For many Indonesian creatives, the most meaningful insights come after going abroad.
Kennardi Sebastian is an Indonesian creative working in Melbourne’s film and media scene. His journey spans from growing up in Jakarta with a passion for storytelling and gaming, to building a career in Australia as a Virtual Production Operator at The University of Melbourne. In navigating the fast-paced, often unpredictable world of Australian filmmaking, Ken has also found himself reflecting more critically and personally on Indonesia—its culture, creative industries, and the concept of belonging.
In this episode, Ken joins Billy Adison Aditijanto on The Perantau Podcast to talk about what the Australian film industry has taught him not just professionally, but about identity, diaspora, and the creative opportunities—and limitations—of being Indonesian abroad. They explore everything from why Ken’s early ambitions were a "gamble", to his current projects and his hopes for how Indonesia can better embrace creative subcultures, particularly in gaming and media.
This episode is predominantly delivered in English.
The views expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the podcast or any organisations they are affiliated with or mention.
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:46 Ken's Journey from "Detached" to "Driven"
02:13 Discovering Virtual Production
04:32 Explaining Virtual Production
09:15 Ken's Early Years in Melbourne
12:51 Building a Community and Career
14:23 Reflections on Belonging
20:20 Growing Up in Bali the Impact of a Multicultural Upbringing
22:24 Indonesian Influence in Creative Work
23:14 Changing the Gaming Culture in Indonesia
30:51 Challenges in the Indonesian Creative Industry
37:39 Advice for Young Filmmakers and Indonesians Abroad
42:29 Conclusion and Final Thoughts