Meet Praboo Ariva | Editor & Filmmaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Praboo Ariva and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Praboo, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I was born and raised in Melaka, Malaysia. I grew up in a multiracial neighborhood where my neighbors were of Indian, Chinese, Malay, and Eurasian descent. Due to that, I can converse in various languages like Mandarin, Malay, Tamil, Hindi, etc… It’s common for almost everyone at home to speak more than two languages.

How does this upbringing impact me as a person today? I can easily connect with people of other backgrounds, forming personal relationships with them. I am also very respectful and embrace the difference in lifestyle. Moreover, understanding other languages and cultures help me understand and enjoy foreign films better. It’s charming to adapt some of the different cultures into my life today, as I get to better get through some moments.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a filmmaker. The word camera and editing spark joy in my life and keeps me afloat in this crazy world. We all have stories to tell and inspire the generations beyond. I want to tell stories that’ll bring people of different cultures together. Cinema is a universal platform that bridges the world. What sets me apart from most people is my active thought of having to dabble with something unfamiliar to understand the idea better. Then when I am given the task, I already know what to expect and how to make it happen.

There are three things I am very proud of at the moment. First, I made a feature film right after high school, which then went on to win some awards after many years. It also got a theatrical release when I was 18. Second, I edited an Italian-speaking short film called “Mother Superior” at the American Film Institute, which my peers received well, and I also received some appreciation for my editing. I don’t speak the language at all. Instead, I went on to YouTube and started studying clips of movies produced in different regions of Italy to understand and gauge how people there express their emotions. A special shoutout goes to my director and the screenwriter for pushing me further in the editing bay and my cinematographer for illuminating beautiful compositions—also, hugs to the producers for having me on board and always having the team’s back. Third, a fellow cinematographer, Tu Do, and I successfully collaborated to create a “one take” film workflow in film school with the limitation of high-end gears. The process for both making the feature film and the “one take” wasn’t easy. I had to find the right people with the same passion and virtues for creating art and collaboration. My journey hasn’t always been that easy, but I always give my 101 percent in everything I do.

I’ve met people who used me for my passion. I just had to keep my spirits high and push through. Eventually, I met the right set of people with whom I had the pleasure of building relationships. Some of the lessons I’ve learned are people come – people go. So always be kind and expect NOTHING in return. Be kind to others. Do kind to yourself. Love yourself a lot. It is essential to believe in yourself no matter how hard it is and how much people doubt you. Sometimes it does get tough. Reach out to friends, family, or even strangers. You’ll be surprised by what you can learn. With all these being said, I want the world to know that I am just a person trying to do better one day at a time while sharpening my skills in my field. So, if you have any film work that needs an editor, an assistant editor, or even an editing technical advisor, I AM YOUR GUY. Please hire me!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I am not the LETS GO OUT kind of dude. Anybody who knows me knows I like spending my day in the garage. But if my best friend from home were coming to visit, I’d say we start the day with a coconut sea salt cold brew from Rubies+Diamonds on Sunset, head over to Rosco for some chicken and waffles, then, down to Hollywood Blvd, where we’ll stroll down the Walk of Fame. After that, a movie at the TCL and then lunch nearby. I might take them to this humble Chinese bistro that serves amazing dumplings and noodles for lunch. Depending on their feelings, we could go for a hike or chill. If time and traffic permit, I’d take them down to the beach in Redondo and get dinner nearby. And if they want to avoid visiting the mentioned places, I’d offer them a tour around the American Film Institute and show them some of the fantastic stuff I worked on in that unique place.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Yes! My parents, Sarita Mohan and Arivananthan. I love them both equally. My grandparents, my family. My friends, Laguvendran, Jarrel Yeo, Darryl Chin, Sarankumar, Miao Wen, Shashi Anbah, Arun, Kesavan, Simeon Lim, Yew Chiang, Ronny Thean, Carlos Gomez, Jeffrey “Steelyone” Hopwood. My respectful and encouraging teachers, Joerg Schodl, Stephen Geller, Christopher Brannan, Dennis Robinson II, Mr. Yong Kheng Kwang, Mdm Loh Ev-Onne, Mdm Vivienne, Mdm Chitra and, Bro. Michael Kum. The American Film Institute class of 2023 Editing cohort (all the classmates), editing faculties Chris Cooke, Robert Ivison, Varun Vishwanath, Barry Kolsky, Mark Hoeschler, Tony Tong, Rodney Brown, Tav. Also shout out to Gary, Sam, Nithin, Chad and the Camera Conservatory Dept of AFI for always entertaining me with my curiosity. Without you, I cease to do what I love.

Website: iamprabooariva.jimdo.com

Instagram: @its_pbu

Other: The trailer to my first feature film https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXup6V7vjY0

Image Credits
Tu Do Praboo Ariva Barry Kolsky Ziva Shi Joe Failia