PWK Podcast with Bayu Skak

Introduction

• Bayu Skak, comedian and filmmaker, talks to PWK about his journey in YouTube, film, and beyond.

Early Career

YouTube Beginnings

• Bayu started his YouTube career around 2010.
• Initially uploaded videos from internet cafes using nighttime packages.
• Influenced by friends showing skits and videos from creators like Ryan Higa.
• Videos included animations due to his background in animation.
• Faced challenges such as slow upload speeds and errors but persisted.

Shift to Film

• Bayu's early success on YouTube led to opportunities in film.
• Created Yowis Band, a film in Javanese, a unique and successful project.
• He admires regional languages and wants to elevate their status through his films.

Learning and Adapting

Evolution on YouTube

• YouTube landscape has changed; focus now on content that provides value.
• Longer videos and educational content now trend over simple vlogs.

Promotional Activities

• Bayu stays active with various promotional engagements, mixing creativity and practicality.
• His content moved to shorts platforms like TikTok and Instagram reels.

Personal Insights

Personality and Work

• Introverted, finds long solo promotional tours exhausting.
• Balancing being both an actor and director is challenging but fulfilling.
• Often can't share personal life issues, keeps emotions internalized.
• Rarely has close friends to talk to about personal problems; focuses more on work.

Academic Achievement

• Despite a gap period and thinking he might be expelled, ended up being awarded a degree due to his success and the impact of his content.
• An illustrative example of balancing education and career.

Importance of Regional Content

• Passionate about preserving and highlighting regional languages and cultures through film.
• Films have characters that speak various Indonesian dialects, fostering a sense of unity and appreciation for diversity.

Recent Projects

Sekawan Limo

• Latest film project “Sekawan Limo” set for July 4, 2024, is a comedy-horror about a group of five people, one of whom turns out to be a ghost.
• Highlights blend of horror and comedy, with significant creative input from Bayu and his team.
• Emphasizes collaboration with fellow creators like Dono Pradana.

Conclusion

• Bayu Skak continues to innovate in Indonesian cinema, focusing on unique blend of regional cultures, humor, and modern themes.
• He aims to bring more visibility and respect to regional dialects and stories through his films and other creative projects.

Key Takeaways

• Persistence in the face of adversity often leads to unforeseen opportunities.
• Success can come from blending traditional elements with modern creativity.
• Fostering local cultures and languages helps in building national unity and preserving heritage.