Carve success through your camera lens

Do not wear the camera on your head and record your entire video that way.

Your viewers can get nauseous and even end up vomiting because the first-person perspective of your video can cause motion sickness.

And you might become a happy millionaire -- doing what you love and sharing it with the world -- with this and thousands more tips and strategies, thanks to how the world is screaming for over-the-top (OTT) digital content.

It is true that many people earn a tidy profit from sharing videos of what they love to do on OTT platforms such as YouTube, said UOW Malaysia KDU Deputy Head of the School of Creative Media, Associate Professor Julian Lee (李荣鑫).

From cooking to gardening, fishing and even how to fix stuff at home, such videos can garner millions of views and reward those who make them with thousands of US dollars in advertising revenue.

Those who take it to the next level: planning the script and storyboard and even assembling a production crew -- stand to make millions.

Assoc Prof Lee said anyone with the passion to be a vlogger (portmanteau for "video-blogger") will tackle UOW Malaysia KDU's Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Digital Media Production with gusto.

"If you love creating content, you will love this course."

Putting it simply, Assoc Prof Lee said those who pursue this degree will acquire the skills and aptitude to even make entire movies or TV series.

"We even show them how to pitch their scripts to talent agencies to land multi-million dollar production deals," he added.

Take Netflix, for example, an OTT platform that provides on-demand shows over the internet that make USD29.7bil in revenue last year.

"Netflix has a vast network of talent agencies that scout for good scripts.

"These talent agencies receive hundreds and hundreds of pitches a day. It won't be easy to catch their eye. But the course will get you ready for that pitch," Assoc Prof Lee said.

That, he said, was exactly how Squid Game found its way to becoming a global phenomenon.

"After a talent agency picked up the pitch for Squid Game, the production team received roughly USD$1.2mil per episode and they eventually got USD$20mil from Netflix.

"Netflix, in turn, made hundreds of millions from it," Assoc Prof Lee said.

The good news is that creative Malaysians have a fair shot at getting their movie ideas on Netflix, with one of the latest being Ghost Bride.

This is a Taiwanese-Malaysian effort that became a Netflix Original TV series.

It was co-directed by Malaysian directors Quek Shio-chuan and Ho Yu-hang and was based on a Malaysian novel of the same time by Malaysian writer Yangsze Choo.

The six-episode series earned a 6/10 rating on IMDb.

Before the aspirant walks down the red carpet though, there will be plenty of legwork to do, beginning with Year One of the degree.

Assoc Prof Lee said in the first year of the degree, students learn all the rope of pre-production, from planning to conceptualising, scripting to filming and editing.

"There is also the vital elements of visual effects, animation and CGI (computer-generated imagery)," he added.

In the second year, students embark on their first production effort.

"They will be given the script to produce and yes, they can adapt the scripts and put their own spin to it or add their own identity or style to the finishing of the video," he said.

In the final year, students perfect their craft by filming their own stories to earn their degree.

Assoc Prof Lee stressed that UOW Malaysia KDU's Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Digital Media Production takes students to delve deeply into the practice and technicalities of said production.

It differs fundamentally from conventional film and cinema courses that are anchored into communication courses and the history, theories and business aspects of the field.

Students will learn to apply cinematic methodologies for modern day consumption. 

"Our syllabus is tailored for you to succeed in producing, directing, and marketing a portfolio of digital video content over any consumable media," Assoc Prof Lee said.

To learn how to get involved in these global phenomena, visit http://uowmkdu.edu.my.

This content is provided by UOW Malaysia KDU Penang University College Sdn Bhd.

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