A Roof for Street Musicians
the idea was a busy night at the Yoga Barn Ubud, when my fellow journalist friend in addition to also also 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 in addition to also also producer, Daniel Ziv, however people were still enthusiastic to come in addition to also also packed out the temporary open-air theatre located within 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 in addition to also also Boni Putera, serving as protagonists of their own life story. Everyday, they jump into public buses to entertain people with their amazing voices in addition to also also guitar performances, within the hopes of being able to collect smaller change by 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 is usually often presented by media in Indonesia. Jalanan shows an inspiring story of the three characters who dare to take charge of their own destinies in addition to also also refuse to be viewed as victims of social injustice. For a movie in which brings up heavy issues like poverty in addition to also also politics, Jalanan is usually very entertaining. For 107 minutes, audiences will be entertained with colourful scenes, stirred with lots of music, funny jokes in addition to also also empathic moments of them while struggling to survive in a city with no mercy.
This specific epic, witty, in addition to also also thoughtful movie has successfully touched the hearts in addition to also also opened the mind of audiences by 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 by government institutions such as the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in addition to also also Governor of Jakarta, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok), who personally hosted screenings in addition to also also 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 by Jakarta to give the audience a surprising performance at the end of the screening. When we met, they gave us their warmest greetings in addition to also also big smiles, in addition to also also soon we got engaged in an intimate conversation talking about their brand new exciting life, including visiting countries overseas when joining the film festivals, in addition to also also 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 at This specific point is usually 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 in addition to also also 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 is usually truly all they ask. however I’m still concerned about their long-term future, because their current fame, in addition to also also 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 in addition to also also 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 within the form of shelter, however as permanent freedom by rent, debt, danger in addition to also also homelessness, which has a legitimate land certificate so the idea cannot be taken away by them. “I plan to deposit the certificates which has a third party – my Indonesian partner production company in which also doubles as an environmental NGO – in order in which the buskers cannot be pushed into pawning off their property no matter how intense the pressure may be by 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 in addition to also also Titi are dear friends, in addition to also also they are my partners in creating something truly fresh in addition to also also different in which wasn’t there before, in addition to also also I think in which’s been transformational for all four of us. I want them to be happy [within 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 in addition to also also need to continue working hard in addition to also also 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