Poster Web Series From Home. (Photo: Semarang City Government Instagram)

Semarang – As a form of the graduation requirement for students in completing their studies, students of Communication Studies FISIP Undip also have the option to undertake a thesis-equivalent project which is called fieldwork. Fieldwork is the result of collaboration between students from the two concentrations, where the journalistic concentration student focuses on the production of works, while the strategic communication concentration student focuses on communication with clients, sponsorship management, and marketing communications.

Fieldwork can provide opportunities for students to prove that their work can be accepted professionally by the industry that is relevant to their specialization in the field of journalism and strategic communication.

Web Series From Home is one of the field works created by Raihan Triaffandra (Andra), Nadya, Syahrul Sahrila, and M. Raihan Febrianto as a requirement for graduation for Communication Studies FISIP Undip students. Syahrul explained that the work in the Web Series From Home field was formed in 2020 at the beginning of the 7th semester during the thesis preparation process and the selection of supervisors.

Web Series From Home was completed from January to February by utilizing the selection of three main talents who were inspired by the Korean dramas Welcome To Waikiki and Malam Minggu Miko because they have more than one character. Having three characters can provide a wider coverage due to more complex problems and have many points of view due to different backgrounds and cultures.

 “This web series has a theme about three friends who live in a rented apartment together and are going through the twists and turns of the pandemic in the city of Semarang. As students, we want to provide information about mitigation about Covid-19 with stories that are not far from the lives of overseas children who live together, remind each other, there are funny stories after this Covid, “explained Andra.

Andra revealed the background of the creation of the Web Series From Home. Although initially, the fieldwork will be in the form of a Semarang tourism documentary, due to the increase in Covid-19 cases, Web Series From Home has switched to making public service advertisements together with Kominfo Semarang.

“We are here to have the same goal of mitigating Covid, but we are in the form of a web series and it is more relatable to the community. There are a lot of scenes that don’t wear masks, that’s how it is in the original. So, regarding the mitigation of Covid, however, our form is not very formal and can be entertainment in the community, “explained Andra.

Furthermore, Andra explained the reason for the Web Series From Home team to collaborate with the Semarang City Government Youtube. Apart from wanting to try new things, the alumni’s work is more directed at the TV, radio, and other conventional media. As for the technical side, the Web Series From Home team prefers to dive into content on Youtube.

The Web Series From Home team consists of two Journalism concentration students who are in charge of being the director, editor, and scriptwriter. Meanwhile, two students of Strategic concentration are in charge of managing social media, looking for sponsors and media partners.

“If there are difficulties, there are no campuses and Kominfo and they don’t demand much. The difficulty lies in the team itself. According to my experience, there are a lot of people who make films, there must be dozens of people who handle it,” said Andra, telling the story of the obstacles in the process of making the web series.

“Meanwhile, we are only 4 people. This (web series) we have made 20 episodes, what has been uploaded is only season 1, 10 episodes. Later in August, God willing, there will be season 2. So, only 4 people can handle it, it’s difficult there. Especially when it comes to production, it’s both physical and mental. From the campus side, the thesis is 6 credits and there are many calculations,” he explained.

As for Syahrul’s response, “There are many obstacles, namely, firstly there is energy where there are only four of us, secondly, there is accommodation and money, then managing the emotions of talent, and the fourth is time,” he concluded.

It is hoped that the Web Series From Home can become interesting entertainment content and educate the people of the city of Semarang, especially the Semarang City Government Youtube audience to stay alert to Covid-19. There is also hope that it can become continued content from Kominfo related to material about Covid-19. Meanwhile, the hope for the Web Series From Home team from an internal member’s perspective is that they can add new experience and skills in the world of cinema, as well as become a provision in the future world of work.

“Don’t forget to watch season 1 every Wednesday and Friday on the Semarang City Government Youtube Channel!” close Andra.

Writer : Rahma Kurniasari

Reporter : Febriona Jessica Inez, I Gusti Ayu Nyoman Septiari

Editor : Dian Rahma Fika Alnina