A Typical Tantrum

You make a mistake.
I get mad. I chew your ears out.
You say that you're sorry.
I forgive. I forget.

I make a mistake.
You say its okay.
You get mad.
I say that I'm sorry.
You say I don't care.
I say that I care a lot and that I'm sorry.
You point out my mistakes even more.
I cry.
You forgive. You forget.

Soap Opera’s and Unsustainable Resources Part II

Now you know all about Indonesian Sinetrons (yes, I summarized the entire industry in one blog entry. Go figure.)

But the templates aren’t the worst part of this industry. The worst lies in its exploitation of the same people OVER AND OVER again.

Take “Baim”.

This cute little boy is the product of over exploitation of children within the Indonesian entertainment industry.

Is he a great actor? No. The Olsen Twins were waaaay better.

He speaks incoherently. I don’t even think they give him a script.

But they put him several sinetrons, such as Cinta SMU, Tarzan Cilik, and whats-yer-name sinetrons.

Cinta SMU was supposed to be teenager/ school life/ young love kind of soap, but Baim was introduced and I guess the ratings sky rocketed. Or maybe the director just thought he was cute.

Anyway, they turned Cinta SMU (High School Love) into Petualangan Baim (Baim’s Adventures). The funny thing is, they always pair him with Olga, this guy who screams slapstick in every sinetron and show that he’s ever contributed to. It’s not even good slapstick.

I feel sorry for the kid.

5 years from now you’re going to turn into another McCauley Culkin and then everyone will be blaming your parents for letting you taste fame and the entertainment industry so soon.

And then actresses like Nikita Willy, Naysilla Mirdad (her voice makes me want to staple those lips together) and all those other girls that get used over and over again. They only know one method of acting, and it involves a lot of pouting, crying, praying, and helplessness.

I’d love to go on but the list is endless. Indonesia’s entertainment industry needs to be saved soon before it brainwashes the entire country. Which gives me an idea for the next post. :)

Need Some Sleep

It's 1 am and I'm still working. This sucks.

Soap Operas and Unsustainable Resources Part I

This is a little bit late, but… I saw a video on Miley Cyrus and “Hannah Montana”. You can watch it here.

Okay, I know, maybe this is a hoax but still, it’s really got me thinking about the entertainment industry in Indonesia.

Let me give you a brief introduction to the Indonesian “Sinetron” (Soap Opera if you aren’t familiar with the term).

There’s a general template going around, both for characters and for the story. Let’s start with the story.

Scenario:

1. Poor girl falls in love with rich man. Parents disagree. There is also the evil woman who has interest on the rich man, and she does everything to try and get in the way. But true love always prevails.
2. Tomboy girl falls in love with handsome man. Parents (or at least mother) disagree. The beautiful, sexy, rich antagonist who also has interest on the handsome man tries to get in the way. But true love always prevails.
3. Kind girl is always humiliated and persecuted by stepmother/ aunt/ grandmother. Handsome man always stands up for her. Antagonist pretty bi**h gets in the way (also humiliating kind girl). But true love always, ALWAYS prevails.
4. Little kid who is so cute and does a lot of funny, useless yes, but still funny stuff.

Give or take, this summarizes more than half of the soap operas currently playing on national television. Of course, the difference between scenarios usually occurs due to different characters, though these too have templates.

Character:

1. The poor stepdaughter. Kind and gentle, she will let anyone trample on her poor damned soul. She is spineless. And she prays a lot.
2. The tomboy. A brave and generous girl, she dislikes unfairness. Hating the rich snobby man at first, she will, without failure, finally fall in love and turn out to be perfectly pretty.
3. The rich girl. Extremely beautiful. Sometimes spoilt. Often sexy. Always the centre of attention. Madonna of the school/ campus/ workplace. Will fall in love with the lucky bastard who loves her for who she really is.
4. The little boy/girl. Cute. Disgustingly cute. Bad acting. Can’t get a word in edgeways. But who cares, they’re still cute (or so the fans say)!
5. The handsome guy. Usually rich. Sometimes snobby. Always the prince charming. Will fall in love with the helpless, selfless, stupid girl.
6. The cruel stepmother/ stepfather/ aunt/ uncle/ grandmother/ grandfather/ mother or father of significant other. The main obstacle of a relationship. Often harms helpless girl because she is beautiful and too kind. Or maybe just for the fun of it.
7. The kind mother/ father/ aunt/ uncle/ grandmother/ grandfather. Cries a lot. Pities the helpless girl. Often suffers because of it.
8. The cruel girl/ guy. The main antagonist. Rival in love. Will do anything to win the guy/ girl they want. Sometimes swindles money. Just plain badass.
9. The clown. Additional humor. Makes Indonesian people laugh.
10. The sidekick. Every good girl/ boy gets a good friend.
11. The accomplice. Every villain has a sidekick, no?

What I hate most about soap operas here is the template "cinematography". If you can use the term without being viciously stabbed by a million directors.

Wish I could post a video of it..

Good Things Come To Those Who Are Late

Free lunch!
All because I stayed behind when every one else went to B1.

So it was only me, the boss, Mas P and Mas A.
We had lunch at Rice Bowl, and I thought my wallet was going to go bust.
But the dear boss pulled out his magic platinum wand and we got free lunch!

Evil thought of the day: maybe I should stay behind more often.

Just kidding. :)

It's April Fool's Day

... and I haven't managed to trick a single soul.
-________-

Top 10 Things That I Hate

Feeling a bit random.. Please bear with me.

1. Cockroaches. There could be aliens invading from outer space but number one is, and always will be, cockroaches.
2. Naughty caddies and evil temptresses. You know, the kind that try to seduce loaded old men. Congratulations girls, you're only a little bit better than cockroaches.
3. Motorcycles. They are the machine equivalent of mosquitos, they buzz around and suddenly cut off your path, and they are just annoying. If you live in Indonesia and similar countries.
4. Soap operas? Especially Indonesian ones. They have these typical template characters: weak leading ladies, trying-to-be strong leading ladies, handsome rich heroes, the typical super cruel antagonists. Poor storyline, extremely poor humor.
5. People who write in bIg AnD sMalL leTTeRs. GROW UP!
6. Dark rooms coupled with unnecessary laser lights and lots of smoke. You know what I'm referring to.
7. Heavy rain. I don't mind light showers and all that, but heavy rain is just depressing. And cold.
8. Romance overdosed movies like twilight. It's unreal and makes poor saps think that someone will love you because of your clumsiness.
9. Pop quizzes. No sirs, they do NOT make students listen to your lectures.
10. Slowpokes and bigmouths. Giddy up people! And stop talking so much, you're giving me a headache!

That pretty much sums it up.