Indeed, a great piece of news to kick off our Monday blues!

A 28-year-old Melaka-born film editor named Praboo T. Arivananthan now based in Hollywood, has made significant strides in the film industry with his award-winning work on the short horror film, Aro's World. The film was recently showcased at the LA Shorts International Film Festival (LA Shorts) on July 19.

LA Shorts is one of the largest international short film festivals globally, screening over 300 films annually and featuring seven award categories recognized by the Academy Awards (Oscars).

The 11-day festival, which concludes on July 28, includes 61 films from various genres, such as sci-fi, comedy, and drama. Aro's World tells the story of a young boy named Adi (played by Kaya Johnson), who befriends a sock puppet to escape the guilt of accidentally causing his father's death. Praboo expressed his honour at the film being screened at LA Shorts, describing the experience as surreal.





"This film holds a special place in my heart because it is my first time dealing with a child-centred story, where the protagonist is a nine-year-old boy," Praboo said. "What makes it even more special is that this was Kaya's first time acting in a film. When editing, I told myself that I must do my best because I wanted to be a part of his journey. Fast forward a year later, he won Best Young Performer at the Chicago Horror Film Fest this summer."

Directed by Los Angeles-based Indian director and writer Vibha Kulkarni, the 13-minute short film was shot in Los Angeles over five days with a budget of nearly $50,000 (RM233,375). Despite not working directly with the cast, Praboo felt a strong responsibility for shaping their performances through his editing.

A former student of SMK St Francis in Banda Hilir, Melaka, Praboo holds a Master of Fine Arts in Editing from the American Film Institute (AFI). Over the past decade, he has directed eight short films and one feature film. In 2015, he was named Malaysia's Youngest Filmmaker for his debut award-winning feature film, Kid.

Hailing from Bukit Katil, Melaka, Praboo has gained international acclaim. Earlier this year, his film Pulang won Best Debut Filmmaker at the 2 11 17 International Film Festival in Chennai, India, and Best Super Short Film (Student) at the Hollywood Gold Awards in March.

Reflecting on his journey, Praboo said, "These wins came totally unexpected. Pulang was conceived while I was lying in bed, contemplating my career during the film industry strike in the US. My parents reassured me that I always had a home to return to if things didn’t work out, and that sparked the collaboration."

Grateful for his family's support, Praboo shared his mother's advice: "If you don't try something new in life, how do you even elevate yourself?" Looking ahead, Praboo hopes to work with Hollywood director Christopher Nolan and actor Robert Downey Jr.

Praboo believes it is crucial for Malaysian students to take the film industry as seriously as any other profession, underscoring the importance of pursuing one's passion with dedication and perseverance.

Source : The Star