic qualities, showing professionalism in realizing ideas, straightforwardness in presenting and originality in a story.

This was questioned by Tompi through the response through the tweet. "So you want to know, where Pretty Boys failed?"

The basis for the assessment prioritizes the following 5 criteria: 1. Clarity of ideas and themes that are relevant to the situation and developments of the times. Quality technical and aesthetic that supports the integrity of ideas and themes

- Citra Cup 2019 (@festivalfilmid) October 26, 2019