NGO videographer for UNICEF and LEGO project in Siem Reap, Cambodia

I was assigned to work as an NGO videographer to produce a training video for UNICEF and LEGO’s Build the Change project in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

UNICEF and LEGO have been corporate partners since 2015. Their latest collaboration is the Build the Change project, which will be taught in classrooms across Cambodia. The aim is for Cambodian students to use their imaginations and LEGO to work no a project that expresses their hopes for the future. Photos of the projects are then uploaded to a portal for the project and LEGO aims to share the projects to try and bring about lasting change using the students ideas.

I was asked to make a training video that helped to support the teacher’s book to clearly and concisely demonstrate to Cambodian teachers how to set up and run the activity in their classrooms and share the projects.

The video was a challenge as the project hadn’t been launched in Cambodia and no one had experience of teaching the activity. I worked closely with Bunly and the communications team at UNICEF to find solutions to make a training video that clearly explains the process of running the activity in a classroom, so that teachers across Cambodia understand how to set up and run the activity in their classrooms. The team at UNICEF were very happy with results.

You can watch the video below and you can see more examples of training videos here and more examples of my work as an NGO videographer here.

On Location as a Camera Assistant and Drone Pilot for CNN in Cambodia

Work as a camera assistant and drone pilot on the Cambodia episode of CNN’s Nomad with Carlton McCoy for the second series.

It’s not often that you get a call from CNN at 2pm and by 4pm you’re onset, working for one of the most established production companies in the game. Zero Point Zero are the company behind Anthony Bourdain’s shows. If you haven’t seen the closing gambit from the Cambodia episode of a cook’s tour, it’s a testament to Bourdain’s writing and humanity.

The camera assistant / drone pilot who had travelled with the team from the US tested positive for Covid on arrival, so they needed someone to step in at short notice. Shortly after receiving the call, I was in the back of the van going over the kit with camera team.

On the evening of the first day, the DP tested positive, so we travelled to Siem Reap as a camera team of 2 before flying back to Phnom Penh less than 24 hours later.

When we got back to Phnom Penh the camera operator tested positive for Covid. Fortunately, CNN had flown in a DP from Thailand. We were the camera department for the next couple of days before the original camera assistant and drone pilot thankfully returned to the fray for the last couple of days.

It was an incredible learning experience to work with such an experienced team and a great crash course in lots of camera and lighting kit (and techniques) that I hadn’t used before.

Once again thanks to Nick at Hanuman Films for the recommendation. I look forward to sharing the show once the episodes airs. Below are a couple of drone photos I managed to snap along the way. You can see more examples of my drone videography here. Please get in touch about any video projects you have in Cambodia, SE Asia or the rest of the world.

Shooting PD for the BBC on a segment about Phare for The Travel Show

Working as a shooting PD (producer, director) on a segment on Cambodia about Phare for The Travel Show was one of those occasions where I feel lucky to have the job I do.

The shoot started at Phare Ponleu Selpak in Battambang to document the performing arts school before heading to Phare Circus in Siem Reap to catch a performance.

I’d never been to the school or the circus, but I’d heard a lot about both, so I was eager to find out what it was all about. The school is in a cool spot on the outskirts of Battambang. The walls are adorned with lots of colourful artwork, there’s a large practice hall and they even have a big top where performances are held.

I interviewed one of the founding members and one of the teachers before fimling some rehearsals and a performance that was taking place for a group of visiting school children.

From Battambang, I travelled to Siem Reap to film some interviews with some of the graduates of the performing arts school and to see a live performance. It was a great end to the shoot and I would definitely recommend it to anyone visiting Siem Reap who wants to see more than just the temples. Roll Up! Roll Up! Get Your Tickets Here…

Once again thanks to Nick at the team at Hanuman Films for giving me the opportunity. The segment is in the link below and starts at the 12-minute 28-second mark. You can see another segment I was shooting PD on about the Angkor Archaeological Park here and you can see more examples of my video production work here.

Working as a shooting producer, director on a segment about Cambodia for BBC’s The Travel Show. I filmed the school in Battambang and the circus in Siem Reap.

Producer, Director, Camera Op on a segment for the BBC Travel Show

It was an incredible opportunity to work as a producer, director and camera operator on a segment for The Travel Show, filmed at the Angkor Archeological Park in Siem Reap, Cambodia. The segment was broadcast on BBC World News in over 200 countries around the world.

The team at Hanuman Films made a segment in May 2020 at the height of Covid, when there were no tourists at the temples. The idea was to catch up with the same three people they interviewed two years on to see how things had changed since the borders had reopened and tourists were starting to slowly trickle back.

Hanuman Films were busy on another project, so Nick graciously passed the work on.

It was a whirlwind shoot as I had to travel from Battambang, secure filming permission to film at the temples at the last minute, find Reaksmey, Korn and Ousa and film everything within the space of 24 hours.

Reaksmey and Korn were easy enough to find as we still had contacts for them, but Ousa had left he job at a stall at Angkor Wat and lived in a small village 20km away. When we finally caught up with her, she was heavily pregnant but very kindly agreed to film an interview and some b-roll with us.

It was a pleasure working with the team at The Travel Show. They did a great job putting the edit together in record time. Hopefully, I will get to work with them again in the future.

You can see more examples of projects I’ve worked on as a producer, director and camera op here and check out some more of the documentary projects I’ve worked on here.

A segment of the BBC’s The Travel Show, I produced, directed and shot at the Angkor Temples in Cambodia

Working in the field as a cameraperson for the NGO United World Schools

It was great to see some of the footage I shot while working as a cameraperson for the NGO United World Schools (UWS) used as part of their Girls Will Be Girls campaign. I took the images when on assignment for Arete Stories.

It was a cool initiative where the UK government matched any donations made by the public so that more girls living in remote jungle areas around the world can benefit from a good education.

Seeing the video brought back fond memories of the week I spent working as a cameraperson in Preah Vihear and Ratinikiri, both remote provinces in northern Cambodia. We visited a village where UWS were building schools right up on the Laos border, and got to see one of their schools in action in a remote village in Ratanikiri. It was a particularly memorable experience travelling up the Sasam River in a small boat through the verdant, tropical vistas.

You can see more examples of my work as a cameraperson for NGOs here and more about my trip with UWS here.