May ChoKnowing where to start in the local creative industry as a new Creative can be overwhelming. It can seem so scary at first glance but if you look close enough, you’ll be able to chart where its legs are still learning to walk, where its small arms are still stretched out to welcome new creatives.
Here are some things to know to help you navigate the small, complex and growing creative industry.
#1. Don’t be afraid to collaborate
The first thing you should know about the industry is that it is first and foremost a community. It is largely built on the backbone of social media and technological innovation. Dig deeper and at its very core is connection.
It is why the industry thrives on collaboration and word-of-mouth, why it flourishes on connected people who love the same things, do the same things and want to see the same things for the future of the industry.
Use this as a guiding principle on your creative journey. Seek out like-minded individuals whose works you admire and whom you want to learn from. Meet up, make friends, collaborate. When you do, see it as a couple of friends doing things they love together. The bonds you build is truly what will carry you through.
#2. Know the Blackout periods and censorship guidelines, but don’t let it stop you.
There are certain periods during a calendar year when public performances and entertainment events are prohibited. These periods usually fall during [] and are known as Blackout Dates.
There are also censorship guidelines to adhere to for any form of entertainment in Brunei. While there are no concrete guidelines to follow to the T written in any book of law or policy, it’s an unspoken rule to respect the country’s national philosophy of MIB with regards to the portrayal of characters and stories.
It’s important to remember that while these blackout dates and censorship exist, they do not necessarily limit us. Change — any kind of change, whether it be policies, or laws, or perception — can only happen when one continually pushes boundaries and limitations. So, censorship? Guidelines? Don’t let these limit the bounds of your creativity.
You can find the annual blackout dates on MOHA’s website.
#3. Participate in the industry
More likely than not, your creative work is a side hustle. And, sometimes, things can get really busy at your day job or at school. Even so, it’s important to remember that participating in the industry plays a large part in its growth.
In recent years, various NGOs and creative businesses have worked with government bodies to host sharing sessions, forums, competitions, meetings and various other slews of community-building events. Take a bold step. Show up. Participate in them. They are treasure troves of ideas and connections. Whether you are prepared or unprepared, a veteran or a beginner, when you show up, you are telling the industry that you care, and that you want to be a part of its growth.
#4. Sometimes, Consistency > Quality
In an industry that moves so fast and relies so much on deliverables for the masses to consume, you can get caught up in a relentless cycle of producing work that is good and producing work on time. There is a saying that quality is better than quantity. Sometimes, it might not apply, because sometimes, consistency trumps quality.
Consistency is like a muscle that needs to be trained. If you do it often enough, you develop a habit which then evolves into muscle memory that triggers regardless of whether you are conscious of it. This may go against every fibre of your being and beliefs, but the core of this idea is that there is value in consistency.
#5. Keep Creating
Finally, remember to just keep creating. To really succeed in the industry takes lots of hard work, patience, time and a sprinkle of luck. Even then, who is to say what succeeding in our infantile industry looks like? It’s still growing, still developing, still trying to find its footing in our ever-changing world. But, despite that — in spite of that, remember that your art, your work, your brilliant ideas can and will always have a place in the creative industry.
