Alfath Sellahuddin: From Carrying Gear to Making the Call

AICREATIVV

11 minutes ago

4 min read

Alfath Sellahuddin joined AICREATIVV as an intern still working out where he fit. Now a full-time Media Executive, he makes calls on set and has learned to stay calm when things go wrong.

On a shoot, something almost always goes wrong. The timing changes. The location isn't ready. Something doesn't work, or the client wants something different from what was planned.

Alfath used to stress about all of it. These days, he's the one trying to find the solution. Not bad for someone who walked into AICREATIVV as an intern, honestly unsure of where he belonged.

Alfath Sellahuddin is now a Media Executive at our creative agency in Brunei, where he handles production, shoots content and supports post-editing. Here's how he got from there to here, in his own words.

Figuring Out Where He Fit

Three young men in a home office, two seated at computers and one standing behind, all looking serious amid wall art.

When Alfath first joined, he already had some experience from doing his own projects. But he knew there was a lot he didn't know about working in a proper marketing agency. What he wanted most was to see how things actually work in the Brunei industry, especially how a professional team handles shoots, clients, deadlines and problems.

At the start, he was mostly there to assist and follow instructions. Then something shifted.

“There was a point where I wasn't just carrying equipment or assisting anymore. I was actually involved in making decisions on set, and that's when I started feeling like, ‘Okay, I'm actually doing this for real.’”

Almost every project taught him something, he says, because he was exposed to different types of shoots and different people. The hands-on ones shaped him most.

Trusted Without the Instructions

Man filming in a cafe bakery with camera and tripod under a softbox light; staff work behind counter, sign reads BAKING IN PROGRESS

Alfath noticed the team trusting him more when they stopped explaining every little thing. Slowly, he was handed parts of the shoot to run. He communicated with people, prepared things himself and made decisions when something didn't go to plan.

Then came directing. “At first, it was quite scary because suddenly people were looking at me and waiting for my decision.” What it taught him is that you can't always wait for the perfect answer. Sometimes you make the decision, communicate it clearly and move forward.

He's honest that it isn't finished. “I'm still learning, but that definitely made me more confident.”

The project where he felt the most ownership ran from the planning stage right through to the shoot day, First Emporium being one example. He thought through the shots, talked with the team and made decisions on the day. And what did ownership teach him?

“Having ownership doesn't mean everything will go perfectly. It means you're also responsible when things don't go according to plan.”

Learning to Stay Calm

Man relaxing in a car’s cargo area with headphones on, eyes closed, phone on his chest and lap, against a black interior.

Being around more shoots slowly showed Alfath that mistakes aren't the end of the world. There were times he was scared to speak up or suggest something because his idea might be wrong. Then he realised everyone makes mistakes.

“Sometimes the mistake is actually how you learn what to do better next time.”

The biggest change in how he works today is staying calm. He used to stress a lot when things went wrong on set. Now he tries to put his energy into finding a solution instead of going over what went wrong.

Okay, I'm Actually Staying

When Alfath found out he was being offered a full-time position, he was happy and a little surprised. Part of him already felt comfortable with the team. Hearing that they wanted him to stay told him the work he did as an intern had been noticed.

His first thought? “Okay, I guess I'm not leaving yet.”

The biggest difference between intern Alfath and full-timer Alfath is responsibility. As an intern, he was thinking about doing his own tasks properly. Now he thinks about the bigger picture too: the client, the team, the quality of the work and what needs to happen next. He also tries to be more proactive instead of waiting for instructions.

He's now trusted with parts of a production, talking with clients and crew, making decisions on set and sometimes leading a shoot. Shooting and directing are where he feels most confident, with problem-solving on set close behind. “I enjoy finding a way to make the shoot work while still getting the result we want.”

For the Next Person Through the Door

So what kind of teammate does Alfath want to be now? The kind who makes the next intern feel comfortable asking questions.

“I remember what it was like when I first started and didn't know what I was doing.”

If someone new joins the team, he wants to guide them, give them a chance to try things and let them make mistakes without feeling embarrassed. “I think that's one of the best ways to help someone grow.”

Something will almost always go wrong on a shoot. The difference now is that Alfath knows what to do next, and he wants the next intern to know it's fine to ask.