Media & Communications – 51�� Blog

From Student to Digital Marketer: How 51�� Became Her Creative Launchpad

Pavithirasri Vijayan — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 02:14:46 +0000

From Student to Digital Marketer: How the 51�� Higher Diploma in Mass Communication Became a Creative Launchpad

For many graduates, finishing their studies feels like closing a meaningful chapter. But for Pavithirasri Vijayan, her time at the Management Development Institute of Singapore (51��) was just the beginning. What started as a curiosity about customer experience evolved into a full-blown passion for storytelling, strategy, and digital content—and it all began with a course that changed her perspective: Higher Diploma in Mass Communication.

Today, she’s come full circle—once a student walking the halls of 51��, now a Digital Marketing Executive helping to share the institute’s story with new audiences.

A Curiosity That Turned Into a Calling

Pavithira’s journey didn’t begin in marketing. In fact, her first academic steps were in a diploma course focused on customer experience and business, driven by an interest in how people connect with brands. But she soon began asking herself deeper questions: How do messages shape the way we see things? How do brands communicate value beyond just products? That’s when she made a shift and chose to pursue a Higher Diploma in Mass Communication at 51��, a decision that would open up unexpected doors.“I chose to study mass communication because I realised how powerful media and messaging are in influencing our world,” she reflects. “It was about more than just writing or speaking – it was about making an impact.”

Why Is Mass Communication So Important Today?

Mass communication isn’t just about journalism or broadcasting anymore. In a fast-paced digital world, it’s everywhere—from social media platforms to brand campaigns, newsrooms to influencer content. Pavithira quickly realised how vital this field is in shaping public opinion, building trust, and driving engagement.“Mass communication is important because it connects people to ideas,” she explains. “It helps societies function, brands grow, and individuals find their voice, especially in this digital age. That kind of impact really stuck with me.”

Through her coursework, she gained insights and key concepts on how storytelling could be a strategic tool for critical awareness and building meaningful relationships, not just a creative outlet. It was this blend of communication theory and practical media skills that laid the foundation for her future career in marketing communications.

What’s the Use of a Diploma in Mass Communication?

While some might wonder what real-world value a Diploma in Mass Communication holds, Pavithira found the course to be a hands-on and eye-opening experience. The diploma introduced her to everything from content creation and public speaking to media planning and branding—skills that would later become core parts of her job.

“The programme structure of the diploma programme was well-thought. It gave me both the theoretical knowledge and practical exposure that made a real difference. Through the relevant subjects taught in the programme, I understand the importance of mass media in shaping minds. Group projects, campaign simulations, presentations… all of it provided me a learning experience that exposed me to real world problems, while equipping me the required decision-making skills, as well as the comprehensive understanding and expectations of working in creative industry and media industry,” she says.

Far from being a narrow or limiting qualification, the diploma opened doors to multiple industries and job functions.

So, What Jobs Can You Do with Media and Communications?

After completing her Higher Diploma, Pavithira pursued further studies in marketing, feeling drawn to the way it merged creativity with business strategy. She began her professional career as a Marketing Assistant, where she managed social media, crafted campaigns, and brought brand stories to life.With a background in mass communication, she found herself well-prepared to take on different scopes of work, such as social media strategy, public relations, and branding.

“Having a communication background is so versatile,” she shares. “It gives you the practical skills to adapt to different roles—from managing social content to writing press releases or analysing campaign performance.”

Coming Back Full Circle

While working in her first full-time job, Pavithira came across a familiar name in a job listing—MDIS. The institute was looking for a Digital Marketing Executive. Immediately, she felt a pull.“Seeing that opportunity made everything come full circle. I remembered the energy on campus, the support from lecturers, and how much I grew here,” she recalls.

She applied—and within a month, she was back. But this time, not as a student. She returned as part of the team.

From Student to Storyteller

Now part of the 51�� marketing team, Pavithira helps shape the voice of the institute, just as it once shaped hers. Her work requires her to create compelling content, manage digital media and campaigns, and communicate effectively with new generations of students through stories she genuinely believes in.

“What’s meaningful is that I’m not just promoting a school – I’m sharing a real experience, and applying the practical skills I learnt back to where I explore mass communications. I’ve lived it, and it feels great to apply the essential skills I have learnt back here again.”

That personal connection gives her work authenticity. She understands what students are looking for, what worries they might have, and what kind of environment can truly help them grow—because she’s been there.

Her Advice to Future Students

When asked what she would tell others considering a similar path, Pavithira doesn’t hesitate:“Be open to exploring beyond your first choice. Sometimes your true passion finds you along the way.”She also encourages students to participate actively during their time at 51��, such as joining workshops and school activities, take initiative in group projects, and network and ask questions. “Growth happens outside your comfort zone. That’s where the discovery really begins.”

A Place That Still Feels Like Home

Today, Pavithira proudly wears two hats – alumna and staff. Her journey is proof that education isn’t just a stepping stone; sometimes, it becomes a launchpad for creativity and purpose.“51�� helped me find my voice, and now I get to help others do the same. That’s what makes this role so meaningful.”

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re wondering “Why should I study mass communication?” or “What can I do with a diploma like this?”, Pavithira’s journey offers a clear answer: you can build a future rooted in creativity, strategy, and impact, and build a unique perspective.The Higher Diploma in Mass Communication didn’t just teach her how to communicate—it helped her discover practical applications, pursue what she truly loved, connect with her strengths, and carve out a path that continues to evolve.

So if you’re standing at a crossroads, unsure where to begin, her story is a reminder that sometimes, the right course isn’t just about what you’ll learn—it’s about where it might lead you.

Start Your Journey Today

Take the next step to elevate your career, strengthen your influence, and drive transformational change with a Higher Diploma in Mass Communication in MDIS.

Young and Unemployed: A Global Threat

Prasheena Chettiar — Wed, 05 Oct 2022 07:42:50 +0000

Fuelled by the pandemic, the series of trials in the last two years have impacted the world economy with numerous pain points to recover from. It has also, however, accelerated the transformation and increased attention in the digital and green spheres with a rekindled vigour in the way society and businesses need to adapt.

The Changing Landscape

The human impact on the environment is staggering – natural resources of our finite planet are being used up at an exponential rate. As the global economy transitions toward digitisation, automation, and environmentally sustainable industries, it demands more digital and green focused jobs, especially in the context of current climate challenges and the instability of the geopolitical landscape.

The youth of today require digital skills and knowledge in managing our environment conscientiously, to navigate an expanding “eco-economy”. Skills without which will aggravate an already growing worldwide youth unemployment crisis, exacerbated by an interrupted workforce.

The Solution: Education

Productivity, creativity, entrepreneurship, and innovation are by-products of education.

The interconnected system of society and culture, the economy, and ecological life support are embedded in each other.

Forward planning rooted in education is the key to unlocking real change. The domino effect of an educated body of youth will help to answer innumerable issues socially, environmentally, and beyond global economic growth.

Find out how you can meet the demand for digital affluence and green conscientiousness through these programmes at 51��:

Read more here:

Social Media Trends – Post-Pandemic

Prasheena Chettiar — Thu, 26 May 2022 07:11:45 +0000

Social Media has a priming effect on a business’ marketing campaign
It can help gain more valuable consumer insights, especially with social listening
It is the most powerful when paid and organic are combined

The Creator Economy & Brand Strategy Trend

As socials move away from mega influencers and gear towards smaller, niche influencers and communities – brands that partner with the right creators are making more authentic connections and gaining the trust of their audience, and are growing more engaged communities.

With the boom in digital creators, online communities have become richer, more vibrant, and more impactful than ever. Major social media platforms have jumped aboard the creator train and have introduced features to help them monetize their creations. Jamie Byrne, Senior Director of creator partnerships at (previously at) Youtube highlighted that “creators have risen to a new level of influence and power in the media ecosystem.”

Creativity & the Short-form Vertical Video Trend

These short-form vertical videos are here to stay! With TikTok paving the way for attention-grabbing full-screen focused videos, brands are strongly encouraged to create content that organically fits into the different social platforms. They are being held to a higher standard when it comes to creativity, and they will have to work harder to create ads that reflect and enrich the unique experience offered by each social network.

The new rising subset of the e-commerce shopping experience – ‘Social Commerce’ is becoming the heart of post-pandemic shopping. Social platforms have become virtual malls – revolutionizing the way we shop. Consumers are using social media throughout every stage of their purchase journey, from product discovery to purchase support. It just goes to show how much trust and impact socials have on consumers. Younger Millennials and Gen Zers are turning to socials to research brands more than search engines.

With social media being a convenient way to communicate with brands (especially smaller businesses), it has become increasingly demanding for social media to also be a voice for customer service. Social media managers can help organisations speed up the recovery process and add value to negative customer experiences.

No money, no problem! The latest trend – pay for your product by posting on social media a.k.a post-to-pay. With organic content being the gold mine, the newest campaign trend for brands to create user-generated content and gain brand awareness is kicking off. The result: long lines and sold-out products. Take , for example, letting customers pay for their food with TikTok posts. One user-generated content post got over 6 million views!

With social media ever-evolving, let’s continue to experiment and keep a watch on these trends and the impact they will have on our daily lives.

Sources:

Preserving Arts and Memories

51�� — Fri, 09 Jul 2021 09:25:00 +0000

The Substation, in its heyday an iconic arts space, a place to chill, a place for artists and arts lovers. My early days at the Substation were spent in the garden, under the banyan tree, where I watched indie bands perform and street artists put their mark momentarily on the only sanctioned wall where graffiti was allowed, once upon a time. Many memories, I remember them vividly. I have filmed music videos here, attended talks, theatrical performances, hired the space and spent many an evening enjoying the music at then then Fat Frog Café that later became Timbre.

To hear that this iconic space, 30 years holding space for so many of us, will close its doors come July leaves me with a tinge of loss, personal loss but when we think of the larger loss to an evolving arts scene, vibrant and no longer nascent in Singapore, we can get a sense of context of what a building can mean, what the space has embraced and how its closure may impact the arts in Singapore. With these personal reflections, some shared with the students from BBRD22006 and BBRD22107A, we spent a few good hours at the Substation together, one sunny Thursday afternoon when we were beginning to take the freedom of Phase 3 for granted.

The students were tasked to conduct preliminary research on the Substation as well as have a sense of the debate about its closure and the sentiments of the arts community before meeting with General Manager Loh Aik Khoon who shared further on the background on the seemingly sudden decision to shut its doors permanently. Four students though away in Indonesia, China and Malaysia could still actively participate through MS Teams. Students here gave a running commentary on what they saw and shared. The students also had a chance to see the last exhibition that would be held there by artist Tang Mun Kit, called Mandala for Substation.

Tang Mun Kit introduced installation, conceptual and performance art to Singapore and is an original member of the artist collective, The Artist Village. Paintings and huge installations took up the gallery space, with a video on loop of a conversation between Art Historian T K Sabapathy and Tang Mun Kit himself. The drone of the conversation became familiar and comforting to me, as my students walked in the space, I must have been just a bit older than some of them when I first set foot in there.

The students also had a peek into the store run by an artist Ryo, it had snacks of old and coffee (though it was yet to be brewed) and vinyls that simply reflected an appreciation for quality, a sense of voice, a respect for statements and art. The students spent some time in there and I am heartened to note that although records may seem ancient to some, in this age of social media and soundcloud, the students could appreciate their value, nevertheless.

We had a chance to bask in the cool air condition of the Black Box and technical producer, Khadril explained how the space was used for a variety of purposes from fashion shows to theatrical performances to talks and exhibitions. The space can seat about 120 and with Covid-19 restrictions, 40. The space looked small, with a few white boxes that can be used as part of a set – I was already eyeing them to borrow or hire for a future project. But I remember crying in that black box, laughing loudly, and whispering just before a show began. Some amazing works were performed in this intimate space.

As a lead up to one of their assignments as part of the module “Making It in the Media 2”, students have to submit a 1000-word reflective essay. This visit to the Substation, the research, the interaction, the having a sense of place and hopefully an insight into their personal growth, and discovery of what they would like to do and have the strength of will and necessary skills to do it, is what this excursion is meant to encourage. Students are presenting their views and reflections as a group presentation this week and I am looking forward to the sharing. I know I will learn from this intelligent and curious bunch and the Substation would have touched yet another group of future arts and media practitioners.

This article is contributed by Ms Rose Sivam from the School of Media & Communications.

Making Meaning During a Pandemic: Singapore Cancer Society Interschool Competition 2020

51�� — Fri, 20 Nov 2020 03:35:00 +0000

Last week, my team and I were pleasantly surprised to win the Overall Winner and People’s Choice awards at the . Firstly, we would like to extend our greatest gratitude to our lecturers, as well as the 51�� Media Club for which without them, this film would not have been made.

As the undergraduate team, we had been given the theme of cervical cancer. With that theme in mind, we decided to create a dramatized film depicting the story of an actual survivor. The objective of our film was to raise awareness about cervical cancer, and the essential steps needed to prevent cervical cancer.

Prior to the production, we interviewed a source who had battled cervical cancer in order to base our storyline according to our source’s experience. This would bring truthfulness and authenticity to our film, which we felt would add to the emotional appeal of our film, thus further captivating our audience’s attention. Once we have successfully obtained the audience’s attention, we will then present them with the information we intended to convey; the steps needed to prevent cervical cancer. As a finishing touch, a personalized message from a gynecologist to spread the word about HPV vaccination.

Creating the film was an interesting process for us, as we had little experiences handling filming equipment during that period of time. We had to simultaneously produce this film while learning how to utilize said film equipment to our film’s potential, which was challenging but also a fun experience at the same time. We were very particular about what we wanted the film to be, so a number of issues came up during the process of filming; clips that weren’t to our satisfaction, re-shoots, trying to successfully create a video effect with our little camera experience, finding the right music to fit our film, and so on and so forth. All the whilst, a global pandemic was occurring and we were just moments away from Singapore’s circuit breaker, which meant we were on a very strict time schedule.

To be filming a project amidst a chaotic pandemic was truly a once in a lifetime experience we are sure to not forget. Despite all the setbacks we faced, it’s safe to say that we created a film to our satisfaction, and even won two awards for it.

This article is contributed by Andini Mahindira Amiraputr from the School of Media and Communications.

Infidelity head on

Dr Richard Chua — Mon, 14 Sep 2020 07:42:00 +0000

51�� students from the Teesside University’s Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Broadcast Media Production (Top-up) programme produced a short film titled, Helen, which was featured in the Short Film Social Watch Party event held on 28 May 2020, with the 51�� School of Media and Communications Senior Lecturer, Fuadi Rahmat as one of the moderators for the event. Organised by SCAPE Co Ltd, a non-profit organisation that supports youth, talent and leadership development, the film was shown alongside student works from other media schools in Singapore. While most of the works spoke about the need to extend care to marginalised communities in Singapore, Helen focused on a highly emotional issue of Infidelity through a man’s confession to his former and present partners, which is rarely seen in real life.

The story starts with a man narrating how he felt alive when he met another woman other than his legally wedded wife. He experienced personal love all over again while having to face life’s harsh realities, such as the need to earn and look after his family and to maintain his family’s expenses to the minimum. To him, Home is a private and intimate space where expressions of love can be shared freely. Unfortunately, capitalistic realities make expression of love difficult as his partners (both present wife and future partner) are concerned about daily living. He concedes that he is just too irresponsible to spare a thought for his family in realistic circumstances.

In this film, the students explored with an unwritten script. A bare structure constructed without lines. Actors were free to improvise to get a true sense of reality. Actors Sivakumar Palakrishnan (Husband), Karen Tan (Present Wife) and Yuvethra Se (Future Partner) displayed an array of emotions aimed at engaging audiences. Director of Photography Devamanikandan Kannaya Somu also gave his touch of ‘smoked scene’, a technique where cameras rolled in a gently smoked set. Student Director Sivakumar, assisted by Chua Bi Juan as the assistant director, set the narrative in the personal, edited by Lim Xueqi. Selfdirected and monitored with an external eye of an assistant director, Sivakumar could achieve internal and external harmony. Student Art Director Vivien Ong, assisted by Eugene Ho, also provided a unique aesthetic touch to a contemporary Singaporean home. Every property had its place. Bringing the film to the screen was made possible by Student Producer Lee Wan Lin.

“You can’t invest your heart in another when you don’t have the heart to know your partner,” said Director Sivakumar.

“Infidelity is a choice, not a mistake. One has to make a conscious decision. Every decision has a consequence and a price to pay,” shared Assistant Director Chua Bi Juan.

Infidelity is a complex issue, as the act in itself hurts women deeply. However, marriage therapist Esther Perel shared that most men who have committed adultery are also deeply monogamous in belief. The act of finding love in order to make them ‘alive’ again seems to emerge from human’s nature of curiosity and desire. A perennial bugbear in harmonious marriage.

As artists, 51�� students have chosen to take on a difficult topic in life, and to make sense of the dynamics of human nature in their creative project. Making choices is what humans do, but the consequences that come with every choice is tested by human’s acceptance. The creative team behind film project Helen hopes to keep many struggling souls facing challenges in their marriage company with this contribution.

Learning as an Imaginative Fantasy of Humanity

Dr Richard Chua — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 02:26:00 +0000

In his book, In The Shadow of Young Girls, Marcel Proust proposed, “If we are to make reality endurable, we must all nourish a fantasy or two.” He encourages us to look at life with more courage and verve. During this time of Covid-19 pandemic, when all of us are teaching from home, I always think about my students. How are they coping? How are they feeling? More importantly, what are they imagining?

Imagination is important for any communication student. It is not just about thinking-out-of-the-box as there shouldn’t be any boxes to begin with, but being self-aware of one’s imaginations on topics, issues and arguments. Every society needs collective imaginations. Besides being constructions in the minds, they also shape our world-view and how people “look” around us. Obviously, I am not referring to physical looks but our image of them socially and emotionally.

Socially, we view everyone with coloured lenses. Our perception of others is predicated on experiences and memories we have accumulated since young. Values imparted to us from family and friends will also affect our perception of others. Understandably, we have only got our histories to tap on. Things that seem natural to us would definitely be suitable for others. We are naturally good natured people. So, it is just right for us to be nice to everybody.

Emotionally we are also very real. Sense of reality differs among people. What’s real to me might not be so for you. How do we make sense of emotional reality? This is a tough question. If I am annoyed by someone or something, that’s a very real feeling. Should I express it? Yes, it seems. However, I would suggest doing so gently with compassion. How do we go about doing so? Love yourself a little more. How do we go about loving ourselves? It is about being honest and admitting to things we have done to ourselves and to others.

Back to my initial question: What are my students imagining? I will never know. But there is one thing I am pretty sure about: They would stop imagining and feel bored after a while. The sense of getting and being bored is also an act of imagination. What’s boredom, you might ask.

Boredom is a state where one needs to face his/her own emotional self. That’s the time when we are most vulnerable and fragile. Old memories either nourish or haunt us, but most of the time, they remind us of unsettled business. These unsettled businesses need clarity. Once we have made sense of them with clarity, we would have settled them. Moving on would be a breeze. How do we make everything in front of us exciting? Have faith with our imaginations.

Here, I would like to call on Marcel Proust’s wonderful quote again: “If we are to make reality endurable, we must all nourish a fantasy or two.” Have faith in our imaginations and start fantasising.

I would like to offer my students a way or two with this. When encountering readings on my topics, imagine that you are providing wisdom to yourself and the world. Writers of the journal articles and books are working out challenging problems that lie in between love and hate; loyal and betrayal; desire and stability — just like the love relationships we have with our present and ex-partners. They make sense of the world — more for them — with deep love for human beings and humanity. Imagine that you are one of them. I do that all the time. This is the ultimate fantasy that has got me to attaining a Doctor of Philosophy. If the degree does mean something, as it would be: I am ready to share my knowledge and self-worth to the world.

To my dear communication students, we are creating miracles every day in our Zoom classes. I look forward to seeing you soon on screen and in person.

An International Student’s Transformation at 51��, Singapore

51�� — Mon, 25 May 2020 03:00:01 +0000

As someone who rarely went out of the house, I found the idea of going outside unappealing to me. In the Philippines, my idea of the world was often viewed through a computer screen. I limited myself to minimal interaction with people. Sure, I had my own small group of friends, but I didn’t go beyond that. The reason being, I was an introvert and easily got tired of being in social circles. Overall, I am a shy person.

I have also lived a sheltered life. Even though I spend time outside of my home, volunteering and eating out with friends, I felt that I could experience a lot more. I didn’t know how to wash clothes or make my own bed in the past. All of that changed when I made the choice to study overseas.

Hanging out with my other international students

For me, this was a new experience. I was taken out of my comfort zone and thrust into a new situation. I am living alone for the first time, which means that I have to do everything on my own in making my own decisions on all tasks big or small. Add to that, my social awkwardness, and I felt like I was unprepared for what came next. For once, I had no safety net, no one to tell me what to do or when to do it.

This also meant that I had no friends to physically spend time with. I feared the first few months, as I had to create relationships from scratch. The shyness in me would have to take a back seat. It did take some warming up, but in the end, I did grow as a person studying in Singapore.

After a year of staying abroad and alone, I feel a lot more confident about myself. I know my strengths and weaknesses in my chosen field of study -media. Surrounding me were people who accepted me and knew how to work well with each other. Whenever I would talk to people, I found myself taking on my own voice. I was able to grow into an extrovert and developed greater confidence.

My time in Singapore gave me more than just self-confidence. I knew what to do when I had too much soap in the laundry, when I desperately needed to wash my dishes or where to get the cheapest grocery items. Even outside the classroom, I learned to be more sociable than ever, and even had my own group of friends to hang around with.

I have made Singapore my second home, one I could always feel comfortable in. As of now, I see the introverted person I left behind in the Philippines as a shadow of myself. Now, I see myself as someone who’s learned more than just camera techniques and production skills. I have evolved into a new person, that feels better than ever.

This article is contributed by Lui, an exchange student in MDIS.

The Lost Value of Crystals

51�� — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 03:05:00 +0000

The world is full of chemical components and naturally occurring materials. Scientists even determine that the sun and its revolving planets are also made up of these naturally occurring minerals. Crystals are also made up of natural minerals and have varying appearances due to their respective chemical composition ratios.

The colour, clarity and vibration of crystals all depends on the conditions during their formation process and ratios of chemical composition, which may vary even for the same type of crystal.

Nowadays these beautiful crystals are used for jewellery and in showpieces. Traditionally, however, crystals were used for healing. People are skeptical about the healing effects of crystals as these effects vary from person to person, so it is difficult to deduce a standardised metric for the readings.

A crystal’s healing power takes place when sunlight enters the crystal, when it is in contact with human skin. The rays or radiations that emanate from the crystals are absorbed by our skin, which in turn helps in healing a particular health problem. For example an amethyst crystal reduces pain and anxiety and is also a good healer for headaches. Amber crystals are commonly used to treat arthritis as they reduce inflammations. Aquamarine helps with acid reflux and gastrointestinal disorders.

Crystals were considered as a means of medicating, much like how we rely on medications in the forms of pills or solutions when we are ill. Both crystals and medications have various chemical compositions that treat different health problems.

Aside from healers, people used to also consult astrologers. Astrologers will be able to do a more comprehensive reading of one’s metaphysical makeup. They can deduce your favourable planetary positions and suitable crystal sets that would be beneficial for you. A commonly used crystal is the jade stone. It is commonly used as jewellery in Chinese culture and is believed to protect you from evil, to bring good luck and to attract love.

Crystal use has long changed from the olden days to now. While they were more commonly used for medicinal reasons in the past, they are more often used as ornaments or decorative pieces now. While the study of astrology and metaphysics are still ongoing, there might be much more that we’ll uncover in time to come.

This article is contributed by Rohan Malik from the School of Media & Communications.

Filmmaking Scene in Singapore

51�� — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 02:42:19 +0000

School of Media and Communications advisory board member Nicholas Chee held a community townhall in his office on 9 September 2019. Entitled “Is Our Content Production Industry Sustainable?”, the event was attended by members from the local film community. During this session, Nicholas Chee called for more dialogue and collaboration among independent filmmakers in Singapore. To him, the definition of “independence” refers to workers in the film industry who do not attach themselves to a company or production house.

An advocate of independent filmmaking and founder of resource portal Sinema.sg, Nicholas Chee has been providing intellectual and practical support to budding filmmakers in the school who might not have the opportunity to join a film studio or production house.

Nicholas Chee’s efforts in collating data from public and private sources about the Singapore film industry is testament to his continuous support for locally-made films. Those who have some institutional memory of Singapore film establishments would remember a cosy community theatre up at Mount Sophia, where Sinema.sg was located. It was Chee’s baby and contribution to independent filmmaking in Singapore and provided a space where local filmmakers could showcase their works-in-progress.

During the townhall, Nicholas Chee also shared with the attendees on various aspects of filmmaking.

Role of Producers

Producers are the glue that hold every production together. From handling budgetary matters to getting involved in the planning and directing of shots, the jobscope of producers are rarely set in stone, but they are often indispensable. Although the job of a producer may appear enticing – from attending glitzy events, film festivals and networking sessions, their job is really far from glamourous. Contrary to popular belief that film producers earn the most, producers are usually the last, and the least, to be paid in production projects.

Roles in a production

Logically a film cannot be made unless essential crew members are engaged. They include gaffers and grips. Aside from crew members, there are also many lesser known roles involved in a production process including video editors and audio engineers. Video editors exercise discretion on what to keep and discard in the editing process. Audio engineers are responsible for audio mixing, volume-levelling and the reproduction of voices, music and sound effects.

From a budgetary perspective, film producers know well that bulk of the production budget goes into remunerating them. These tight budgets do not allow production companies to hire more than budgeted, let alone to spend more on improving the aesthetics of the film.

Dialogues among filmmakers

Although budget constraints are systemic problems beyond filmmakers’ control, Chee also encourages filmmakers to come together as a community to consistently dialogue with each other to find good solutions and strategies to address the limited resources in the industry.

In addition, more needs to be done to improve industry practices, set professional standards, calibrate market rates for film workers and encourage collaboration with each other in honest and ethical partnerships.

Currently, community and capacity building might not rank high on a commercial film producer’s mind, but it is still important that every film producer do so to keep filmic art going in a fragile ecology. Community and capacity building can enrich society and deepen its cultural awareness.

This article is written by Nicholas Chee from the School of Media & Communications.

Media & Communications – 51���� Blog

From Student to Digital Marketer: How 51���� Became Her Creative Launchpad

From Student to Digital Marketer: How the 51���� Higher Diploma in Mass Communication Became a Creative Launchpad