11 October 2009

Miyabi / Maria Ozawa and the FPI -- Pornography, Morality, and Comedy...






It seems there are always plenty of people about looking for a controversy to jump into, and if there is not one available to jump into, then make one up. This is the Miyabi controversy. Maria Ozawa goes by the stage name of Miyabi. She is a porn actress, and apparently she is pretty good at what she does. However, she is now looking to branch out and test her acting skills in more mainstream films. She has recently done a slasher / horror film in Taiwan. And, she has signed on to do a comedy in Indonesia, Kidnapping Miyabi.

The premise of the film seems a little silly to me; several horny blokes who have probably "choked" the proverbial chicken one too many times, and when they learn that Miyabi happens to be in Indonesia they set out to kidnap her. You never know, it might work. It will undoubtedly be popular because there are seemingly a whole lot of Indonesians who are familiar with her previous work, and those that were not so familiar with it, are sure to be now.

Anyways, the fact that a Japanese porn star is coming to Indonesia to play a role in a comedy film has irked the usual suspects. The MUI has come out and said that allowing her to come to Indonesia in any capacity to play a role in a film is going to destroy Indonesia's image overseas (I have written about that here and posted a few pictures for your viewing pleasure). Perhaps the MUI might want to have a look a little closer to home to gauge what sort of image destroying material is floating around. Stoning adulterers is probably not a big winner in the image stakes.

To add to the MUI's protests, the Islam Defenders Front or Fron Pembela Islam (FPI) assembled some of their devotees and staged a protest in front of the offices of Maxima Pictures. Maxima Pictures are the ones that are going to shoot and produce the film. It would seem that FPI's beef is that Miyabi is the destroyer of morality. Once again, he who is perfect may cast the first stone. Considering, the number of Indonesian IPs that have swung by this particular blog in search of Miyabi pictures and links to her films is testament to a rather large Indonesian following.

It seems that the FPI would be conducive to the film going ahead if Miyabi was replaced with another actress. Presumably one without any porn on her resume. But, seeing the premise of the script seems to be based on Miyabi having fame as a porn actress then perhaps FPI is lobbying for an Indonesian porn actress to take up the role. Maybe Maxima Pictures could change the name to Kidnapping Jade Marcella.

Maxima entertained the protesters by agreeing to meet with their leader, Habib Fahri Jamalullail, of the Jakarta Branch of FPI. However, the FPI left about 15 minutes later somewhat disappointed, as Maxima refused to say that they would abide by the demands of the FPI and cancel any agreements with Maria Ozawa with respect to her appearing in the film.

Not to be deterred, Fahri is prepared to go to the airport and "intercept" her arrival. Sounds a little bit extreme, it also sounds a little bit scary, and it sounds somewhat illegal to be intercepting foreigners arriving legally into the country.

Fahri is concerned that Miyabi has violated religious prohibitions by doing what she does for a living. Unfortunately, being a porn actress per se does not prohibit one from entering the country, particularly when one considers that she will not be making any porn films while she is here. It is probably forbidden to watch porn films as well. However, this does not seem to stop everyone. Once again, it seems that there are quite a few Indonesians with a voracious appetite for porn, and for Miyabi in particular.

In any event, and the FPI protests aside, according to Maxima it is still not clear if and when Miyabi will be arriving. Apparently, there have been a few bureaucratic issues arise that are still to be sorted out.

With respect to the protests, Maxima is considering relocating the shoot out of Jakarta, perhaps to Bali, or going further abroad still and shooting the film overseas. This is sad because the shooting of a film and the subsequent post-production are normally fairly big contributors to the local economy where the film is shot.

Not that I am inclined to watch the film anyway, but I do hope that Maxima sticks to its guns and shoots the film with Miyabi / Maria Ozawa in the lead role and playing herself.

In any event, the post lends itself to some gratuitous posting of pictures.

Enjoy!

15 comments:

anong said...

Does Indonesia have a porn film industry?? If not, I wonder why??

Rob Baiton said...

Anong...

Yes, but it is all amateur stuff. Any street-side vendor would be able to hook you up with a little bit of local porn.

Do mobile uploads count? If they do then there are stacks of that!

Most of Indonesia's best porn stars have gone overseas to make their name. The link in the post highlights that Jade Marcella has made more than 100 porn flicks.

You would reckon if one sprang up that there would be a protection racket that sprang up with it :D

There has to be some dollars to be made in a local industry, don't you think?

anong said...

Undoubtedly. Judging by the way people here go on when the "batik" slips on stage; Id describe it as a hunger.

Rob Baiton said...

Anong...

I did say that there was a "voracious appetite" for porn in Indonesia. I guess this would equate to a hunger ;)

anong said...

one more for the books....


Presenter kocak, Dwi Putrantiwi, lagi apes. Gara-gara latah ngomong jorok, ia terlempar dari acara Makin Malam Makin Mantap (4M) yang tayang di ANTV setelah ditegur oleh KPI (Komisi Penyiaran Indonesia).

What did she say?? Do you want to run the competition for those who did not hear it??

Rob Baiton said...

Anong...

I did not hear it. So, maybe someone else should run the competition ;)

Do tell. What was said?

anong said...

A slang word for a male member I believe. Im hanging out real bad to know. Actually I was hoping to see if your readership could spill the beans. It seems you cater for the seemy side at times.

Rob Baiton said...

Anong...

If I had to guess it would be a reference to the male member that is sometimes uttered when one is surprised.

If I am not mistaken it was a konyol mistake to make where the KPI rules the roost :D

anong said...

here's to Kontrolling your Konyolness.

Now poor old Miss Aceh... I thought she said she was given special permission to enter the contest, and now that she won they are on her back...

Unknown said...

Well, Rob, maybe you won't watch her film, but I probably will. Since the FPI brought her to my attention, I've looked her up and viewed some of her work. She seems to be a very sweet and certainly attractive young lady. I'd love to do an interview with her.

Thanks FPI!

Rob Baiton said...

Anong...

Ahhh, let's get it out in the open. She said kontol, right?

My understanding, having heard the expression uttered many many times, is that it is an expression of surprise or used when one is startled.

It is by my understanding in the proper context a vulgar word. However, when used in the context noted above it probably is not used in a way that is directly related to a conversation about the penis (or the male member, or Mr. Happy, or whatever else people use).

I would also add that there is this sweet cake / treat called kontol kambing. So, it would seem that no respectable cooking show should broach the subject of how to go about making kontol kambing.

Mountain out of a molehill.

Rob Baiton said...

Patrick...

I was well aware of her body of work before this whole thing entered the realm of the ridiculous.

I am figuring that I wouldn't watch her film because the premise of the plot seems a little tacky to me. This has nothing to do with her personally or her sweetness or attractiveness. I will undoubtedly reconsider once the film is made :D

I noticed that you said on your post that you would be keen to interview her. Approach Maxima Pictures, they might be able to help.

It must be getting close to time for someone to be protesting the existence of the FPI.

Ben said...

This post gave me a movie title idea:
Lost: common sense.

Rob Baiton said...

Ben...

nuff said!

Miyabi Ozawa said...

I love maria ozawa, she's my angel