Ernest Prakasa's Comedy Hooks Now on HOOQ
Jakarta. After success at the box office with 2.5 million viewers last year, Ernest Prakasa’s drama-comedy "Cek Toko Sebelah," or "Check Out the Shop Next Door," has now been adapted into a web series for streaming service HOOQ.
Cek Toko Sebelah was the stand up comedian-cum-director's second film. The story follows a Chinese-Indonesian family who owns and runs a small grocery shop in Jakarta.
The shop's owner Koh Afuk (Chew Kin Wah) wants his younger son Erwin, played by Ernest, to take over the shop.
The conflict in the film centers on Erwin's rivalry with his older, less reliable brother, Yohan, who has a history of drug and alcohol abuse.
In the original "Cek Toko Sebelah" movie, there is a part when Erwin takes over the shop for a month because his father is ill. The HOOQ web series is going to show you what happens during that month.
At the launch event for the series in South Jakarta on Tuesday, Ernest said the 12-episode series will have the same title but is not a sequel to the movie.
"Instead of continuing the story in the film, I've written a totally new one, even though it started in that particular scene in the film," Ernest said.
In the series, Erwin, now a successful corporate employee, tries to modernize his father’s shop.
But he faces opposition from his father, who wants to keep the shop's old school values.
Many of the original film's cast have reprised their roles for the web series, including Gisella Anastasia as Natalie, comedian Dodit Mulyanto as Kuncoro, Arafah Rianti as Tini, Chew Kin Wah, Adinia Wirasti, Dion Wiyoko and Adjis Doaibu.
Known for casting his fellow comedians in cameos in his films, Ernest this time has asked two of them, Arie Kriting and Bene Dion, to write the script and direct four episodes each in the series.
“I love new ideas. They're both experienced comedians and have worked in my films before. They'll give the story a bit more pep," Ernest said.
The comedian said he also loves to give new talents a go in the industry.
"Once I started directing my own films, I realized that we don't have enough scriptwriters. A series like this can help young writers grow and develop their talents," Ernest said.
"Cek Toko Sebelah The Series" will stream on HOOQ every Monday and Wednesday, starting on Dec. 19.
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