Making dreams come true
WHEN Sunway University made the announcement last year to offer a new programme in digital film production, 21-year-old Steven Soon immediately seized the opportunity to pursue his dreams of becoming a filmmaker.
He originally planned to further his studies in broadcasting because of the limited filmmaking programmes available in Kuala Lumpur. He also found that many filmmakers are often from the broadcasting background.
Soon said that he had been on the lookout for digital film production programmes that are offered locally for almost a year.
“Since I did not sit for the STPM (Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia), public universities were out of the picture. Besides, there is only a handful of private universities that offer film programmes but they are either too expensive or are not located in Kuala Lumpur,” said Soon.
He said that he has since established a network in Kuala Lumpur and does not want his efforts wasted. The YouTube filmmaker, who set up Steven Soon Productions in 2013, was awarded The Chancellors Scholarship for Sunway University and Lancaster University to pursue the Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Digital Film Production.
“When the call came an hour after the interview, I was lost for words and in disbelief. The whole year of highs and lows boiled down to that moment. It is a blessing which I will not take for granted,” he said.
Aside from chasing his dream in filmmaking, the former student of Chung Ling High School in Penang is excited to start his university life with hopes of bringing his understanding of filmmaking to a whole new level.
“There is a saying that university years are the best years of one’s life. I am looking forward to experience that in Sunway University. A well-rounded experience is not just academically inclined but socially as well. Besides studying, I want to be involved in a vibrant community, which I believe Sunway University can offer,” he said.
Before Soon joined the programme, he had the opportunity to meet some of the lecturers to learn from them and expand his skill sets and knowledge of the industry.
“I also hope to inspire others to pursue their dreams,” he said.
From young, Soon has loved movies. During his teenage years, he would spend hours watching short films on YouTube.
“Stories have always captivated me. I had the chance to help a friend portray an interesting story through his short film and I got hooked,” he said.
His passion for short film production started when he came across a Thai advertisement and the way it moved its audience to tears struck a chord in him.
“I realised how big an impact a three- to five-minute video can make. We can try to persuade people with words for the longest time but a short film can change a person’s mindset in less than 10 minutes,” said Soon.
“I just love it when I am able to convey an idea, concept or message through the art of filmmaking. Every video completed is like a newborn baby and the excitement of announcing its birth to the world is uncontainable. Making a film makes me feel like I am giving my idea a solid body that is tangible and can be seen, felt and understood. To be able to show my creation to the world – that feeling is unimaginable.”
The Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Digital Film Production is a Sunway University homegrown programme validated by Lancaster University. Upon successful completion of the programme, graduates are awarded two certificates – one from Sunway University and the other from Lancaster University.
The three-year programme offered under the School of Arts aims to produce versatile creative producers, who have some knowledge of audiovisual production and transmedia application across multiple screens to enhance capability and competency in Malaysia’s growing creative economy. The expertise acquired in the programme will be relevant to a diverse range of conventional and new career options within and beyond the current media landscape that has been revolutionised by digital technology.
For details on the Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Digital Film Production or any other programme under the School of Arts at Sunway University, call 03-7491 8622 or visit https://university.sunway.edu.my/Arts/ Bachelor-Digital-Film-Production.