Exclusive, Michelle Joan Ready To Accept All Acting Challenges

Michelle Joan (Photo: Savic Rabos, DI: Raga/VOI)

JAKARTA - Michelle Joan is back in the big-screen movie entitled Iblis Dalam Darah. This movie is the fourth feature film of Dutch and Javanese descent, as well as the second horror film in her career.

The 29-year-old actress admits that she is enthusiastic about welcoming her newest big-screen film, after last playing in the movie Takut Kawin (2018). "It's really nice to be able to meet everyone again through new works, on cinema screens again," said Michelle Joan when met by the VOI team in Palmerah, West Jakarta recently.

Making her acting debut in 2014, Michelle had the opportunity to play a unique and challenging character in the movie Iblis Dalam Darah. She plays Haruni, a girl who Michelle considers to be a unique character.

"What I think is that Haruni is actually a good kid, loves her family, and has a really good heart. She has a goal that is actually good, but the way is wrong. Overall, I think the character is really interesting," she said.

Michelle told how she was originally offered to play Haruni, the main character in the film Iblis Dalam Darah. She admitted that she had been interested since the first time she saw Haruni's scenario and characterization.

According to Michelle, the story in the scenario has its own uniqueness and challenges, which makes her want to get involved even more. Not only that, but Haruni's unique character is also a reason for her to be willing to return to acting in feature films.

Michelle Joan (Photo: Savic Rabos, DI: Raga/VOI)

For her, Haruni has a good side, in which this character really loves her family. With all the limitations, Michelle sees her character as having a sense of responsibility to give her best. However, the good goals that Haruni wanted to achieve were carried out in an inappropriate way.

"So when I was first offered this Haruni character, I was given the scenario, and as soon as I read it I really like Haruni's character, because of the outline that I caught, my interpretation is yes, Haruni is actually a good kid, loves her family, loves her younger sibling. "She wants to help, she feels responsible to give the best for her family, with all the limitations," said Michelle.

“But with that limited condition, her desire to help, she didn't choose the right path but instead chose a shortcut, the wrong path. In the end, it didn't even bring benefits to her and her family, instead, it caused disaster, especially for her. And the catastrophe, she's possessed at first," she continued.

Regarding the possession scene that Michelle has to do in playing Haruni, the actress also has her own story. Where 80 percent of the acting is in possession scenes, Michelle has to make herself up longer than when she has to play a beautiful female character.

Michelle admits that the possession scene requires more effort. But she doesn't mind it, because for her what she does is to give what the scenario wants and provide the best possible spectacle for the audience of the film.

"In my opinion, what made me finally accept this character is also because this is a challenging role for me, where I have to deliver people who are possessed and when people see it they can feel this really feel like they are possessed and as good as possible," she said.

More about the possession scene, Michelle told how when she went through the process of a scene where she had to be bound for hours. This was done because at that time it was necessary to take pictures from several angles, so the actress had to stay in her position so that what was shown later would be maximized.

However, despite the hard things that had been going through while filming, Michelle admitted that she was satisfied after seeing the results. She feels her hard work has paid off.

"It's really worth it, really happy, I feel like my hard work and efforts are paying off even though my voice is about to run out, hoarse, my feet are blue because of being shackled, being tied like that," said Michelle.

Haruni's character is something new for Michelle Joan. With so many possession scenes, she did many things that had never been done before as an actress.

“So, of course, as an actress, you really want to always explore new characters. And this is one of the new characters that are really interesting for me, the role of someone who is possessed," said Michelle.

Michelle Joan (Photo: Savic Rabos, DI: Raga/VOI)

Even though she admits that she is satisfied with her acting in the movie Iblis Dalam Darah, Michelle said that she is not necessarily addicted to playing horror movies and the same characters. She said that she always wanted something different and challenging, through any character and genre.

This is based on the reason the actress is interested in acting. One of the most exciting things about being an actress, for Michelle, is being able to play many different characters from herself.

Regarding her interest in acting, Michelle feels a special pleasure when she has to play a character, especially when exploring these characters.

"So, how can I switch from my character when it's set to the real me when I'm me, that's really exciting. And there are lots of interesting characters, which also need observation and research before being portrayed," she said.

Her love for her work as an actress also makes Michelle continue to hone herself to improve the quality of her acting. She does many things, one of which is watching a lot of movies with different characters.

"I observe more from other movies (to increase the quality of acting), see various kinds of characters. Incidentally, I like watching and reading too," she explained.

Reading is one way for Michelle to train her imagination in seeing stories and characters. Without visualization like in movies, Michelle feels that reading allows her to be more creative with her thoughts.

Optimistic to Enter Global Market

Michelle Joan (Photo: Savic Rabos, DI: Raga/VOI)

As a young actress, Michelle Joan also enthusiastically welcomed the current condition of Indonesian cinema. Post-pandemic said Michelle, the Indonesian movie world is much better compared to conditions before the pandemic.

"I'm really happy and really really happy to see the enthusiasm of the Indonesian audience after the pandemic. Because before the pandemic had brought down the film industry and the entertainment industry as a whole," she said.

During the pandemic, Michelle was sad to see that the film industry was practically in suspended animation. "Many are at home, cinemas are closed, lots of films have been posted, and many projects have also been canceled, seeing this is sad. Because we are also part of the film industry," said Michelle.

“In my opinion, now the enthusiasm is twice as much as before the pandemic. Precisely now people are waiting for works by Indonesians and the audience is exploding. Many movies, especially those in the horror genre, are now much liked and the number of viewers is not small," she said.

Michelle Joan (Photo: Savic Rabos, DI: Raga/VOI)

"So I'm really happy, maybe I feel that those who were rested during the pandemic yesterday allowed us to rest so that our creativity can be formed even more," she continued.

As an actress in the movie Iblis Dalam Darah which is planned to be screened in several Southeast Asian countries, Michelle also feels proud. For her, this shows that Indonesian films are starting to be accepted in other countries.

"I'm really happy, I really feel proud if Indonesian movies don't only show in Indonesia. With our film being watched by many Indonesians, they are already happy, then all of a sudden they hear that it will be shown as well as in Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Cambodia, and they are very proud. Because it's not just Indonesians, foreigners can also watch our work at the same time," she said.

"Hopefully it can be well received there, the results are also satisfying and Indonesian works can be increasingly recognized and well received by people abroad," she hoped.

Michelle Joan (Photo: Savic Rabos, DI: Raga/VOI)

The presence of OTT is also considered by Michelle as a breath of fresh air for Indonesian cinema. With this digital platform, Indonesian films have more opportunities to be recognized by the world community.

Reflecting on what was shown by the South Korean film industry and Michelle Yeoh who won an Oscar, Michelle Joan feels that the nation's children should also have the same possibility to appear on stage and be seen by the international world.

Michelle sees that currently, the world of movies has presented many unique things from different cultures. Indonesia as one of the Asian countries that has a unique and rich culture, and she hopes to be able to produce quality films that can be accepted by more people.

“In my opinion, there are more opportunities for us, the people of Asia, to show that we are not defeated. Not only Hollywood can make good films, but Asia can too," said Michelle Joan.