We had the pleasure of chatting with Keiko from MLA Entertainment! If you want to learn more about this award-winning online entertainment company this interview dives into their journey! This is also a great read for anyone interested in creating their own original content. Be sure to check them out here!
1.What initially inspired you to become a creator, and how has that inspiration evolved throughout your creative journey?
I was born with a pad and pencil in my hands. Well, pretty much! I was very quiet in the first years of my life because I was observing the world around me. Movies, video games, and animation super-charged my imagination and made me find true joy in the world of make believe. The arts have always been where I feel most at home – even in those early years. Being able to create different worlds or become different people through art is something that attracts me to no end. I’m an idealist so having the power to create any world you can dream up appeals to me greatly. My mom recognized my interests and always made sure I had the tools I needed to further my craft. Because of this, I was able to grow and realize my full potential as a creator. I now run my own business where I work as voiceover coach, demo producer, artist, writer, director, and more. If there is something that inspires or excites you creatively, nurture it because you never know where it could lead you!
2.Can you share a specific moment or experience that fueled your passion for your current creative project?
I was at a transitional stage in my storytelling when I decided to make my current project, an audio drama/fictional podcast called Cerulean Summer.
For years, I had primarily made my stories in a unique animation style, but it had gotten to be very labor intensive so I was looking for a new medium through which to tell my stories. This was when I accidentally discovered an audio drama called Girl In Space by Sarah Rea Werner. I was completely mesmerized. It opened my eyes and made me realize how powerful storytelling could be, when done right, through an audio medium. The experience was so impactful that I’ve decided audio dramas will be my primary outlet for telling my stories moving forward (along with comics!) The idea for Cerulean Summer had been in my heart for years, and I knew it was the perfect story to use for my first audio drama. I wrote all 16 episodes last summer and am now finally gearing up for the release of episode one on September 25th on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Youtube, etc. Be sure to listen in!
3.What challenges have you encountered as an indie creator, and how have they shaped your approach to your work?
Probably the sheer amount of work it entails. I’ve been making animated series, demo reels for voice actors, comics, scripts, podcasts, and more – primarily by myself – for many years. This unintentionally made me a jill of all trades. When I first needed voices for my shows, I learned the craft of voice acting. When I needed a sound engineer, I taught myself how to mix. See the pattern? As I’ve expanded the types of work I do, I’ve taught myself a wide variety of skills out of necessity. All these years later, I’ve honed my skills and am now able to share that experience with other people on their creative journeys.
4.Are there any particular creators who have significantly influenced your style or approach? How do you incorporate those influences into your own unique voice?
Three individuals who have greatly shaped the way I tell stories are Mark Crilley, Hayao Miyazaki, and Jun Maeda. I discovered them all at a very critical age (my early teenage years) which I believe permanently influenced my personal taste and what I feel makes a “good story”. I began by making very similar stories which followed their “blueprint” and then eventually developed my own voice along the way. Even though I have my own voice and process for creating stories now, you can still see the influence those incredible creators continue to have on my work.
5. How do you navigate the balance between staying true to your artistic vision and adapting to feedback from your audience or collaborators?
When it comes to making my own projects, I honestly don’t listen much to outside opinions! (for better or worse!) As a creator, I have a bottomless pit of stories I want to tell in my lifetime. These are stories I personally want to see and feel are worthwhile. I think it’s important as an artist to make something you yourself want to see rather than making what you think others want to see. We all have our own artistic fingerprint and perspective, and that’s what we should be putting out into the world. If we are able to inspire, uplift, or entertain people with our creations along the way, then that is the ultimate icing on the cake!
For projects where I am collaborating or working with others, however, my goal is to find that perfect meeting of the minds. I always appreciate collaborators or clients who aren’t afraid to be very specific on what they are looking for because that makes my job much easier!
6.Can you recall a memorable success story or milestone in your indie creator journey that stands out as a turning point for you?
After fourteen years since starting MLA Entertainment, there have been quite a few! But I must say my favorite was meeting my artistic hero Mark Crilley. In 2023, I invited him to be on my podcast, Keiko’s Diary, and it was by far the most magical experience I’ve had thus far. They say meeting your idols is never a good idea because they will often let you down. Let me tell you, Mark Crilley is every bit as amazing as you’d expect! His endless sense of wonder and creativity blows my mind, but above all, his kind and gentle nature is what makes him so special.
7.What role do setbacks or failures play in your creative process, and how do you overcome them to keep moving forward?
I’m always very forward-thinking so if I ever encounter an obstacle, I usually resolve it or switch plans as quickly as possible (my attention span is too short to get hung up on setbacks!)
8. How do you manage your time and energy to sustain a consistent creative output while juggling other aspects of life?
I sleep once or twice a week. Just kidding! The best way to balance your creative work with everyday life is to carve out times you know you can dedicate to your craft every day. There are hours of the day I completely reserve for family time, and there are hours I reserve for my creative work. It is very important to keep that balance the best you can to avoid missing out on one or the other.
9.Have you found any unexpected joys or rewards in the indie creator community, and how has it contributed to your overall experience?
The greatest reward of being a part of the indie creator community and the creative field in general is the people. I have met so many talented, warm-hearted people along the way who share the same enthusiasm and love for the arts that I have. Whenever someone tells me my story had a big impact on them or whenever I teach my voiceover students and make them realize what they’re capable of, it’s the greatest feeling in the world. That mutual excitement and creative buzz is the purest energy of all. The arts bring everyone together like nothing else can. That’s why I love it so much.
10.If you could give one piece of advice to aspiring creators, what would it be based on your own lessons learned?
There is no one else like you in the world. Focus on what makes you stand out rather than what makes you blend in. If you have a dream, get a piece of paper and write down some plans. It doesn’t have to be highly detailed from the get-go but try to build an outline or basic structure for what you want to do. Whether it’s a story or a profession, you need a game plan. Once you’ve got something jotted down and some clear objectives, go for it, utilize all the resources you can find online, and have a blast!
11. What are your thoughts on All Ages of Geek? What are some things we should change/do? What are some things you enjoy about our website?
What I love about All Ages of Geek is how it brings so many different people together. The way you shine a spotlight on creatives and the indie community is something I feel is very necessary. It opens up a whole new world of inspiration and celebration for our fellow creators. Keep up the brilliant work!
12. Goals for 2025?
Next year will be a big year for my company MLA Entertainment. Two original projects are lined up (in addition to Myriad’s World of Colors), and I hope to announce them in the very near future.
Also, I hope to continue helping others on their creative journeys through my company. Many of the people I teach have reached new heights in their journeys this year. Watching this happen and being able to help them achieve their dreams is something I deeply cherish. The world needs the arts. The world needs kindness. I think this is my goal. If I can be a source of light and encouragement for people out there, my mission is accomplished!
ABOUT MLA Entertainment
MLA Entertainment is an award-winning online entertainment company founded in 2010 by Keiko. From captivating original content to our acclaimed creative services, we want you to be moved.
#KeepBeingCreative
Since 2015, Keiko has directed voice talent who have gone on to act professionally in anime, videos games, and national commercials with an expertise gained from years of producing quality content and collaborating with creatives of all levels worldwide. Her Keiko’s Diary Podcast has featured famous guests such as William Moseley from the Narnia films, Cherami Leigh from Sailor Moon, Jennie Kwan from Avatar the Last Airbender, Emmy-winning composers and more. Keiko worked as a voiceover instructor for Inbeon and led panels at Inbeon Con as well as Hawaii’s largest anime convention KawaiiKon.
Self-taught by building her business from the ground up and accumulating a wealth of knowledge through the production of original projects and her work in radio and podcasting, Keiko uses a down-to-earth and proven approach to help others turn their craft into something amazing. Her goal is to uplift others through sharing the joy of being creative and the power of storytelling.
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