Reflections on My Four-Day Internship at CSPro: A Deep Dive into Dubbing Translation

Rifkul, me, and Novie Burhan at CSPro studio.

I recently completed a four-day Netflix-sponsored internship at Cipta Suara Pro (CSPro) in Sunter, Indonesia, and it has been an eye-opening journey into the intricate world of dubbing translation. Under the mentorship of Novie Burhan and Charles, alongside my fellow intern Rifkul Uswati, I gained valuable insights into the art, techniques, and industry tools used in professional dubbing.

This experience not only enhanced my technical skills but also deepened my appreciation for the balance between dubbing and subtitling translation, two key pillars of audiovisual translation.

Charles (CSPro Studio Owner), Novie (CSPro/Netflix Dubbing Director), Rifkul, and me.

Dubbing vs. Subtitling: A Unified Approach

One of my biggest takeaways from this internship is how dubbing translation and subtitling translation should go hand in hand, each complementing the other to create a seamless viewing experience.

• Dubbing translation focuses on naturalness, ensuring that dialogue flows smoothly and sounds as authentic as possible. It leans more toward localization, adapting content so that it resonates with the target audience while maintaining clarity and accuracy. The goal is for the audience to feel like the characters are speaking their native language without awkward phrasing or unnatural expressions.
• Subtitling translation, on the other hand, follows a structured set of rules based on the target language’s spelling, grammar, and punctuation (SGP). Since subtitles serve as a visual aid, they must be concise, free of grammatical errors, and formatted to ensure readability. The challenge lies in preserving the meaning while adhering to technical constraints, such as character limits and reading speed.

Together, dubbing and subtitling form the core of audiovisual translation (AVT), making content accessible, immersive, and enjoyable for a global audience.

Novie Burhan with her son, Bintang Gautama, the Indonesian voice actor for Sanji in the Netflix’s live-action One Piece dub. Novie also served as the Dubbing Director for the project.

Inside the Dubbing Studio: Lessons from Industry Experts

During the internship, Charles introduced us to Netflix’s Authoring Tools, which streamline dubbing workflows by allowing linguists to upload As-Recorded Scripts (ARS) directly to Netflix’s cloud system. He also explained the Key Names and Phrases (KNP) system, which ensures consistency in translated terminology across projects. These tools play a crucial role in delivering high-quality dubbing that aligns with industry standards.

Novie Burhan, a seasoned dubbing director, shared invaluable lessons on dubbing translation best practices:

• Always prioritize context over literal translation. Understanding the cultural and emotional nuances of a scene is key to producing natural dialogue.
• Translate quickly, edit later. Don’t overthink — get the first draft down and refine it in the editing phase.
• Step into the voice actor’s shoes. Since dubbing is performed by voice actors, translators must ensure that the dialogue is clear, fluid, and easy to perform.
• Localization is crucial. A rigid, word-for-word translation often sounds awkward. Instead, translations should adapt to the rhythm and expression of natural speech in the target language.

Another fascinating discussion was about how some major OTT platforms prefer that vocal actors avoid falsetto when performing songs. This preference ensures that the dubbed version sounds authentic and aligns with the original character’s vocal range.

Novie with her son, Andromeda Veliano, who voiced Luffy in Netflix’s live-action One Piece dub. Novie also lent her voice to Bellemere in the series..

Beyond the Technical: Life Lessons from the Internship

While the internship was rich in technical training, it also provided meaningful life lessons. Novie shared two principles that deeply resonated with me:

1. Be responsible for your choices and follow through with commitment. In any profession, accountability is key to growth.
2. “Revenge is best served with achievement.” Use challenges, setbacks, and even criticism as fuel for self-improvement. Rivalries and hardships can be powerful motivators for becoming better than we were yesterday.

She also emphasized that turning professional is not just about getting paid — it takes around 3–5 years of continuous practice to truly become an expert in dubbing translation.

A LEGO figure of Ernesto de la Cruz, the villain from Disney’s Coco — a gift from Charles. Rifkul, a fellow intern, received a Baymax LEGO from Big Hero 6. A symbolic reminder for me to guard against the pitfalls of my own narcissistic tendencies.

Final Thoughts

This four-day internship has reinforced my passion for audiovisual translation. I hope to see dubbing and subtitling translation work in harmony, with dubbing focusing on natural-sounding localization and audio performance, while subtitling adheres to grammatical precision and structured readability to serve as a visual guide.

Both disciplines are essential in making content more accessible, engaging, and immersive for global audiences. I look forward to refining my skills further and contributing to this dynamic field.