Unlocking
Word Meanings
Read
the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. customs tax (n.) [kuhs-tuhm] [taks] – government tax collected for import and
export activities
Example: Some businessmen are urging the government to
lower the rates for customs duty.
2. royalty (n.) [roi-uhl-tee] – a part of the income from a book, musical
composition or movie which is paid to the creator, composer or author whenever
his or her creation is used.
Example: The singer who did a remake of the song needed to
pay royalty fees to Mr. Smith, the
original composer.
3. second-rate (adj.) [sek-uhnd] [reyt] – of lesser or little quality
Example: Most second-rate films are boring to watch.
4. pirated (adj.) [pahy-ruhtud] – something (another's work) that is use or
reproduced without permission
Example: Some people prefer to buy pirated DVDs and CDs because they are cheaper than original ones.
5. blockbuster (n.) [blok-buhs-ter] – something (usually a movie) that is or has become
very popular and has achieved big sales
Example: Blockbuster
movies are worth watching in the cinema.
Article
Read
the text below.
Movie-goers in Indonesia are hopeful to see more Hollywood movies after
the government changed its tax policy on imported films.
Early this year, Indonesian government declared higher customs tax and
royalty on
foreign films. As a result, film importers cut down the number of Hollywood
movies they purchase, limiting the choices of movie-goers to second-rate films
like poorly made horror films or Chinese martial arts movies.
In addition, some movie fans started buying pirated DVDs just to be able to watch blockbuster foreign
films. Others chose to travel to Singapore and Malaysia just to watch recent
Hollywood movies like Thor, Kung Fu Panda and the latest Pirates of the
Caribbean movie.
However, last June, Finance Minister Agus Martowardojo said that the
government will remove royalty fees and increase the customs tax instead. He
said these changes could encourage the showing of more imported films and could
result in a more satisfying movie industry.
Vera Febyanthy, a member of the Indonesian Parliament, commented that
the new regulation is a fair solution. She explains that even a politician like
her needs to watch movies to relieve stress.
Viewpoint
Discussion
Enjoy
a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
·
Are there a lot of foreign films shown at your local cinema? What kind
of movies are these?
·
Why do you think the government collects customs tax for imported films?
Discussion B
·
Do you think that more local films should be shown at local cinemas than
Hollywood movies? Why?
·
Are foreign films more popular in your country than local films?
