Videos:
In their words:
EngageMedia (EM): Why do you use video? Tell us about the moment you first realised you wanted to be a videomaker.
Kiki Febriyanti (KF): The term “filmmaker” does not just refer to the director but includes all the rest of the crew who take part in the making of a film. I see my role as a story-teller whose job it is to make sure more people hear about a story. In ‘Yup, It’s My Body’, the characters already had their own stories.
EM: How did you come to video as a medium? Why do you work with the moving image?
KF: Initially, I was just a video spectator and connoisseur. Before I learnt audio-visual techniques I did a lot with print media. I switched because with video I was able to convey something more easily and widely – especially in our society who prefer to watch and hear rather than read. In my opinion, video is practical and effective.
EM: What are the main issues you address in your video work?
KF: I like to make videos about topics that are close to my daily life – about things that happen to me and to those around me. I’m especially interested in gender issues and human rights.
EM: How did you come to work with body image issues in ‘Yup, It’s My Body? Was it a process or did you just decide one day that you wanted to make the film?
KF: Although the topics I addressed in the film are close to my life, I still went through various processes to be sure that I wanted to raise these particular issues. I also had to convince the subject to be comfortable with this process. It’s important to trust and feel comfortable when you are making a film about someone’s private life.
EM: Many of your videos emphasise human rights and freedom of expression. Tell us more about that?
KF: Sometimes we feel troubled or uneasy with situations … I realise it is impossible to change a situation alone, it may also take a long time. The changes that I want may only happen once I’m dead! But through the medium of film, I feel like I am able to “embrace” other people, and bring people together to make changes both big and small.
EM: How do you think online distribution is changing the field of independent video making? How do you use online tools in your work?
KF: Distribution seems to be a major problem for the independent filmmaker. We often face difficulties in distributing our films. Online distribution is very helpful because it is relatively cheap and easy. Nowadays, I always use this method for distributing my films.
Links
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