American Corner of Universitas Gadjah Mada Library held a discussion on movie making entitled Multiculturalism in American Arts, on Monday (26/9). The event presented Attaché Assistant of Culture and Education, U.S. Embassy Jakarta, Arend Zwartjes and an American filmmaker, Mustafa Davis.
The Attaché Assistant, Arend Zwartjes, on the occasion said that the program Multiculturalism in American Arts is held as one of the efforts to understand two different cultures, Indonesia and America. The film showing and discussion are not only held at UGM American Corner, but also in various communities in Magelang and Palembang.
In addition to the discussion, there was screening of documentary film entitled A Warm Heart of Africa. The movie produced by Mustafa Davis tells about the life of Malawi Africans that is poor and lacking of opportunity to get education, food and health facilities.
Mustafa Davis said that his film has strong characters, such as Mary Woodworth (founder and activist of Front of Majurei Orphans) and Coift Komoto, Coift Zomba and Litle Ceift (children). Through her foundation, Mary helped the children get education and health facilities. The movie tells about their struggle of going to America, which eventually not getting any penny, until the filming is completed.
Mustafa Davis shared experiences about the film he worked on. During the making, the graduate of the art of filmmaking at New York Film Academy (Universal Studios - Hollywood, CA) was assisted by a sound director and director of photography.
In each of filmmaking, he chose to work with a small team. In addition to minimizing production costs, it is also to facilitate the team in its observation and socialization with the local community. "Small teams will make us more easily accepted by society, so we can capture the smallest details of their lives and able to document them in the film," said the filmmaker who was once film director and producer of Cinemotion Media and Mustafa Davis Inc.