Actor, entrepreneur and all-around standup guy Keanu Campora talks about balancing his showbiz pursuits with establishing his creative and business ventures in the island of the gods

Keanu Campora by Ronald Liem for DAMAN August/September 2024 007.jpg — Outfit by HBOE

Blessed with an intense charisma and with talent to spare, Keanu Campora is an actor, model and TV show host who never fails to leave a lasting impression. And despite his rising fame, he remains grounded and focused on honing his craft rather than seeking sensationalism. In fact, Campora has made quite a name for himself as an entrepreneur. He runs his own fashion label, which is something quite a few of his peers have undertaken as well, and has also dived head first into real estate in Bali, a venture that certainly isn’t for the faint of heart.

Keanu Campora by Ronald Liem for DAMAN August/September 2024 034.jpg — Outfit by BIASA; necklace and ring by John Hardy

Keanu Campora by Ronald Liem for DAMAN August/September 2024 033.jpg — Outfit by Mangis; necklace and bracelet by John Hardy

Keanu Campora by Ronald Liem for DAMAN August/September 2024 023.jpg — Outfit by HBOE

Today, Campora finds himself constantly on the move between Jakarta and Bali, as he continues to craft stories on film while living out his dreams of creativity and adventure.

DAMAN: As an actor, you’re perhaps best known for your appearance in the web series “Antares.” Looking back to your time on the show, what are some of your fondest memories from back then?
Keanu Campora: “Antares” was actually one of the projects that kickstarted my career as an actor. One of my fondest memories from that series was simply being able to work and make memories with my co-stars throughout the shooting process.

Keanu Campora by Ronald Liem for DAMAN August/September 2024 032.jpg — Pants by BIASA; necklace and bracelet by John Hardy

Keanu Campora by Ronald Liem for DAMAN August/September 2024 031.jpg — Outfit by BIASA; necklace and bracelet by John Hardy

DA: What were some of the most challenging parts of working on “Antares”? Or, to put it differently, what were some of the biggest adjustments that you had to make while working on this web series?
KC: That would be the prep time. Before shooting the series, there was a lot of fight choreography to learn. But then, when we were finally on set, we ended up changing up a lot of what we learnt. And it would take hours just to shoot a two-minute fight scene.

Keanu Campora by Ronald Liem for DAMAN August/September 2024 025.jpg — Outfit by HBOE

Keanu Campora by Ronald Liem for DAMAN August/September 2024 029.jpg — Outfit by BIASA; bracelet by John Hardy

DA: On the flip side, which parts of the job came naturally to you?
KC: Just being in front of the camera and just being myself came naturally to me, both while I was on set and during castings.

Keanu Campora by Ronald Liem for DAMAN August/September 2024 028.jpg — Pants by BIASA; necklace and bracelet by John Hardy

Keanu Campora by Ronald Liem for DAMAN August/September 2024 027.jpg — Outfit by HBOE

DA: Moving on to your projects from last year, we have “The Day Before the Wedding” which has quite a few unique elements to it. For any of our readers not familiar with this title yet, can you give us a short intro to this movie?
KC: The story is about three kids that are trying to make their dreams come true, but then, complications around love and backstabbing triggers intense drama between the three characters.

Keanu Campora by Ronald Liem for DAMAN August/September 2024 026.jpg — Pants by BIASA; necklace and bracelet by John Hardy

Keanu Campora by Ronald Liem for DAMAN August/September 2024 021.jpg — Outfit by BIASA; bracelet by John Hardy

DA: “The Day Before the Wedding” tackles some rather touchy subjects—for an Indonesian audience, at least—such as pregnancy outside of wedlock and the difficulties faced by a soon-to-be single mother. Do you think that the movie did a good job in portraying the nuances and reality of these elements?
KC: When I was given the script, I became very intrigued as the story was very deep. And this movie portrays some of the harsh realities of life around Indonesia. This is perhaps especially relevant to, say, young adults living in the suburbs of Jakarta.

Keanu Campora by Ronald Liem for DAMAN August/September 2024 030.jpg — Tank top by HBOE; pants by BIASA; necklace and bracelet by John Hardy

Keanu Campora by Ronald Liem for DAMAN August/September 2024 024.jpg — Outfit by HBOE

Keanu Campora by Ronald Liem for DAMAN August/September 2024 005.jpg — Briefs by Moschino

DA: And even more recently, you appeared on another web series: “Dua Wajah Arjuna.” What’s your main takeaway from this one?
KC: I appeared on the “Dua Wajah Arjuna” series as Agung. This project felt quite a bit different for me, as I had to play a character who was still in high school. And the series leaned much more towards a romcom.

Keanu Campora by Ronald Liem for DAMAN August/September 2024 020.jpg — Outfit by BIASA; necklace and bracelet by John Hardy

Keanu Campora by Ronald Liem for DAMAN August/September 2024 022.jpg — Outfit by HBOE

DA: Do you have any upcoming film projects that you can tell us about?
KC: I actually do have a few projects that I’ve signed up for towards the end of the of 2024, but you’ll just have to wait and see…

Keanu Campora by Ronald Liem for DAMAN August/September 2024 006.jpg — Briefs by Moschino

Keanu Campora by Ronald Liem for DAMAN August/September 2024 004.jpg — Outfit by HBOE

Keanu Campora by Ronald Liem for DAMAN August/September 2024 019.jpg — Outfit by BIASA; necklace and ring by John Hardy

DA: Outside of acting, you’re also known for running your own clothing brand. Can you tell us a bit about how the idea for Mangis The Label came about and what the brand stands for now?
KC: Mangis The Label is an island ready-to-wear brand. The concept of Mangis is to make you feel like you’re in paradise whenever you wear one of our pieces. I’ve always had a passion for creating tings and being creative. Mangis was actually created during COVID times so that I could keep myself busy as most film production was put on hold.

Keanu Campora by Ronald Liem for DAMAN August/September 2024 002.jpg — Briefs by Moschino

Keanu Campora by Ronald Liem for DAMAN August/September 2024 017.jpg — Pants by BIASA; bracelet by John Hardy

DA: How involved are you with the creative process at Mangis The Label? And how do the designs you carry reflect your own personality?
KC: I’m the owner and also the creative director of Mangis The Label. My designs start from a vision in my mind based on what would I personally wear. Then, I would speak with my team to bring that idea to life. Trust me, there is a long process before a collection, or even a single piece, is ready. It’s also that I like things to be perfect.

Keanu Campora by Ronald Liem for DAMAN August/September 2024 008.jpg — Outfit by BIASA; necklace and bracelet by John Hardy

Keanu Campora by Ronald Liem for DAMAN August/September 2024 016.jpg — Pants by BIASA; bracelet by John Hardy

DA: Speaking of doing business in Bali, we’ve also learned that you’ve also ventured into real estate. What was it that motivated you to try your hand at this field?
KC: Yes! Just last year I started to explore this side of the business world. As I mentioned earlier, I love creating and being creative; and I’ve always been interested in designing villas. Funny story: The idea started during a sit down with a good friend over coffee, and we ended up talking about creating something together. And we thought that Bali was the perfect place to start this journey into real estate.

Keanu Campora by Ronald Liem for DAMAN August/September 2024 015.jpg — Pants by BIASA; bracelet by John Hardy

Keanu Campora by Ronald Liem for DAMAN August/September 2024 011.jpg — Outfit by HBOE

DA: Real estate development in Bali can be quite different from elsewhere, especially with the island’s unique cultural and ecological landscape. What’s your take on this issue?
KC: Correct. There are many rules and I would advise anyone interested in buying or building real estate to learn as much as possible, as different parts of Bali have different rules and land permits.

Keanu Campora by Ronald Liem for DAMAN August/September 2024 014.jpg — Tank top by HBOE; pants by BIASA; necklace and bracelet by John Hardy

DA: Circling back to your acting career, Indonesia’s filmmaking industry has always been centralized in Jakarta. Does this make taking on and working on film projects extra challenging for you since you’re mostly based in Bali? Have you ever considered relocating to Jakarta in order to pursue more filming opportunities?
KC: In some ways it is challenging, but I do manage to keep moving between Bali and Jakarta, as it’s just a one-hour flight both ways. But I do like the change of scenery provided by the island compared to life in the city, and it’s always good to go back to Jakarta for networking.

Keanu Campora by Ronald Liem for DAMAN August/September 2024 003.jpg — Outfit by HBOE

DA: On a more general note, what would you say are the qualities that define a good actor these days?
KC: A good actor is confident; they have charisma, creativity, good reading skills and active listening skills, as well as the ability to be imaginative while playing their roles.

Keanu Campora by Ronald Liem for DAMAN August/September 2024 021.jpg — Outfit by BIASA; bracelet by John Hardy

DA: And what would you say are your most defining characteristics as an actor? Or, perhaps, what do you think are your best qualities as an actor?
KC: I feel that I have confidence in myself. I believe in myself; I have a strong sense of creativity and I do adapt very fast whenever adjustments need to be made during scenes. And I love being on set as an actor. Being able to create something together with so many talented and creative people makes me happy.

Keanu Campora by Ronald Liem for DAMAN August/September 2024 013.jpg — Pants by BIASA; necklace and bracelet by John Hardy

DA: Are there any certain genres or character types that you would really like to try out in the future?
KC: Oh, I would 100-percent love to play in an action film mixed with deep romance around the bond between two characters that is unbreakable. Basically an “us vs. the world” kind of story. But, basically, I would love to play any kind of role as there’s always a new challenge for me to overcome

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DA; Outside of your work, what else are you passionate about or makes you happy?
KC: I live to go on adventures with my friends. I love to surf, skateboard, box and I love to paint whenever I have free time.

Life moves pretty fast if you don’t stop look around once in a while, and you could end up missing it

DA: If you can share one piece of advice to our readers about life, love or anything else, what would it be?
KC: Life moves pretty fast if you don’t stop look around once in a while, and you could end up missing it. That’s one of my favorite quotes. And try to spend as much time as you can with your loved ones or friends that you can call family. For me, that brings joyful memories that can’t be bought.

Keanu Campora by Ronald Liem for DAMAN August/September 2024 009.jpg — Outfit by BIASA; necklace and bracelet by John Hardy

Photography Ronald Liem
Styling Alva Susilo
Models Keanu Campora
Location Nirjhara Jungle Resort Bali Jl. Nirjhara, Bali, Indonesia +62 361 209 5333 nirjhara.com

Keanu Campora steps into the spotlight as DAMAN August/September 2024’s cover boy

Alva Susilo,

DA MAN Cover,

Keanu Campora,

Nirjhara Jungle Resort Bali,

Ronald Liem