Creator Spotlight: David Ma - Commercial Director and Filmmaker

Next up in our Creator Spotlight Series is David Ma (known on TikTok as @davidwma), a commercial director and filmmaker. He is known for creating short films, commercials, and viral content on TV and social media. David takes people behind the scenes on his sets and shares his creative process and unique approach to filmmaking.

As a director and filmmaker, David feels honored to be able to tell stories of the API community and cast people on screen who look like him. He is passionate about representation in media and aims to normalize cultures, stories, and foods that are not typically portrayed in mainstream media.

One of David's favorite TikTok videos is where he leveraged his filmmaking knowledge to take people behind the scenes of a Korean series that was one of his favorite shows of 2021. He was happy that his TikTok may have encouraged people to watch the series who may not have otherwise tuned in.

Off of TikTok, David loves cooking at home and meeting chefs who have a deep connection to the food of their cultures.

David's favorite part about directing is having the ability to tell important stories with the people he believes are best fit to do so. He enjoys making decisions, trusting his instincts, and sharing stories that may not have as much visibility. He believes that the things we see in the media heavily influence our view on the world.

David was inspired to show behind-the-scenes (BTS) videos on TikTok for two reasons. Firstly, as a self-taught filmmaker, he didn't have many resources available to him and wanted to be a resource or guide for other young filmmakers considering a career in this field. Secondly, he wanted to break down the walls put up by Hollywood and professional filmmakers. He wanted to show how casting, storyboarding, set building, and bringing a vision to life can be done by anyone, regardless of their background or experience.

For young filmmakers, David advises them to "make it until you make it" instead of just faking it. He believes that actually making films and learning from mistakes is the best way to grow and improve as a filmmaker. Even creating TikTok videos can be a valuable learning experience. Putting oneself out there is the key to success in the film industry.