Often Filming Stations Without Permission, Now Fajar Nugros Is Invited By KAI To Film

Fajar Nugros (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Fajar Nugros is known as a director who likes trains. He likes to collect miniature trains. Even of the dozens of films, there are always scenes that show trains.

It's not always easy to get official permission to take pictures. Fajar, in front of the audience admitted that a station scene that appeared in the film when he had just started a career, was taken secretly. "I shot in Juanda, I didn't use permission," he said, before the screening of the short film Move Happy, Moving for Indonesia and "Strangers with Memories" in Jakarta, Tuesday, November 15.

Years after becoming a director, he received a message on social media from KAI President Director Didiek Hartantyo who gave birth to collaborations through two short films. The first film is a fictional short film entitled Strangers with Memories to reveal the change in commuter line for the better and remains relevant to the times.

The omnibus film which tells the story of commuter line train users unconsciously connected to each other as friends on the way to the train. This short omnibus film is a combination of four short stories set in the station area and commuter line.

This short film implies the message that better commuter line changes must be accompanied by consumer behavior in order to become better passengers.

The second film he made was a documentary Moving Happy, Moving for Indonesia colored by the narrative from Ibnu Jamil, presenting stories behind trains that not everyone knows.

Interesting facts from stations in various cities, the busyness of workers when the carriages were empty. This documentary also raises stories from people who have come into contact with trains, from loyal users to track guards who have been loyal to work for decades.

This first product looks closely at what makes KAI services faster than before. Fajar admitted that he got freedom from KAI to explore the theme.

Together with the crew of 30 people, Fajar chased with time, got off the carriage with passengers to get the best shot at the station in Sumatra to Java, looking for dramatic moments that occurred in the real world as well as looking for passengers who were willing to be asked for testimonials. His experience resulted in a 16-hour recording which was summarized to 50 minutes.

"I can't disturb the service to passengers, so I can't ask the train to stop longer so it can be taken for scenes," Fajar said as quoted by ANTARA.

One of the most exciting moments in making this documentary is to experience the locomotive cabin. The cabin should not be boarded by passengers, so there are no more seats for people without interest.

Physically he had to stand two hours from Cirebon to Purwokerto. Even though the permit was up to Yogyakarta, he gave up and got off in Purwokerto because he could no longer stand long.

There are a number of interesting facts that Fajar tells of in the film Move Happy, Moving for Indonesia, for example, antique hours at Klaten station, then Cibatu station, which was once a witness to the arrival of comedian CharlieCLin, who vacationed in Garut.

In the film, a train lover who is also a YouTuber in the documentary reveals a favorite station that presents beautiful views: Lebakjero station, which is located easternmost from Bandung. Lebakjero Station offers beautiful views because it is flanked by Mount Kaledong and Mandalawangi.

Both Moving Happy, Moving for Indonesia and Strangers with Memories, is PT. KAI's effort to get closer to consumers who may not yet know the other side of the train. KAI President Director Didiek Hartantyo hopes that these two films can make people better aware of KAI, which continues to transform following the times.