•    HOME   
•    NEWS   
•    BUSINESS   
•    INTERNATIONAL   
•    TECH   
•    SPORTS   
•    LIFE & TIMES   
•    OPINION   
•    MY JAKARTA   
•    BLOGS   
•    EYEWITNESS   

For prolific author and filmmaker Damien Dematra, the story of Barack Obama, a boy who spent years growing up in Jakarta before eventually becoming the president of the United States, has proven to be incredibly inspiring.

Since Obama won the presidency, Damien has released seven books and one movie, last year’s “Obama Anak Menteng” (“Obama the Menteng Kid”), all about the US leader.

Now, Damien is in the process of filming another Obama-inspired movie, this one titled “Dream Obama.” It’s a movie he is so eager to get to the public that he and his production team are aiming to set a new world record with it — for shortest production of a commercial feature film.

At exactly midnight on Tuesday, records officials, Damien and his crew sounded a buzzer to mark the official start of filmmaking. The whole production, including scripting, filming, editing and scoring, is scheduled to be finished within nine days, 19 hours and nine minutes, in time for its premiere on March 24.

Damien says he is no stranger to breaking world records. He claims to have broken at least six of them, including being the author of the world’s thickest book, titled “Obama and Pluralism,” a collection of writings about the US president that measures in at a spine-breaking 5,472 pages.

Throughout the filmmaking process, the crew of “Dream Obama” will be observed by representatives from Guinness World Records, Royal World Records and the Indonesian Museum of Records (MURI) to see if they can indeed beat the record for fastest production time for a feature film, held by Suresh Joachim of Canada, who made the 2009 film “Sivappu Mazhai” in 11 days, 23 hours and 45 minutes in Chennai, India.

Just a few minutes after the opening buzzer sounded, Damien spoke to his crew members during their first official meeting. He explained some general information about the film and also managed to decide upon the names of several characters in the movie. Soon after that, the process of scripting began.

Unlike his previous movie, “Dream Obama” will not portray Obama’s life in Indonesia. Instead, the movie is about a boy who is inspired by the Obama statue at his school, Menteng 1 Elementary, which Obama once attended as a child.

Producers said many notable actors and actresses had agreed to appear in the movie, including Ayu Azhari, Ari Wibowo and Pong Hardjatmo. Also scheduled to appear in the film are Nahdlatul Ulama deputy chairman Slamet Effendy Yusuf, former Justice Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra and bodybuilder Ade Rai.

Veteran actor Pong said it would be a real challenge for the whole crew and cast to make a movie in less than 10 days.

“We clearly have to work very fast,” he said, adding that he believed it was possible.

Damien and his crew are also being assisted by the London School of Public Relations and the Lippo Group, including the use of their facilities as shooting locations. (Disclaimer: The Jakarta Globe is affiliated with the Lippo Group.)

“We are so proud to be a part of this great accomplishment,” said LSPR’s founder and director, Prita Kemal Gani, adding that she hoped the movie would become an inspiration to young Indonesians.

Damien’s record-breaking attempt is being supported by a crew of hundreds, including 97 LSPR students who are taking on important jobs in the production, acting as cameramen, sound and lighting personnel, art directors, music directors and video editors.

Businessman Ron Mullers, who is the movie’s producer as well as the chairman of Friends of Obama, a nonprofit group, said the whole country should be proud of this project.

But he was quick to add that the movie was not really about breaking the world record.

“The movie will be made to inspire young people to achieve something great in life,” he said during a press conference on Monday night.

“Feel the inspiration, that’s what the movie is all about,” Mullers added.

Debora Imanuella, who serves as the associate producer, said Obama’s story was capable of inspiring people to do amazing things.

“Obama had the courage to dream big, even when he was a child,” she said, adding that the movie would encourage children in Indonesia to be brave enough to follow their dreams. “Why should they be afraid to dream when it is completely free?” she added with a smile.

Debora promised that “Dream Obama” would not be just a gimmicky, publicity stunt movie. With a great, inspiring story and the support of many talented artists, she said, “This will definitely be a great film.”

Starting tomorrow the Jakarta Globe will keep readers posted on the progress of this world record-breaking film production.