#SHOWBIZ: Influencer Sofyank looks forward to more Hollywood collaborations

New Straits Times

18-05-2025

THIS year marks popular social media influencer and special effects creator Sofyank a.k.a. Mohamad Sofian Abdullah's "big break" in Hollywood.
Not that he has bagged a major film project involving Hollywood's A-listers, but he has finally met his favourite star — Tom Cruise.
The 29-year-old from Kota Baru, Kelantan said in an interview with The New Straits Times that he was "on top of the world" having met Cruise during the superstar's recent trip to Tokyo, Japan to promote his new action movie 'Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning'.
"We met at the premiere of the movie in Tokyo, and it was a major tick on my bucket list!" said Sofyank who was accompanied by his longtime collaborator and friend, Mohamad Shaffuan, during the trip.
"Meeting Tom Cruise... I never imagined it would happen to me.
"It felt like something impossible — so when the opportunity came, it felt like a miracle.
"What I've always admired about Tom is his dedication and passion for his work. You can clearly see it in every Mission: Impossible movie — how much effort, commitment, and detail he puts into every scene.
"He always gives his best, and that is really inspiring."
SHORT
Sofyank said that he was not involved directly in the latest Mission: Impossible movie's production but was invited to shoot a short content piece as part of the marketing campaign for it.
"It was part of a movie junket where selected content creators got the chance to meet Tom and shoot a video with him within a specific time slot," he said.
Sofyank hopes that meeting Cruise would lead to paths that will help him progress in his CGI-making career.
"Right now, I don't have any other actor in mind because meeting Tom already felt like a dream beyond reach.
"But if I ever get another chance to collaborate with any Hollywood actor, I would definitely be excited and grateful.
"My loved ones often ask me who would that be, and ''ve got a pretty long list, almost all of them are A-listers!"
AVATAR
When asked about his all-time favourite Hollywood movies which used special effects, Sofyank said they were 'Avatar: The Way Of Water', 'Avengers: Infinity War', 'Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings', 'Transformers' and 'Man Of Steel'.
"These movies impressed me with their high-quality visual effects, immersive worlds, and how the VFX enhanced the storytelling without overshadowing it," he said.
Sofyank has yet to work on blockbuster local movies by providing special effects and would love to do so someday.
"However, I have worked with local film teams to create promotional VFX content featuring their actors.
"As for acting, it would be interesting.
"I admit I'm rather shy to star in a TV drama or even a movie, but it's worth stepping out of my comfort zone and doing something new!"
SYAFIQ YUSOF
If there are three major Malaysian moviemakers Sofyank would love to work with, they are Syafiq Yusof, Abhilash Chandra and Razaisyam Rashid.
"What I admire about them is their artistry and direction. They have a talent for delivering emotion, tension, and suspense in their storytelling in a way that is very cinematic and yet easy for the audience to follow," he said, adding that their execution of movies feels seamless and impactful.
Sofyank lists five very important lessons Malaysian content-creators can learn from Hollywood.
"First, create content that offers value to your audience. Second, continuously improve storytelling so that viewers leave the cinema with a richer experience.
"Third, explore fresh ideas that push the boundaries of your current style while still being relatable.
"Fourth, diversify your content but stay true to your identity and voice.
"Finally, Malaysian creators must continue to show a wide range of styles and creativity — each with his or her own level of excellence. The good news is, we are already moving in the right direction."
CHINA
Sofyank would love to work on movies from China and Hong Kong, as he sees East Asia as the "next big region" in creating world-class cinematic content.
"I have not been invited to work on movies from China and Hong Kong. But if I ever do, I would prefer to start by learning from their teams first — especially in observing how everything works behind the scenes, how decisions are made, and how each part of the production comes together.
"Rather than jumping straight into editing or production roles, I believe it is more valuable for me to understand their workflow and creative process first," said Sofyank.
Sofyank is known for his expertise in visual editing and illusion videos.
He produces Hollywood-inspired creative content and has received praise from celebrities and overseas productions.
Sofyank is the winner of the Ultimate VFX Challenge — Magic Of The Month competition in Los Angeles, the United States in 2023.
In the same year, he shot a video with Transformers star Anthony Ramos.
In his 41-second clip Ramos greeted Malaysian fans with "apa khabar Malaysia" before Sofyank got into frame in a silver Porsche 964.
Ramos who played Noah Diaz in 'Transformers: Rise Of The Beasts' was shocked when Sofyank casually "shrunk" his car.
The video was shot in Singapore in conjunction with the movie's red carpet premiere there.
Sofyank has also collaborated with two big names in Hollywood, Will Smith and John Cena.