Mr. Mulyadi (Didi) Witono is the creative director and film director for Milkyway Studio, based in Jakarta, Indonesia. Mr. Witono has a web folio which showcases the projects he did with Milkyway Studio. Upon stumbling his web folio, he attached his email for business inquiries, and I emailed him to get an interview. Unfortunately, at first, I didn't receive a direct reply, and therefore I messaged his LinkedIn profile, which prompts him to reply to my initial email.
The following is the interview exchange.
1. Can you explain what is Milkyway Studio and what do you do in the
company?
Milkyway Studio is a full-service Indonesian based Film Production Studio dedicated to producing exceptional content for various client needs. We are more than just a production company - we provide additional services in order to ensure that each video we produce is smart, engaging, and achieves its purpose.
My role in Milkyway Studio is as a Creative Director / Film Director for all Milkyway studio's project. I'll make sure all the concept can match with the campaign and marketing strategic of our clients. Also my main role is to make sure that all the videos that we produce are unique and in perfect quality.
2. How did you get your start as a creative strategist?
In 2010, I started making digital content on Youtube for my old company. On that day, not everyone using Youtube as main marketing tools. I began to think "how people can react to the content only with their small handphone screen" from that thoughts, I always make video for our clients without boundaries. Especially when it come to "digital" term, We didn't have rules on that day. So for marketing campaign, I made webseries, short movie, makeup tutorial, beauty editorial videos, fashion spread videos, and music video with branding inside it. As time goes by, the digital era become popular. When everyone start made digital marketing videos, I already had a lot of videos and material to learn.
3. What's the number one piece of advice you have for young people who
are in your field of work?
Don't always think about the money! If someone give you $100 project, make it like $1,000 project.
4. What inspires you / help you get out of a 'creative block' moment?
Everything around me always inspire me. I always start with simple things around me and then start to explore more based on that things. So start with what you have around you. The ideas may already be in front of you.
5. Have you ever had to work on a project/campaign that is different/
against your beliefs? How do you deal with it?
Yes of course. In this industry, we always meet new clients / agency. They have their own beliefs. At first I always try to speak up my own point of view about the concept/ project. Sometime it's working and sometime it's not. For example. My idea is A and what they want is B. I never said that B is bad. But what I always is do, is give them C. C is the modification version of B. So, our main role as creative people is not to force our clients / partners to take our idea. But sometimes, creative is about to make something bad become beautiful.
6. What do you look for in someone's portfolio / What attracts you to a
person's portfolio?
There's no bad portfolio. But all portfolio should have the character of the artist. I always look the point of view of the artist when they made their works. If I can't read the consistency of the works, sometimes I doubt the originality of the portfolio. Because nowadays, it's sooo eeaaasssyyyy to make an artwork as long as you can open Pinterest/Behance/Any social media. Lol
7. What do you think makes someone's portfolio stand out?
The characteristic. Every portfolio should have consistency. It's always start with something unique. For example, If the portfolio is video, I always check the first 5-10seconds. If the portfolio is design, I always check what the first things comes out in my mind when I open the file and compare the result after I see it for 10 seconds.
8. As the world progresses, new trends are always emerging. What
measures do you take for keeping yourself with the news and the latest
updates? And how do you incorporate it into your field of work?
When social media become so easy to access. It is the main resource nowadays. But the most important thing is, follow the person /company that you look up to. Keep reading the news and see the trend from fashion, music, movies and entertainment industry. It's a never ending learning. But don't forget to keep practicing and don't steal people's idea. And to incorporate all the trends into my works, I always try to put the latest style of music, the latest fashion style, colors, graphic, cinematography, language and the culture for every video/campaign that I make.
The following is the interview exchange.
1. Can you explain what is Milkyway Studio and what do you do in the
company?
Milkyway Studio is a full-service Indonesian based Film Production Studio dedicated to producing exceptional content for various client needs. We are more than just a production company - we provide additional services in order to ensure that each video we produce is smart, engaging, and achieves its purpose.
My role in Milkyway Studio is as a Creative Director / Film Director for all Milkyway studio's project. I'll make sure all the concept can match with the campaign and marketing strategic of our clients. Also my main role is to make sure that all the videos that we produce are unique and in perfect quality.
2. How did you get your start as a creative strategist?
In 2010, I started making digital content on Youtube for my old company. On that day, not everyone using Youtube as main marketing tools. I began to think "how people can react to the content only with their small handphone screen" from that thoughts, I always make video for our clients without boundaries. Especially when it come to "digital" term, We didn't have rules on that day. So for marketing campaign, I made webseries, short movie, makeup tutorial, beauty editorial videos, fashion spread videos, and music video with branding inside it. As time goes by, the digital era become popular. When everyone start made digital marketing videos, I already had a lot of videos and material to learn.
3. What's the number one piece of advice you have for young people who
are in your field of work?
Don't always think about the money! If someone give you $100 project, make it like $1,000 project.
4. What inspires you / help you get out of a 'creative block' moment?
Everything around me always inspire me. I always start with simple things around me and then start to explore more based on that things. So start with what you have around you. The ideas may already be in front of you.
5. Have you ever had to work on a project/campaign that is different/
against your beliefs? How do you deal with it?
Yes of course. In this industry, we always meet new clients / agency. They have their own beliefs. At first I always try to speak up my own point of view about the concept/ project. Sometime it's working and sometime it's not. For example. My idea is A and what they want is B. I never said that B is bad. But what I always is do, is give them C. C is the modification version of B. So, our main role as creative people is not to force our clients / partners to take our idea. But sometimes, creative is about to make something bad become beautiful.
6. What do you look for in someone's portfolio / What attracts you to a
person's portfolio?
There's no bad portfolio. But all portfolio should have the character of the artist. I always look the point of view of the artist when they made their works. If I can't read the consistency of the works, sometimes I doubt the originality of the portfolio. Because nowadays, it's sooo eeaaasssyyyy to make an artwork as long as you can open Pinterest/Behance/Any social media. Lol
7. What do you think makes someone's portfolio stand out?
The characteristic. Every portfolio should have consistency. It's always start with something unique. For example, If the portfolio is video, I always check the first 5-10seconds. If the portfolio is design, I always check what the first things comes out in my mind when I open the file and compare the result after I see it for 10 seconds.
8. As the world progresses, new trends are always emerging. What
measures do you take for keeping yourself with the news and the latest
updates? And how do you incorporate it into your field of work?
When social media become so easy to access. It is the main resource nowadays. But the most important thing is, follow the person /company that you look up to. Keep reading the news and see the trend from fashion, music, movies and entertainment industry. It's a never ending learning. But don't forget to keep practicing and don't steal people's idea. And to incorporate all the trends into my works, I always try to put the latest style of music, the latest fashion style, colors, graphic, cinematography, language and the culture for every video/campaign that I make.
Reflection Corner:
Agree:
- When dealing with clients who insisted on doing things their way, Mr. Witono said that what he will do is provide a solution that incorporates what the clients want. Instead of blatantly saying no to something, he tries to please the client, but still, put a piece of himself to the work he does.
- "All portfolio should have the character of the artist." From my understanding, this meant that the portfolio we create has to reflect our personality. (This point is also mentioned by most of the previous interviewees I questioned)
- First impression matters. When creating a portfolio, you have to capture someone's attention from the beginning. Mr. Witono mentioned that he will always check the first 5-10 seconds (of someone's video showreel) or the first thing that comes into his mind when opening the portfolio. Then he compares his first impression after watching or seeing the whole thing. I think that this will let the employer see whether the candidates actually can do a great job, or is it just luck to have one good portfolio.
- Social media is easy to access. Get inspiration from people or companies that you look up to. Be aware of what is happening in the world, read the news, see trends from fashion, music, movies, and entertainment industry. Never stop learning, and don't stop practicing.
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