Cinematic Alchemy: New GET Transforms Raw AsiaCALL Videos into Multisensory and Emotionally Engaging Digital Stories
Cirebon, August, 20th 2025 — With visionary leadership and tireless dedication, Lala Bumela, Ph.D., Director of the International Office at Universitas Islam Negeri Syekh Nurjati Cirebon (UIN SSC), is once again steering the grand preparations for AsiaCALL 2025, ensuring that every detail reflects excellence, collaboration, and innovation. “This project is about transformation—taking something raw and ordinary and, through collaboration, turning it into something extraordinary. That is what I call cinematic alchemy,” he remarked. Under his guidance, GET members from three generations joined forces: Indah Fitri as scriptwriter from the first generation; Muhammad Azkiya Bahtsulkhoir as director and editor with Bryan Setiaji as talent from the second; and Bilqis Syifa Shoraya, Keysha Aulya Febrina, Nok Dini Wulan Ramadani, and Cindi Aulia from the third. Yet, behind this creative energy lies a provocative question—can academic storytelling truly be elevated into an emotionally immersive, globally engaging digital narrative?
The answer began to emerge as the participants delved deeper into the project. The team embraced the concept of cinematic alchemy not as a metaphor, but as a working process—fusing script, performance, and editing into something that stirs both thought and feeling. “Being entrusted as the director, I realized this was not just about technical execution. It was about channeling emotions into frames that speak to the audience,” shared Muhammad Azkiya Bahtsulkhoir. His reflection revealed the heart of the project: a journey where theory meets practice, and creativity meets discipline, in service of AsiaCALL’s international stage.
In response to this participant insight, Lala Bumela emphasized that leadership is about nurturing and amplifying such reflections. “What excites me is how our students take ownership of the process. They are not only following instructions; they are learning to think, to feel, and to tell stories that matter,” he said. His words reflect a dialogue between institutional vision and individual creativity, where mentorship transforms raw potential into polished artistry.
This synergy underscores the gravity of the event, reminding the university that digital content is more than promotional—it is cultural representation. Lala Bumela elaborated, “Every frame, every sound, every emotion our students craft is a representation of who we are as an academic community. This is why I insist on excellence—it is not vanity, it is identity.” With such conviction, the project stands as both an artistic endeavor and a diplomatic act, placing UIN SSC firmly within global academic discourse.
The outcome of this collaboration resonates far beyond the final video. For the students, it was a transformative learning experience; for the institution, it was proof of how guidance, creativity, and intergenerational teamwork can align to produce work that captivates audiences both intellectually and emotionally. The project has thus positioned UIN SSC as a university that not only participates in AsiaCALL but contributes to shaping its narrative with authenticity and innovation.
In essence, this initiative embodies the moral of cinematic alchemy: transformation requires vision, collaboration, and courage. From Indah’s script to Azkiya’s direction, from Bryan’s performance to the visual creativity of Keysha, Bilqis, Nok, and Cindi, every member became a vital element in the alchemical process. The International Office, under the leadership of Lala Bumela, has shown that when academic passion is fused with creativity, ordinary content can be transmuted into extraordinary stories. It is a reminder to the global academic community that the true power of education lies not only in knowledge but in the courage to transform it into beauty and meaning.
Author: Muhammad Azkiya Bahtsulkhoir