Complaining they can find almost no work, Cambodian television and video stars joined producers, television station managers and cultural officials in a meeting last week to discuss how to promote the Khmer entertainment industry.
Most in attendance at the two-day workshop held at the Ministry of Culture agreed the flow of foreign videos into Cambodia has crippled the local industry.
In addition, at least six television stations offer foreign movies, and that’s not counting the increasing number of viewers hooking up to cable television, which provides a full menu of foreign entertainment.
“We are all saddened by the disappearance of Khmer movies,” said video star Tep Rindaro. “For us actors, it’s a poor economy.”
Movie producers said it doesn’t make good business sense to make a Khmer movie if there is no place to show it. Phnom Penh had as many as 30 movie theaters in the early 1970s. There are none at the moment, although there are plans to open one before the end of the year.
“Once a movie is finished, we don’t know where to show it,” said Ly Bun Yim, who has been directing movies for more than 35 years and is best known for “The Twelve Sisters” and “Sappseth,” both of which were featured during last week’s Cambodian Film Festival.
“Having it show on TV [alone] will not make a profit,” he said, adding that the only way to make money is to show movies in comfortable theaters with good sound reproduction, and to keep ticket prices low.
Ly Bun Yim said he is also afraid to make movies in Cambodia until an intellectual property law is enacted. The Council of Ministers is considering such a measure.
Hang Soth, director of the arts department at the Ministry of Culture, said the ministry is committed to enforcing a law and eliminating piracy.
The conference also dealt with pornography, and how to encourage video producers “to maintain and protect local culture, and respect social morality,” Hang Soth said.
Prime Minister Hun Sen signed a subdecree in September—to go into effect Feb 28— that sets fines for pornography vendors ranging from $2 to $500 for each copy of a movie.
