In the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, Budi Dwi Arifianto and Zein Mufarrih Muktaf, lecturers of the Communication Studies Program at Univeristas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) remained productive and committed to community service activities. They provide assistance in the production of a ketoprak (traditional based) script-based film in Sumber village, Dukun District, Magelang Regency. This service program has been going on for one semester from early 2020.

“This program aims to develop the content for the Ndeso Film Festival which has been initiated in the previous service programs,” said Budi, on Friday (13/8). This service also involved Citra Dewi Utami from ISI Surakarta as a member. Budi added that another goal of this program is to get closer to and foster the love of young people towards traditional arts by transforming traditional arts into film forms.

The Community service program partners with the Sumber village youth organization which is part of the video content maker community, and the Ketoprak association in Sumber Village. This service program is a continuation of the 2019 program.

“Previously, the film festival management training program was able to ignite the spirit of film production of the youth, namely the 2019 Ndeso Film Festival (NFF). Furthermore, residents took the initiative to make films in collaboration with the Santiaji Ketoprak studio,” said Budi. Budi also added that during production, they must pay attention to health protocols.

Meanwhile, Zein Mufarrih said that because the technology for making films is becoming cheaper, it was able to motivate young people to make films. “Technology that is held in the hands of young people should be maximized, such as making films for example. In addition to enthusiasm, assistance is also needed so that the existing potential can be directed to be better,” he concluded.