Harmonizing the World of Music and Film Sound Editing: Pandu Watu Alam’s Inspiring Journey as a Lecturer and Artist

Pandu Watu Alam, M.Pd., a lecturer in the Television and Film Study Program at Fikom Unpad, has a unique career path. Unlike most other lecturers, his educational background is not rooted in the world of film, but in music. He took his undergraduate and postgraduate education at the Indonesian Education University (UPI) majoring in music. His interest in film scoring and sound began in college, when he was involved in a short film project with friends from other universities. His keen interest in audio production, scoring, and music arrangement then grew. The opportunity to teach at Fikom Unpad came when the lecturer formation required lecturers with a music background. After going through a long series of tests, Pak Pandu was accepted and officially taught in January 2021. Although initially more focused on music, he later also explored aspects of film communication and television. “At UPI, I learned to teach music. So, when teaching at Fikom Unpad, I adapted to new materials that focused on film production, but still in line with my interest in sound,” he said. Pak Pandu’s initial motivation to become a lecturer came from the support of his parents. They encouraged him to continue his education until his master’s degree and hoped that he could teach at a reputable university. Before joining Fikom Unpad, Pak Pandu had taught cultural arts in high schools, as well as music in international and private schools. In between his activities as a lecturer in the Television and Film Study Program, Pak Pandu also occasionally fills seminars and public lectures at his old campus, and is still active in the music world by scoring for various projects, such as films and advertisements, through his personal home studio. He is also involved in sound editing and scoring projects outside of academia. One of his most memorable projects is the Sundanese-language musical film Cakrabuana (2019), in which all the dialog is sung. The movie received many awards, including at Balinale, and can be accessed through YouTube. Besides Cakrabuana, he was also involved in the scoring project for Maybe Someday, Another Day, But Not Today, which also received high appreciation. Pak Pandu admits that technological developments in sound editing are very rapid, especially with the emergence of virtual instruments (VST) and artificial intelligence (AI). However, he believes that technology cannot fully replace the “feel” produced by humans in creating music. “Technology does help, but human flavor and touch can never be replaced,” he explains. Developments in sound editing and VST technology have made virtual instruments more similar to real sounds, but the personal touch remains an important element in the music creation process. In teaching at Fikom Unpad, Pak Pandu does not target students to become experts in playing musical instruments or become composers. His focus is on helping students understand the importance of visual and sound harmony in film works. He believes that building awareness of sound is a crucial aspect of film production.

Pak Pandu always emphasizes to students to be consistent in their work, and to balance the understanding between audio and visual, because these two elements support each other to create a complete work. As a lecturer who is also active in the industry, Pak Pandu sees a lot of potential in the development of the television and film industry in Indonesia, especially in the field of sound editing. He hopes that students and graduates of the Television and Film Study Program at Fikom Unpad can take advantage of the opportunities that exist and be able to adapt to the challenges in the real world. “Campus only provides provisions, but what will forge you is actually the real world,” he said. He hopes that the knowledge provided on campus can be a strong foundation for students to face challenges out there. Pak Pandu is a living example of how passion, perseverance, and consistency can lead someone to extraordinary achievements. His journey to harmonize the world of music and sound editing in the world of cinema is an inspiration for many students and filmmakers in Indonesia.

(TDF)

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