Although extensive research has tested the validity of conservation management practices, there has not yet been a full-length documentary depicting the lifestyles and livelihoods of residents living within communities inside of a marine protected area (MPA). Simalakama confronts the human element of conservation in Bunaken National Marine Park (BNMP), Indonesia, where a community of 30,000 people have resided for over a century in harmony with nature. The documentary explores the sensitive balance necessary to safeguard biodiversity, cultural tradition, and livelihoods by providing an introspective look at the sociopolitical and economic climate of the marine park.
Simalakama will be shot on location on the northern end of North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Following a woven nattative structure, the story line is crafted from a diverse portfolio of characters of the marine park as they function in their daily lives, each representing a unique demographic strata. While these individuals, groups, and communities interact, the camera will be as unobtrusive as possible. However, our main characters will also turn to the camera and reflect in private. This is where we will begin to form an understanding personal values and reflection. These interactions with the camera will not be staged, but rather will be reflective of the comfortable relationship the small production unit will have with each character.
The production crew of Simalakama is small, experienced, cultured, and personable. Each member has recently visited the marine park, and Brad Wilcox, our Executive Producer, has been working in the marine park since 2007. Our translator is also widely known and well liked. The familiarity of community members with the team and our ease of movement will be a crucial element in telling this compelling story.
Complimenting our narrative will be a visual representation of this incredibly profound and beautiful tropical ecosystem. A large portion of the end of our shooting schedule will be devoted to capturing the sublime natural settings of the area: island volcano of Manado Tua; lush highland rainforests of Minahasa; fringing reef fish and coral communities; and rare species of Lembeh Strait’s unique ecosystem. Located in the heart of the coral triangle, the region is rich with teeming flora and fauna – both above and below the water line, and is among the world’s greatest biodiversity.
A film fundamentally concerned with a quest for balance, Simalakama itself will reflect this balance through its portrayal of the breathtaking beauty, human and biological diversity of this unique marine park. It will present livelihoods and conservation challenges that people in BNMP are faced with and confronting today. Simalakama is not secondary interpretation; rather, it communicates directly the essence of BNMP in an objective form that is as close to an accurate representation as possible of the intricacies of everyday life inside this amazing marine park.
The introduction of the Simalakama documentary and associated retail brand into the global marketplace comes at an ideal time. In various global economic surveys, Indonesia is one of the leading and often cited top economic performers in East Asia and the Asia-Pacific region. For example, the World Economic Forum’s 2009-2010 Global Competitiveness Report ranks Indonesia 54 out of 133 countries, and it was highlighted for its progress towards becoming an efficiency-driven economy, similar to India. The World Bank and the International Finance Corporation released their Doing Business 2010 report that placed Indonesia 122 out of 183 economies, seven positions higher than in the previous year. In both examples, Indonesia has in the past three to five years made ongoing improvements meant to stimulate investments and opportunities. Meanwhile, tourism to Bunaken National Marine Park (BNMP) has increased in 2009. According to the North Sulawesi Tourism Promotion Board, BNMP receives more than 21,000 domestic visitors and more than 11,000 international guests from 40 countries annually. These visitors are drawn to BNMP for the outstanding diving and other marine related activities, the chance to immerse in an exotic local culture, and the yearly “Sail Bunaken” festivities that commemorate Indonesia’s independence from the Dutch. This annual August event includes Fleet Review from more than 30 navies, as well as an expo and seafood festival. The demonstrated outside interest in the region positions Simalakama to enjoy tremendous commercial success.
Recent years have brought a wave of news concerning Indonesia, including the unfortunate natural disasters that were so well-publicized in the Western media. In the wake of a deadly earthquake, and only 5 years after a Tsunami that killed over 200,000 people in the region, Indonesia represents a society that is in dire need of outside support, and has generated charitable and philanthropic interest. By focusing on the fragile but beautiful environment that surrounds the residents of BNMP, we will be presenting an environment-in-danger story, a story that has time and again enjoyed box office success. The wild popularity of An Inconvenient Truth and the success of lesser known, but very poignant, environmental films such as Hatch, Red Gold and King Corn, demonstrate audience interest in stories about microcosm environmental and cultural struggles not unlike those of BNMP. However, shooting and associated media within Indonesia has been limited primarily to journalism. Since very few projects are currently in production within the country – and even fewer in BNMP itself – now is an ideal time to present the story of a group of communities grappling with the challenges of environmental protection and sustainable development.
For more information please visit www.simalakama.com
