A Roof for Street Musicians
the idea was a busy night at the Yoga Barn Ubud, when my fellow journalist friend as well as I went last month. We didn’t come for a yoga class, however for the screening of Jalanan movie held as a fundraising program to give the casts a permanent home.
The screening was the fifth one to be held in Ubud, said the director as well as producer, Daniel Ziv, however people were still enthusiastic to come as well as packed out the temporary open-air theatre located inside the backyard of This specific yoga studio. Nadya Hutagalung, an Asian celebrity was also there.
This specific award-winning documentary tells a heart-warming story of three street buskers, Bambang “Ho” Mulyono, Titi Juwariyah as well as Boni Putera, serving as protagonists of their own life story. Everyday, they jump into public buses to entertain people with their amazing voices as well as guitar performances, inside the hopes of being able to collect little change coming from generous bus passengers to go towards their daily meals.
however don’t expect to watch a tragic dramatized self-pity story of the poor, which can be often presented by media in Indonesia. Jalanan shows an inspiring story of the three characters who dare to take charge of their own destinies as well as refuse to be viewed as victims of social injustice. For a movie in which brings up heavy issues like poverty as well as politics, Jalanan can be very entertaining. For 107 minutes, audiences will be entertained with colourful scenes, stirred with lots of music, funny jokes as well as empathic moments of them while struggling to survive in a city with no mercy.
This specific epic, witty, as well as thoughtful movie has successfully touched the hearts as well as opened the mind of audiences coming from many different levels of society. In Indonesia, Jalanan has become one of a few documentaries in which could make its way into commercial cinemas (which was ironically played in Jakarta’s most exclusive cinemas – a contrast for a movie in which brings poverty as its theme). the idea also has received close attention coming from government institutions such as the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) as well as Governor of Jakarta, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok), who personally hosted screenings as well as made the idea a tool to educate his officials to conduct more humane approaches when dealing with marginalized people.
Back to in which night at Yoga Barn, Daniel Ziv introduced us to the stars of the movie, flown in coming from Jakarta to give the audience a surprising performance at the end of the screening. When we met, they gave us their warmest greetings as well as big smiles, as well as soon we got engaged in an intimate conversation talking about their completely new exciting life, including visiting countries overseas when joining the film festivals, as well as becoming ambassadors in Jokowi’s presidential election. Titi also told us about her role in teaching at Wimar Witoelar’s school, such an impressive achievement for her after those years struggling with her studies.
however the life they have right now can be not an overnight success in which has made them rich quick (Ziv said in which documentaries don’t make in which much money in Indonesia). Despite getting wide acknowledgement, tonnes of exposures as well as many opportunities, these three buskers are still struggling to get by.
“A film doesn’t fix lives, however the idea can bring acknowledgement, which for many of these people can be definitely all they ask. however I’m still concerned about their long-term future, because their current fame, as well as even the opportunities, won’t last forever,” says Ziv. “Assisting them financially seems logical, however I’ve learned through years of experimentation in which handing them money – as in cash – never works. Putting a roof over their heads will give them a home they can own as well as in which remains an asset throughout their lives, which seemed the most responsible, lasting way of doing in which.”
He then encourages people to read about their housing campaign, either via the film’s website (jalananmovie.com) or their Fundrazr website page (www.fundrazr.com). People can contribute either via the Fundrazr website or in Indonesia via direct transfer to a dedicated BCA account he set up with This specific purpose. In total, they are trying to raise $50,000, which he thinks should be just enough to buy them modest houses in low-income neighbourhoods of Jakarta.
He plans to get a house not just inside the form of shelter, however as permanent freedom coming from rent, debt, danger as well as homelessness, that has a legitimate land certificate so the idea cannot be taken away coming from them. “I plan to deposit the certificates that has a third party – my Indonesian partner production company in which also doubles as an environmental NGO – to ensure the buskers cannot be pushed into pawning off their property no matter how intense the pressure may be coming from those around them.”
The Yoga Barn fundraising screening has succeeded in raising Rp.9.9 million, adding the idea to Rp.168 million, 33% of the total expected amount. Jakarta’s Governor Ahok himself has donated Rp.50million for these guys.
“Boni, Ho as well as Titi are dear friends, as well as they are my partners in creating something definitely fresh as well as different in which wasn’t there before, as well as I think in which’s been transformational for all four of us. I want them to be happy [inside the future],” says Ziv. “[I desire the house can be] something in which will be theirs to keep. A place they can live or rent out or raise kids in. While they will always be responsible for their fate as well as need to continue working hard as well as acting responsibly, I wanted to do my part in helping them move forward in life.”
To give your support, visit www.jalananmovie.com/housingfund or Fundrazr page www.fundrazr.com/campaigns/dgEM6. Donations via bank transfer can be made to PT. Akarumput, BCA KCU Denpasar, Account no. 0402659210. Donating $50 will get you a Jalanan DVD!
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A Roof for Street Musicians
A Roof for Street Musicians