Beyond the Arena: Inside M5 Mobile Legends

At the end of 2023, I had the privilege to join Team B in the production of the M5 Mobile Legends: Bang Bang World Championship—the team responsible for capturing the off-stage stories that fans rarely get to see. While Team A covered the live competition and event highlights, Team B went deeper, following the journeys of the competing teams from the Wild Card stage to the Grand Finals.

Over the course of two months, we traveled from Malaysia to the Philippines, producing nearly 20 behind-the-scenes stories that documented the raw emotions, dramas, and unfiltered moments that unfolded beyond the main arena. Although I wasn’t an esports expert, I quickly realized that the spirit of sportsmanship transcends the type of game—it’s about unity, competition, growth, and sometimes, the bittersweet tension between friendship and rivalry.

One of the stories that stood out for me was our coverage of the taunting culture in esports—how mind games can shape player psychology, build or destroy fan bases, and influence team dynamics in ways the audience rarely sees.

Beyond content coordination, I also worked closely with the young production team to build efficient, time-saving workflows, helping them focus more on crafting great stories rather than getting stuck in the chaos of footage management. Working with these passionate young creators was refreshing—I learned as much from them as they did from me.