{{Short description|Indonesian film director}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}} {{Use British English|date=July 2012}} {{Infobox person | name = The Teng Chun | image = The Teng Chun filming Noesa Penida.jpg | image_size = 300px | alt = | caption = The (center), {{circa}} 1940 | birth_date = 18 June 1902 | birth_place = Batavia, Dutch East Indies | death_date ={{Death date and age|df=yes|1977|02|25|1902|06|18}} | death_place = Djakarta, Indonesia | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates = <!-- {{Coord|LAT|LONG|type:landmark|display=inline}} --> | monuments = | nationality = | other_names = | education = | alma_mater = | occupation = Filmmaker | years_active = 1930–1955 | notable_works = {{plainlist| *''Boenga Roos dari Tjikembang'' *''Alang-Alang'' }} | spouse = | children = | parents = | relatives = }} {{family name hatnote|The|lang=Chinese}} '''The Teng Chun''' ({{zh|t=鄭丁春|p=Zhèng Dīngchūn|poj=Tēⁿ Teng-chhun}}; 18 June 1902&nbsp;– 25 February 1977), also known by his Indonesian name '''Tahjar Ederis''', was a film producer in the Dutch East Indies.

Born to a rich businessman, The became interested in film while still a youth. After a period as an exporter, in 1930 he established Cino Motion Picture to produce films in the Dutch East Indies. In a little over a decade he and his company had released at least 31&nbsp;films, including some of the country's first talkies.

Although he experienced a brief resurgence during the 1950s after Indonesia became independent, he spent the last years of his life as an English teacher.

==Biography== He was born in Batavia, Dutch East Indies (modern day Jakarta, Indonesia) on 18&nbsp;June 1902 to a rich businessman name The Kim Ie. As a child he studied at a Tiong Hoa Hwee Koan school.{{sfn|Filmindonesia.or.id, The Teng Chun}}{{sfn|Biran|2009|pp=48–49}}

The studied economics in the United States beginning in 1920. However, instead of following his father's footsteps, The studied filmmaking at the Palmer Play Theater;{{sfn|Suryadinata|1995|p=43}} one of his fellow film students was Fred Young, another ''peranakan'' Chinese from the Indies, who would collaborate with The.{{sfn|Filmindonesia.or.id, The Teng Chun}} While in the US The worked towards convincing his father to become a film importer; the elder The initially refused, but eventually agreed to his son's proposal.{{sfn|Biran|2009|pp=48–49}}

After five years of studies The went to Shanghai and became involved in the country's cinema industry, working on exporting films from China to the Indies and trying his hand at filmmaking. He returned to the Indies in 1930,{{sfn|Suryadinata|1995|p=43}}{{sfn|Filmindonesia.or.id, The Teng Chun}} after Shanghai-produced films became less popular.{{sfn|Biran|2009|p=94}} In the Indies, The&nbsp;– despite his father insisting that importing films was more profitable&nbsp;– established Cino Motion Pictures.{{sfn|Suryadinata|1995|p=43}} The nation's cinema was still in its infancy; the first locally produced feature film, ''Loetoeng Kasaroeng'', had been released in 1926,{{sfn|Biran|2009|p=68}} and there were only three other film production companies in the country.{{sfn|Biran|2009|p=137}}

thumb|Logo of The's Java Industrial Film The studio's first release, ''Boenga Roos dari Tjikembang'', was among the first talkies produced in the country,{{sfn|Suryadinata|1995|p=43}} but a critical failure.{{sfn|Biran|2009|p=96}} The followed this with several further releases,{{sfn|Filmindonesia.or.id, The Teng Chun}} including the commercial success ''Sam Pek Eng Tay''.{{sfn|Biran|2009|p=147}} From 1933 until early 1935, all feature films from the Dutch East Indies were produced by The, partly because of the Great Depression and partly because of the difficulties and financial burdens caused by transitioning from silent films to talkies. These stories were based on Chinese mythology or martial arts, and targeted at low-class audiences, generally ethnic Chinese.{{sfn|Biran|2009|pp=144–145, 380–381}}

In 1935 the company's name changed to Java Industrial Film (JIF) and The brought his siblings into the business, which became increasingly active.{{sfn|Filmindonesia.or.id, The Teng Chun}} Teng Gan became general assistant, Teng Liong was put in charge of sound, and Teng Hwie was tasked as a cameraman.{{sfn|Biran|2009|p=150}} By 1938 JIF had begun focusing on stories dealing with modern issues,{{sfn|Filmindonesia.or.id, The Teng Chun}} possibly in response to Albert Balink's 1938 film ''Pareh''.{{sfn|Biran|2009|p=163}}

Java Industrial Film closed during the Japanese occupation, starting in 1942.{{sfn|Suryadinata|1995|p=44}} During the occupation The worked for a period in a theatrical group, but he found it unfulfilling and left soon afterwards.{{sfn|Filmindonesia.or.id, The Teng Chun}}

After Indonesia's independence and the cease of the National Revolution, he and Fred Young established the Bintang Soerabaja film company, which continued production until 1962. After the studio closed, The became an English teacher and, in 1967, changed his name to Tahjar Ederis.{{sfn|Suryadinata|1995|p=44}}

The died on 25&nbsp;February 1977 in Jakarta.{{sfn|Suryadinata|1995|p=44}} He received an award from the capital's governor shortly before his death.{{sfn|Filmindonesia.or.id, The Teng Chun}}

==Filmography== During his career The released at least 34 films, as follows:{{sfn|Filmindonesia.or.id, Filmografi The Teng Chun}} *''Boenga Roos dari Tjikembang'' (''Rose from Cikembang''; 1931)&nbsp;– as producer, director, sound editor, and cinematographer *''Sam Pek Eng Tay'' (''The Butterfly Lovers''; 1931)&nbsp;– as producer, director, sound editor, cinematographer, and screenwriter *''Pat Kiam Hap'' (''Eight Swordsmen''; 1933)&nbsp;– as producer, director, sound editor, cinematographer, and screenwriter *''Pat Bie To'' (''Eight Beautiful Women''; 1933)&nbsp;– as producer, director, and cinematographer *''Ouw Peh Tjoa'' (''Black and White Snakes''; 1934)&nbsp;– as producer, director, sound editor, and cinematographer *''Tie Pat Kai Kawin'' (''Tie Pat Kai Marries''; 1935)&nbsp;– as producer, director, sound editor, cinematographer, and screenwriter *''Pan Sie Tong'' (1935)&nbsp;– as producer and director *''Ang Hai Djie'' (1935)&nbsp;– as producer, director, and cinematographer *''Pembakaran Bio "Hong Lian Sie"'' (''Burning of the "Hong Lian Sie"''; 1936)&nbsp;– as producer and director *''Lima Siloeman Tikoes'' (''Five Mouse Demons''; 1936)&nbsp;– as producer and director *''Anaknja Siloeman Oeler Poeti'' (''Child of the White Snake''; 1936)&nbsp;– as producer and director *''Gadis jang Terdjoeal'' (''The Sold Maiden''; 1937)&nbsp;– as producer and director *''Tjiandjoer'' (''Cianjur''; 1938)&nbsp;– as director *''Oh Iboe'' (''Oh Mother''; 1938)&nbsp;– as director *''Roesia si Pengkor'' (1939)&nbsp;– as producer and director *''Alang-Alang'' (''Grass''; 1939)&nbsp;– as producer, director, and screenwriter *''Melati van Agam'' (''Jasmine of Agam''; 1940)&nbsp;– as producer *''Matjan Berbisik'' (''Whispering Tiger''; 1940)&nbsp;– as producer *''Kartinah'' (1940)&nbsp;– as producer *''Dasima'' (1940)&nbsp;– as producer *''Rentjong Atjeh'' (''Rencong of Aceh''; 1940)&nbsp;– as producer and director *''Tengkorak Hidoep'' (''Living Skull''; 1941)&nbsp;– as producer *''Srigala Item'' (''Black Wolf''; 1941)&nbsp;– as producer *''Si Gomar'' (1941)&nbsp;– as producer *''Singa Laoet'' (''Lion of the Sea''; 1941)&nbsp;– as producer *''Ratna Moetoe Manikam'' (1941)&nbsp;– as producer *''Elang Darat'' (''Land Hawk''; 1941)&nbsp;– as producer *''Poetri Rimba'' (''Daughter of the Jungle''; 1941)&nbsp;– as producer *''Noesa Penida'' (1941)&nbsp;– as producer *''Matula'' (1941)&nbsp;– as producer *''Djantoeng Hati'' (''Heart and Soul''; 1941)&nbsp;– as cinematographer *''Konde Tjioda'' (1954)&nbsp;– as producer *''Dinamika'' (''Dynamics''; 1955)&nbsp;– as producer *''Genangan Air Mata'' (''Puddle of Tears''; 1955)&nbsp;– as director

==See also== *List of films of the Dutch East Indies

==References== '''Footnotes''' {{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

'''Bibliography''' {{refbegin|colwidth=30em}} *{{cite book |title=Sejarah Film 1900–1950: Bikin Film di Jawa |trans-title=History of Film 1900–1950: Making Films in Java |language=Indonesian |last=Biran |first=Misbach Yusa |author-link=Misbach Yusa Biran |publisher=Komunitas Bamboo working with the Jakarta Art Council |year=2009 |isbn=978-979-3731-58-2 }} *{{cite web |title = Filmografi The Teng Chun |trans-title = Filmography of The Teng Chun |language = Indonesian |url = http://filmindonesia.or.id/movie/name/nmp4b8501c11b793_the-teng-chun/filmography#.UBFMA6DE_Mw |work = filmindonesia.or.id |publisher = Konfidan Foundation |location = Jakarta |access-date = 26 July 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140416182513/http://filmindonesia.or.id/movie/name/nmp4b8501c11b793_the-teng-chun/filmography#.UBFMA6DE_Mw |archive-date = 16 April 2014 |ref = {{sfnRef|Filmindonesia.or.id, Filmografi The Teng Chun}} |url-status = live |df = dmy-all }} *{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ch7pIrYoF3kC |title=Prominent Indonesian Chinese: Biographical Sketches |isbn=978-981-3055-03-2 |last1=Suryadinata |first1=Leo |author1-link=Leo Suryadinata |year=1995 |publisher=Institute of Southeast Asian Studies |location=Singapore }} *{{cite web |title = The Teng Chun |language = Indonesian |url = http://filmindonesia.or.id/movie/name/nmp4b8501c11b793_the-teng-chun |work = filmindonesia.or.id |publisher = Konfidan Foundation |location = Jakarta |access-date = 26 July 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140719140036/http://filmindonesia.or.id/movie/name/nmp4b8501c11b793_the-teng-chun |archive-date = 19 July 2014 |ref = {{sfnRef|Filmindonesia.or.id, The Teng Chun}} |url-status = live |df = dmy-all }} {{refend}}

==External links== *{{IMDb name|4335855|The Teng Chun}}

{{The Teng Chun}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:The, Teng Chun}} Category:1902 births Category:1977 deaths Category:Cinematographers from the Dutch East Indies Category:Film directors from the Dutch East Indies Category:Film producers from the Dutch East Indies Category:Indonesian film directors Category:Indonesian film producers Category:Indonesian people of Chinese descent Category:Indonesian Hokkien people Category:People from Batavia, Dutch East Indies Category:Mass media people from Jakarta Category:Screenwriters from the Dutch East Indies Category:20th-century Dutch screenwriters