Technical drama talk at DBP
By Rosli Abidin Yahya

Panellists Mohd Zefri Ariff (centre) and Eric (right) share a joke 
while Pg Hj Mohd Yunus chairs the discussion

Drama practitioners and hobbyists were briefed on technical aspects in drama production at the Drama Appreciation discussion group held at the Dewan Sarmayuda, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) Brunei in Berakas last Saturday. The two panellists, Mohd Zefri Ariff bin Mohd Zain Ariff and Eric P Ditton of Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) exposed the technical aspects in drama production to the audience through the showing of video clips.

Such presentation was important so as to give the audience ideas on how visual information can bring about good impact towards final judgement whether a production would be successful or not, said Mohd Zefri Ariff.

He also said that such was the visual impact of the screen that any director who can combine various aspects such as nature, lightings, position, colours, direction, movement, angle, body language and costume can ensure the success of a production through mixing them beautifully.

The monthly discussion, fourth in the series, was chaired by Pg Hj Mohd Yunus Pg Hj Besar, an actor who had accumulated vast experience in drama acting over the years. It was organised by the Affiliation of Drama, Entertainment and Creative Artists (GAPHAR) in joint-cooperation with DBP, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.

Attending the event was the Director of DBP, Hj Abdul Hakim bin Hj Mohd Yassin, the Acting Deputy Director of DBP, Hj Abu Bakar bin Hj Zainal, the Acting Director of Information, Hj Bujang bin Masu'ut, personnel of DBP and Radio Television Brunei, university lecturers, private drama producers, scriptwriters, actors and actresses.

Mohd Zefri then showed the audience video clips of successful dramas which incorporated artistic aspects into the final production.

Zefri has been involved in radio and television drama, as well as theatre plays as a scriptwriter, actor, technician and director. He obtained his BA in Mass Media from Universiti Malaya and his Masters Degree in Practical Theatre from UK.

Before becoming a UBD lecturer he was a script editor at RTB, and had conducted various workshops, lecturers, acting, scriptwriting and directing courses, and has various publications in the drama and theatre discipline.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin