Yes, it's nationwide panic and violent looting right now in Indonesia... well, no, not really. LOL! People just got angry at the government for what they thought was a stupid decision. Well, the latest of a series of stupid decisions, some might say.
With the reason to boost the development of the national film industry, the Indonesian government imposed new tax on foreign movies. New tax that was supposedly off the roof that the Motion Pictures Association were not willing to accommodate. They preferred to pull distribution out of the country instead. The decision took effect last Thursday, 17 February 2011, local time and the last of the remaining foreign movies will be screened in theaters next Friday, 25 February 2011.
Ironically, Indonesian filmmakers felt that this regulation was counterproductive to the development of the national film industry. They said the theaters could not live by local titles alone. They need foreign films to survive. If they went out of business, where would local titles be screened?
So, that's it. Until the Indonesian government decides to cancel this new tax regulation, or at least modify it to be more managable by the Motion Picture Association, people who live in Indonesia will not be seeing the likes of Green Lantern, Thor and Captain America.
Definitely not the brightest day. Sucks to be me. LOL!