Regent Optimistic Film TALA: When Love Calls From The Bottom Of Borneo Able To Promote Marine Tourism

Photo: Doc. Antara

JAKARTA - Tanah Laut (Tala) Regent HM Sukamta is optimistic that the film TALA: When Love Calls From The Bottom of Borneo is able to promote tourism in Tanah Laut Regency, South Kalimantan. This was conveyed by Sukamta at the Bincang Siang event at Bentara Budaya Jakarta, last Friday, July 28.

Sukamta explained that the sea has the most complete tourism potential compared to other areas in South Kalimantan, starting from coastal, mountain, and forest coastal areas.

There are a number of well-known tourist attractions in Tanah Laut, including Batakan Baru Beach, Takisung Beach, Swarangan Beach, Balangdaras Waterfall, Balinese traditional ceremonies, and Teletubies Hill.

"Thus, tourists who come to Tanah Laut have many options for traveling," said Sukamta.

Despite its potential, Sukamta agrees that Tanah Laut is only known to people living around South Kalimantan. Therefore, it wants to promote Tanah Laut to national and foreign tourists. One of them, through the film TALA: When Love Calls From The Bottom of Borneo.

Sukamta assessed that film is the right medium to promote tourism in Tanah Laut Regency. The reason is, films can show promotional content longer while providing entertainment to the audience. Thus, viewers can consume advertisement messages implicitly and do not feel burdened.

This, said Sukamta, makes films more effective than other promotional facilities, such as banners, billboards, advertisements, and videotrons.

If through the film, at least people watched the show for 90 minutes. Furthermore, the audience can see the beauty of Tanah Laut throughout the story, "he said.

Film TALA: When Love Calls From The Bottom of Borneo, lanjut Sukamta, telah memberikan multiplier effect di Tanah Laut, termasuk pada sektor industri kreatif. Pasalnya, sekitar 75 persen aktor dan aktris yang membintangi film tersebut berasal dari Tanah Laut.

In addition, the production of regional films also advances the confidence of creative industry players in Tanah Laut. Evidently, local filmmakers in Tanah Laut are producing horror films after TALA: When Love Calls From The Bottom of Borneo is produced.

Sukamta claims that the Tanah Laut Regency Government (Pemkab) is the first local government to produce a film in full. Currently, there are 514 regencies and cities in the territory of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).

If half of the local governments do the same, Sukamta believes the national film industry will be more stretched.

"This not only brings the national film industry to life, but also grows the potential of the creative industry in their respective regions," he said.

Meanwhile, Director of TALA: When Love Calls From The Bottom of Borneo Joko Nugroho said the Tanah Laut Regency Government gave it the freedom to produce this film, including in the selection of actors and actresses who starred in this film.

Therefore, it only takes three days to complete the screenplay of the film. Usually, it takes up to three months.

"We can face various challenges while producing films easily because the Tanah Laut Regency Government and the community support the production process," said Joko.

Joko also appreciated Sukamta for wanting more local actors and actresses to be involved in the film.

Therefore, he encouraged directors to use regional actors or actresses if they wanted to produce films set in the regions. In addition to producing quality films, the director is also obliged to develop actors and actresses in the regions.

"Sutradara and film people can also contribute to building the area in their own way. One of them, by making regional films," said Joko.

For information, TALA: When Love Calls From The Bottom of Borneo stars Marcel Chandrawinata, Amaraima, and Putri Wisata Indonesia 2022 Bella Devita. This film is planned to be released in August 2023.