"A movie usually takes me a week to translate because I have a full-time job."

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Rizal Iwan is the guy behind the English subtitles you see in Indonesian movies like “Untuk Rena” and “Radit & Jani.” Today, the 32-year-old University of Indonesia graduate tells us how he became a freelance translator of movie subtitles, how he’s strongly against the use of the f-word and why even though he wasn’t born and raised in the Big Durian, he’s always felt like a Jakartan.

Why is it that you feel like a Jakartan?

I think it’s because I don’t have a hometown to go back to. Even though my dad is from Padang, my mom is from Manado and I was born in Palembang, my whole family moved to Jakarta in 1984 and Jakarta has been my home since then.

What was the first movie that you worked on?

My first one was “Untuk Rena” by Miles Productions. I had a friend who worked there and they thought I was the right person to do it not only because I have a good grasp of the English language, but also because I’m a movie enthusiast myself. I’m a film review contributor for several magazines and newspapers and I’m also a full-time copywriter at an advertising agency.

Then I translated “Garasi,” “Radit & Jani” and “Coblos Cinta.” But I think the “Coblos Cinta” subtitles only made it to the DVD and not the big screen.

Where do you usually do your translating?

At home. A movie usually takes me a week to translate because I have a full-time job. Luckily, all the movies I’ve translated are about everyday life. They’re not heavy stuff like, say, a political thriller. Anyway, the fact is we don’t have that type of movie in Indonesia [laughs].

What’s the process for creating subtitles?

You need to watch the movie before you do the translation. The production guys will give you a DVD copy of the movie so you don’t just translate what’s in the script, but you also make sure that the context is right. What often happens is that scenes that are funny in Indonesian do not work in English, so I have to work my way around it so the jokes make sense to speakers of English. The most difficult thing for me is translating rude words. For example, how do you translate bangsat ?” Using “jerk” may be too mild. I never use the f-word, though, because I think it’s unnecessary. I’d use “scumbag” or “you pig” or something else instead.

What do you have against the f-word?

It’s just my personal belief that whenever it’s possible to convey a meaning without saying the f-word, I won’t use it. For example, instead of saying “you f-ed her over,” I’d say “you screwed her over.” It’s just that one word.

If someone offered you work creating subtitles in Indonesian for an English-language movie, would you do it?

So far, I’ve accepted all sorts of translation work. If someone wants Indonesian subtitles for an English movie, I’ll do it. I don’t advertise, though, because it’s just a side job, and I can’t say I’m a professional translator because my jobs only come through my personal network, word-of-mouth or a friend asking for my help.

What’s your favorite movie?

It’s “Before Sunrise” by Richard Linklater and I like it because of its simplicity. It’s got no story. Basically, it’s about two people having a long conversation over a night. But the dialogue was amazing and to me, it just hit the right note. I don’t find it boring at all. The movie has a sequel, “Before Sunset.”

What’s your favorite spot in Jakarta?

Kemang, because it’s a one-stop entertainment spot. I can stay in Kemang until one or two in the morning. The latest I’ve been there was till 4:30 a.m.

If you could change one thing about Jakarta, what would it be?

I’d make Jakarta a walking city, meaning creating more space for pedestrians. In the long run, it would also keep Indonesian citizens very healthy. I love the city to death, but sometimes I wish it would be more supportive of pedestrians.

Since your full-time job is as a copywriter, what slogan would you create for Jakarta?

It would be “The Yin-Yang City” to explain the two sides of Jakarta: the good and the bad. Surprisingly, those people who scare you like the preman [street criminals] and ojek [motorcycle taxi] guys are usually the first to help when there’s an incident, for example, when a motorcyclist gets run over. It surprises me because I used to think they were bad people.

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