Few young creatives are given the responsibility to lead a television series early in their careers. Fewer still are trusted to do so at a major broadcaster.
INTI alumna Nas Addina Nas Iskandar Ezadi, known professionally as Nas Addina, now 25, is one of them. She works as a Studio Executive at Astro Shaw, with responsibilities spanning writing and production. At the age of 23, she was appointed showrunner for an Astro series, placing her in charge of the show’s overall creative direction.
Nas Addina graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Mass Communications (3+0), in collaboration with the University of Hertfordshire, UK, in 2023.
Her entry into the industry began while she was still a student. While studying at INTI International College Subang, where she pursued a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Mass Communications (3+0) in collaboration with the University of Hertfordshire, Nas Addina took up freelance work as a wardrobe assistant for a commercial. The project was led by one of her lecturers, who was also writing for Astro Originals at the time. Working on set allowed her to observe how different departments worked together and how creative decisions were made during production, shaping her interest in working behind the scenes rather than in front of the camera.
In her final year of study, Nas Addina secured an internship at Astro. During the internship, she was exposed to active productions and learned how television projects are developed, from early ideas and script development to filming and post-production. When the internship ended, she was offered a full-time role at Astro Shaw as a Studio Executive, marking the start of her professional career in screenwriting and production.
“I was extremely grateful to be absorbed after my internship at Astro,” Addina said. “They even offered to enrol me in the Young Talent Programme, which allows fresh graduates to rotate across departments before moving into leadership roles. But I knew my interest was in the Studio. I wanted to focus on writing and producing, so I chose to remain as a Studio Executive doing what I enjoy most.”
As a Studio Executive, Nas Addina worked closely with writing and production teams. Over time, she became more involved in creative discussions and decision-making, taking on greater responsibility with each project.
Her early work included RIOT! (2023), where she served as co-producer and gained experience supervising at a higher level. This was followed by Framed (2024), in which she wrote her first television script as a staff writer and learned how stories are developed in a professional writers’ room. She later worked on X-Change (2024), contributing to both writing and production. These projects helped her understand how creative teams collaborate and how decisions affect the final product.
After working on RIOT!, Nas Addina took part in Astro’s internal pitching process, where creative teams are encouraged to propose new ideas. She presented a concept titled “Outliers,” outlining the series’ storyline, characters, and overall direction. To support the idea, she conducted research and spoke with individuals who had relevant real-world experience, including former Malaysian artistic gymnast Farah Ann Abdul Hadi.
The pitch was approved. Soon after, Nas Addina was informed that she would be appointed as the showrunner for the project.
“Being a showrunner at that age was tough,” Addina said. “For some people, there isn’t much support. I had guidance from my team throughout the writing and production process. Towards the end of filming, they trusted me to run the show on my own, and I’m thankful for that push.”
As showrunner, Nas Addina became the series’ main creative lead. In Astro’s production structure, the showrunner oversees a show’s creative direction. Her role included leading the writers’ room, working closely with directors, supervising filming on set, and remaining involved during post-production and promotional discussions.
Nas Addina (centre, second row) with the cast and production team of Generasi: Perfect 10, the series she led as showrunner
When Generasi: Perfect 10 entered production, her workload increased significantly. Filming days often lasted up to 14 hours. After shoots, she reviewed call sheets and prepared for the next day’s filming. On set, she worked with directors on scene execution, briefed actors on emotionally demanding scenes, and coordinated with various departments to ensure the story remained consistent with the script.
“It was basically being a control freak,” Addina joked. “But I had a supportive team who respected my decisions and helped me through the process, which doesn’t always happen when you’re young in this field.”
At the same time, she continued contributing to other Astro productions, balancing multiple responsibilities while leading her first series.
Nas Addina credits part of her readiness for this role to her university experience. At INTI, she was exposed to group work, creative problem-solving, and collaboration with working professionals. These experiences helped prepare her for the demands of professional production environments and eased her transition into the industry.
Her return to INTI during a Generasi: Perfect 10 sharing session marked a full-circle moment. She returned not as a student, but as a working creative involved in a major broadcast production.
Following its 2025 release, Generasi: Perfect 10 quickly gained attention, trending on Astro On Demand within days. The cast included Arena Wan, Arabella Ellen, Sofia Jane, and Sharifah Sakinah, alongside fellow INTI alumna Aaliyah Natasha. The response reinforced Astro’s confidence in the series and in Nas Addina as a young creative trusted to lead it.
As the showrunner of Generasi: Perfect 10, Nas Addina was involved in both the production and promotional activities for the series when it aired on Astro.
Today, Nas Addina continues her work at Astro Shaw, developing new projects while taking on greater creative responsibility.
When asked for advice to students who hope to enter the industry, she was direct.
“This is an industry that can make you feel jaded,” she said. “It can wear you down and burn you out. That’s why you need to be clear about why you want to do this and be realistic about what to expect.”
She added that resilience alone is not enough.
“Be passionate, but also find people who will protect and support you,” she said. “Build genuine connections. That’s how you last in this industry.”