I tend to get into a bind when people ask me about my new job. People seemed stumped by the term 'media coordination company'. It sounds legit, but what the heck does it really do? It's like Brie de Meaux; it sounds atas but it really just means cheese.
I don't blame them. I wasn't so sure myself either. All I knew was that they deal with TV production companies, mostly Japanese, that are interested in doing a show segment or documentary of some sort or promotional clip in Malaysia. I went through their list of clients and I knew I wanted to be on board. Most of the companies were major TV networks that produces Japanese shows and news that I used to download when I was still in the states.
The first thing we do when companies approach us is we get a rough summary of what and where they want to shoot, and then handle all their official documentations like media passes, temporary work permits, visas when necessary so they don't get deported the moment they reach Malaysia.
Next would be location hunting, which is a fancy term for driving all over town to check out the places they want to film and
beg ask for shooting permission from the authorities. Most of the time we'll take pictures, get the PIC details so we can send them an official letter requesting for shooting permission.
And we handle their transportation, meal and hotel arrangements too, of course. Basically we are their babysitters during their stay in Malaysia, making things work smoothly and efficiently coz everyone's on a tight budget and schedule, and dealing with the locals for them due to the language barrier. And we have to go along with the film crew wherever they go, be it camping out to wait for the bats at the Mulu Caves or hiking through the Sabah forests for a huge stinky flower (Rafflesia). That's why we're called the coordinators.
Of coz, if you look at our name cards properly, we don't just do media coordination. There's also translations and interpretations (translation: written, interpretation: verbal), which I've more familiar with. Basically we get translation requests from embassies, companies, or individuals who need some documents translated from one language to another. If it's within my capability (English, Malay - questionable but girl's gotta do what she's gotta do, Chinese - ditto, Japanese) I'll be given the job, but if now we'll assign them to some freelancer associated with us. Same goes for interpretations. Most interpretation jobs are for company meetings, conferences and whatnot. I've been to two assignments so far since my old job (I had to interpret at at least once a week back then), and let me just say this - I am ready to head butt the next person that belittles an interpreter's job. Contrary to ignorant beliefs, interpreting is NOT just listening and talking. You try having to understand business or technical discussions COMPLETELY OUTSIDE YOUR KNOWLEDGE FIELD and explaining it in an entirely different language to a person that is most probably sitting uncomfortably close to you and hanging on to your every word in order to catch up with the ongoing conversation.
But that's a ranting for another day. =P
Do I like my job? I know I learn a ton of stuff I never knew even existed in our society, and I've been to places I've never been despite having spent almost a quarter of a 100 years in Malaysia. And I'm finally getting to know my way around KL city without getting lost too often.
And the workplace is actually a chic (on the outside anyway) bungalow mansion that's a three-minute walk from BSC (Bangsar Shopping Complex) and a five-minute drive from Bangsar Village. And I get free home-cooked meals for lunch, free tea and sometimes fruit during breaktime (all part of the employee welfare thing). And an Indonesian maid who does the dishes. And free parking right inside the bungalow compounds.
What's there to not like?
The longer hours? The inconvenient working hours that places me smack in the middle of rush hour traffic? Having to go out in the insane heat during errand runs or location huntings?
The loud, boisterous colleagues that constantly threatens to endanger my eardrums? The fact that there are only five over-utilized employees in total running the entire company?
But I'll take it all in a stride. The less people there is, the more I'm responsible for. Comparing this with my previous job, I get much more input in the things that happen in the company. My opinions matter, and my decisions and mistakes are mine to make. The lady boss specifically told me that I am to do so, and that it wasn't necessary to rely on her whenever a decision needs to be made. She knows I'm bound to screw up sometime, but that's just how I'm gonna have to learn.
Back in my old job, the biggest decision I had to make was to decide whether to make tea or coffee for the VIP guests. And I had to fill out a form to request for a stapler.
Nevertheless, t's too early to tell whether I'll honestly love this job or not, but getting my paycheck today was motivation enough to stay positive. Heh.
Although this time around, I can't help feeling like it's hard-earned money. I worked my anatomy off these couple of weeks! In my previous job, I felt almost guilty for taking that amount of money from them for doing the type of job I was doing.
I said almost. ;)
