The Teng Chun facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Teng Chun
The (center), c. 1940
Born	18 June 1902 Batavia, Dutch East Indies
Died	25 February 1977(1977-02-25) (aged 74) Djakarta, Indonesia
Occupation	Filmmaker
Years active	1930–1955
Notable work	Boenga Roos dari Tjikembang Alang-Alang

The Teng Chun (Chinese: 鄭丁春; pinyin: Zhèng Dīngchūn; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tēⁿ Teng-chhun; born June 18, 1902 – died February 25, 1977), also known as Tahjar Ederis, was a famous Chinese Indonesian film producer. He came from a rich family and loved movies from a young age. In 1930, he started his own film company called Cino Motion Picture in the Dutch East Indies. In just over ten years, he and his company made at least 31 movies. These included some of the country's first talkies (movies with sound). After Indonesia became independent, he made more films in the 1950s. Later in his life, he became an English teacher.

The Life Story of The Teng Chun

The Teng Chun was born in Batavia, Dutch East Indies (which is now Jakarta, Indonesia) on June 18, 1902. His father, The Kim Ie, was a very wealthy businessman. As a child, The Teng Chun went to a Tiong Hoa Hwe Koan school.

Studying Film in America

In 1920, The Teng Chun went to the United States to study economics. But he was more interested in movies than business. He decided to study filmmaking at the Palmer Play Theater. One of his classmates was Fred Young, another Chinese person from the Indies who would later work with him. While in the US, The Teng Chun convinced his father to start importing films. His father first said no, but eventually agreed.

After five years of studying, he went to Shanghai in China. He worked in the Chinese movie industry, helping to send films from China to the Indies. He also tried making his own films there. In 1930, he returned to the Indies because movies from Shanghai were not as popular anymore.

Starting His Own Film Company

When he came back, his father still thought importing films was more profitable. But The Teng Chun decided to start his own company, Cino Motion Pictures. At that time, the film industry in the Dutch East Indies was very new. The first local movie, Loetoeng Kasaroeng, had only been released in 1926. There were only three other film companies in the whole country.

His company's first movie was Boenga Roos dari Tjikembang. It was one of the first talkies (movies with sound) made in the country. However, critics did not like it much. After that, he made several more movies, including Sam Pek Eng Tay, which was a big success.

From 1933 to early 1935, The Teng Chun made almost all the movies in the Dutch East Indies. This was partly because of the Great Depression, which made it hard for other companies. It was also hard and expensive to switch from making silent films to talkies. His early movies were often based on Chinese mythology or martial arts stories. They were made for audiences who were mostly ethnic Chinese and not very rich.

Java Industrial Film (JIF)

In 1935, The Teng Chun changed his company's name to Java Industrial Film (JIF). He brought his brothers and sister into the business. His brother Teng Gan became a general assistant. Teng Liong was in charge of sound, and Teng Hwie worked as a cameraman. By 1938, JIF started making movies about modern problems. This might have been because of another film called Pareh, made by Albert Balink in 1938.

Java Industrial Film closed down when the Japanese occupied Indonesia in 1942. During this time, The Teng Chun worked in a theater group for a while. But he did not enjoy it and left soon after.

After Independence

After Indonesia became independent and the war for independence ended, The Teng Chun and Fred Young started a new film company called Bintang Soerabaja. This company made movies until 1962. After it closed, The Teng Chun became an English teacher. In 1967, he changed his name to Tahjar Ederis.

The Teng Chun passed away on February 25, 1977, in Jakarta. The governor of Jakarta gave him an award shortly before he died.

Movies He Made

During his career, The Teng Chun made at least 34 films. Here are some of them:

• Boenga Roos dari Tjikembang (Rose from Cikembang; 1931) – He was the producer, director, sound editor, and cameraman.
• Sam Pek Eng Tay (The Butterfly Lovers; 1931) – He was the producer, director, sound editor, cameraman, and writer.
• Pat Kiam Hap (Eight Swordsmen; 1933) – He was the producer, director, sound editor, cameraman, and writer.
• Pat Bie To (Eight Beautiful Women; 1933) – He was the producer, director, and cameraman.
• Ouw Peh Tjoa (Black and White Snakes; 1934) – He was the producer, director, sound editor, and cameraman.
• Tie Pat Kai Kawin (Tie Pat Kai Marries; 1935) – He was the producer, director, sound editor, cameraman, and writer.
• Pan Sie Tong (1935) – He was the producer and director.
• Ang Hai Djie (1935) – He was the producer, director, and cameraman.
• Pembakaran Bio "Hong Lian Sie" (Burning of the "Hong Lian Sie"; 1936) – He was the producer and director.
• Lima Siloeman Tikoes (Five Mouse Demons; 1936) – He was the producer and director.
• Anaknja Siloeman Oeler Poeti (Child of the White Snake; 1936) – He was the producer and director.
• Gadis jang Terdjoeal (The Sold Maiden; 1937) – He was the producer and director.
• Tjiandjoer (Cianjur; 1938) – He was the director.
• Oh Iboe (Oh Mother; 1938) – He was the director.
• Roesia si Pengkor (1939) – He was the producer and director.
• Alang-Alang (Grass; 1939) – He was the producer, director, and writer.
• Melati van Agam (Jasmine of Agam; 1940) – He was the producer.
• Matjan Berbisik (Whispering Tiger; 1940) – He was the producer.
• Kartinah (1940) – He was the producer.
• Dasima (1940) – He was the producer.
• Rentjong Atjeh (Rencong of Aceh; 1940) – He was the producer and director.
• Tengkorak Hidoep (Living Skull; 1941) – He was the producer.
• Srigala Item (Black Wolf; 1941) – He was the producer.
• Si Gomar (1941) – He was the producer.
• Singa Laoet (Lion of the Sea; 1941) – He was the producer.
• Ratna Moetoe Manikam (1941) – He was the producer.
• Elang Darat (Land Hawk; 1941) – He was the producer.
• Poetri Rimba (Daughter of the Jungle; 1941) – He was the producer.
• Noesa Penida (1941) – He was the producer.
• Matula (1941) – He was the producer.
• Djantoeng Hati (Heart and Soul; 1941) – He was the cameraman.
• Genangan Air Mata (Puddle of Tears; 1954) – He was the director.
• Konde Tjioda (1954) – He was the producer.
• Dinamika (Dynamics; 1955) – He was the producer.

Images for kids

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  Logo of The's Java Industrial Film