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Panthers of ISKL #256: The Film Guys

At ISKL, every faculty and staff member brings a unique story, a wealth of experience, and a shared commitment to inspiring our students to “know themselves, care for all, and create a better world.” We are thrilled to introduce two individuals who exemplify this vision through their passion, creativity, and dedication—Brandon Nichols, High School English and Film Teacher, and Danial Mohd Marzuki (’17), ISKL alumni and Advancement Department Photographer/Videographer and Co-Teacher for the HS Video Production class.

As instrumental forces behind the 2024-2025 IASAS Culcon for Film, Brandon, and Danial worked tirelessly to guide and support students in creating remarkable films while planning and hosting the event on ISKL’s campus. Their leadership ensured participants a seamless and inspiring experience and elevated the event’s caliber, leaving a lasting impression on everyone involved.

Here are their stories:


Brandon Nichols

Please tell us more about yourself.

I was born and raised in Minnesota, U.S.A., and only left the country at the age of 22. However, since then, I’ve been living and working overseas for the vast majority of my career at international, public, and private high schools in Minnesota, Hong Kong, Philippines, and directly before ISKL, Panama.

When and why did you join ISKL?

I joined ISKL last year in the fall of 2023 with my wife, Lissie, a High School Math teacher at ISKL, and my daughter, currently in Grade 1. Before our daughter was born, Lissie and I spent a number of years in Asia, and despite the fact that it’s far away from our friends and family in Minnesota, we knew that we wanted to return to raise our daughter in Asia.

As we were looking and interviewing with schools, a position at ISKL came up with the opportunity to teach film, which is my passion. We knew of ISKL’s high-quality reputation for academics but also heard that it was a place with a family-friendly community, so we knew it would be a great fit for our family – and it is!

Can you tell us more about your HS English/Film Teacher position? What are your daily activities?

My days can be chaotic, running back and forth between the two departments and my different classes. English classes are a bit more conventional and usually involve analyzing and contextualizing a form of text, but for film, I might be running around doing a recce for a shooting location somewhere around the school, helping students workshop a pitch or idea for their next production, or even acting in a short cameo in a student film (which seems to be happening more and more frequently now!) My wife and daughter even appeared in one recent film with me.

Family taking part in a film

Please tell us more about IASAS Culcon for Film this year. What were some of the challenges, and/or what are you most proud of?

Although I attended IASAS Culcon for Film last year as the AIC to get to know the event, this year was especially challenging as not only did I co-coach the team with Danial Marzuki, but we also hosted the event here at ISKL. It was an extremely long, nine-month process of planning logistics for the conference, interviewing and hiring industry professionals as workshop leaders, and ensuring we could secure the appropriate rights for several large film screenings.

Despite the challenges, I’m most proud of the caliber and quality of films that were produced by our students and submitted for IASAS this year. Although, ultimately, we could only select four films to represent ISKL, we had fifteen high-quality films submitted by students, all of which were absolutely outstanding. I couldn’t be more proud of our students here at ISKL, some of whom have been making films for years and some who are brand new to filmmaking, but all of them continue to learn, experiment, take artistic risks, and grow in their filmmaking skills.

Can you tell us something you are working on now that you are excited about?

Many exciting things are happening in Filmmaking and IB Film at ISKL right now. We’re currently forming teams to participate in a 48-hour film competition hosted by the Babel organization based in Hong Kong that will take place on the weekend of January 10, 2025. I’m especially excited that this will be an opportunity for students who have not taken the Filmmaking or IB Film courses to try making a film with a group of their friends and peers to see if they enjoy it. The Filmmaking class is also currently participating in their Winter Film Challenge, and several student groups are planning longer, 10-minute or more short films to enter into various competitions around the world.

CULCON Film Premier at ISKL

What is the most enjoyable and most challenging part of your job?

The first part of this question is easy: the most enjoyable part of my job is working with students every day, especially on film projects or sports teams they’re passionate about.

The most challenging part of my job is that there’s not enough time in the day to be involved in everything to the extent I want to. I certainly have realized that I need to be selective and thoughtful about where to put my time.

Can you tell us more about your hobbies and interests? What do you do after work?

Outside the standard school day, I’ve spent many evenings and weekends lately during Season 2 coaching the JV Boys’ Basketball team at ISKL. I enjoy watching and coaching sports, in particular basketball and American Football.

Coaching JV Boys Basketball

However, one of my more interesting hobbies is spending most summer breaks restoring and refurbishing old arcade and pinball machines back in Minnesota. I picked up the hobby during Covid-19 when I was locked in the house and restored about 60 pinball machines from the 1980s and 1990s in the past five years. Two years ago, I built a multi-arcade machine, and my project last summer was to make a full, sit-down race car emulator for my daughter. (Pictured)

Custom arcade machines

Since I spend most of my year working closely with film and English texts, it’s actually a nice change to work more with electronics, circuitry, programming, and woodworking during the summer. While in KL, I usually spend my free time traveling or exploring with my daughter and wife. Genting Skyworlds is a favorite, quick overnight spot for us on weekends.

Who or what inspires you?

There would be too many names to name here. There are a lot of people who inspire me, but I think what they all have in common is their passion and curiosity. Being around passionate people who want to learn more about something, really any topic at all, motivates me, in turn, to be passionate and curious. I think that is what I love about filmmaking so much; there is really no end to the learning since it is such complex work. There’s always a new style, technique, or equipment I can learn more about.

What is your best memory (or most memorable moment) so far working at ISKL?

I have a lot, and I’ve only been here for a year and a half. If I had to choose, I’d probably have to narrow it down to two pretty recent things. First is the IASAS Red Carpet Film screening for this year: I was incredibly proud to see the culmination of literally hundreds of hours of work from our students and that their final films stood up strongly amongst all the IASAS schools. Second, the JV Boys’ Basketball team won gold in the KLASS tournament this year. Both of these are fond memories of mine as they are moments where students worked incredibly hard and achieved amazing results.

What does “Know yourself, care for all, and create a better world” mean to you?

To me, ISKL’s vision statement means to strive to use the unique gifts and skills that each of us has to improve the lives of the people around us, both in our direct ISKL community and the larger world.


 

Danial Mohd Marzuki

Can you tell us more about yourself?

I am an ISKL alumnus (Class of 2017) currently working in ISKL in the Advancement department, and I have a deep passion for video production and filmmaking. I am also proudly Malaysian, though my early years were spent overseas due to my father’s occupation.

My passion for video production was sparked during High School when I first learned how to edit videos on an editing program and began experimenting with cameras. Two key ISKL teachers, Chami Hutterd and Jon Nelson, were pivotal in nurturing my passion and interest in filmmaking. I eventually had the privilege of working alongside them, and their support greatly influenced my journey in pursuing a creative career.

After graduating from ISKL, I delved deeper into the creative field, working with news broadcasts and various creative agencies across diverse industries. Now, returning to ISKL feels like a homecoming—a chance to reconnect with the place where my journey first began.

When and why did you join ISKL?

I initially joined ISKL as a temporary substitute teacher in High School, and later, I became a staff member of the Advancement Department in 2020. I was drawn to the strong sense of community and the opportunity to contribute to a place that has such a profound impact on future generations. Teaching the passionate and spirited students at that time was truly inspiring, and I found myself genuinely enjoying the role.

Can you share more about your role as a Photographer/Videographer in the Advancement Department and Co-Teacher for the High School Video Production class? How do you balance work in both areas?

My role as a Photographer/Videographer in the Advancement Department involves capturing the essence of ISKL through images and videos that tell the story of our vibrant community. I’ve truly enjoyed working in this department because of the incredible people I work with.

Advancement Team

As Co-Teachers for the High School Video Production class, Max Wright and I guide students in developing their technical and creative skills, from filming to editing and producing. As part of the class, we produce a news broadcast called Panther Pause for the High School community. This tradition dates back to when Chami Hutterd taught the class, and we are proud to continue the show’s legacy. It provides an excellent learning experience for the students.

Students working on Panther Pause

Switching between the teaching and operations mindsets is a unique experience, as they are two completely different worlds. However, they have the potential to enrich each other, creating a more rewarding and synergistic dynamic. Fortunately, I also have a highly supportive team that is always ready to assist whenever needed.

Please tell us more about IASAS Culcon for Film this year. What challenges did you face, and what are you most proud of?

IASAS CulCon for Film was an inspiring experience for me this year. It was my first time participating in IASAS Film and organizing a large-scale event. I hadn’t anticipated the amount of work behind the scenes, but I’m grateful to have been part of this journey. The biggest challenges were managing the logistics and designing a meaningful learning program for the students.

ISKL Culcon Film Rep

I’m most proud of the resilience and creativity our students demonstrated. Their ability to adapt, problem-solve, and support each other was incredible to witness. The final films they produced from IASAS and the film challenge were a testament to their hard work and innovation. I was really glad to see the students connect, create films they are proud of, and, most importantly, have a fun and memorable experience.

You are an ISKL alumni student and an ISKL employee. What motivated you to return to your alma mater?

Returning to ISKL felt like a natural step because of my connection to the school’s community and values. I was motivated to be part of continuing that tradition for the next generation of students.

Can you tell us about anything exciting or interesting happening at ISKL that you’re a part of?

I’m currently working on multiple video and photography projects for ISKL’s 60th Anniversary and other marketing campaigns. We have lots of exciting projects that will be revealed later this year.

What is your most memorable moment so far at ISKL?

Gap Nepal Project

There have been many memorable moments at ISKL, but the one that stands out the most is this year’s Nepal GAP trip, which I was fortunate enough to join. I was brought on as a videographer and had the incredible opportunity to document the students’ journey as they worked on building bio-gas systems in rural areas of Nepal. It was inspiring to witness their dedication and impact on the community, and I’m grateful to have been part of such a meaningful experience.

Danial Marzuki Nepal View

Can you tell us more about your hobbies and interests? What do you do after work?

Outside work, I’m passionate about watching films and exploring different genres. My favorite film genres at the moment are sci-fi and thriller. I also enjoy traveling, discovering new cultures, and playing basketball, as these experiences often inspire my creative work.

Who or what inspires you?

My late parents were a constant source of inspiration in my life. They always encouraged me to pursue what I love and stay true to myself, no matter the challenges I faced. They believed in me even when I doubted myself, and their faith in my abilities gave me the strength to push forward in life.

What is the most challenging part of your job?

The most challenging part of my job is balancing the technical and logistical aspects of production with the creative process. Ensuring every project meets high-quality standards while staying true to the school’s values can be demanding but ultimately rewarding.

What does ISKL’s vision, “Know yourself, care for all and create a better world,” mean to you?

“Know yourself” is a vital journey for everyone as we seek to understand who we truly are and what our purpose in life is. This journey of self-discovery isn’t confined to any specific stage of life—it’s something we can all explore, regardless of age or circumstance.

“Care for all” reminds us that, as individuals, we are part of a larger network of people and that compassion for others is essential in creating a positive environment.

“Create a better world” is a call to action, urging us to take steps toward making positive changes in our communities and the world at large. Whether through storytelling, environmental sustainability, or simply striving to be a better person every day, this idea inspires us to use our unique abilities and resources to leave a lasting, positive impact on the world.


 

Do you know of any student, teacher, parent, or staff who always have an anecdote to tell, love to share some insights into their passions and interest, or simply is a Panther through and through? Nominate them to be featured in our Panthers of ISKL stories by sending in your submissions here.