From Screen to Stream: The New Pathways for Malaysian Filmmakers Through YouTube and Crowdfunding
Wednesday, July 31, 2024
16:15 – 18:00 (GMT+7)
Paper Abstract: This paper explores a pivotal shift in Malaysian cinema, marked by the increasing adoption of digital platforms such as YouTube for the exclusive release of films, alongside crowdfunding initiatives. This innovative approach bypasses conventional cinematic distribution routes and the strict censorship typically enforced in the Malaysian film industry, granting filmmakers greater creative autonomy. The study focuses on the film Pendatang (2023), illustrating how these novel distribution and financing strategies not only enhance direct interactions between filmmakers and audiences but also transform traditional viewers into proactive financial supporters and engaged community members. This participatory model significantly expands the film’s audience and cultivates a dynamic community both virtually and in physical spaces, thereby bringing Malaysian cinema to a wider, international market. The analysis is enriched by an in-depth interview with Amir Muhammad, producer of Pendatang (2023), offering firsthand insights into the practical and ideological ramifications of this digital strategy.