On location in Stung Treng – Filming a case study for UNICEF’s Generation Future Programme
It’s always good to get out of Phnom Penh on assignment and working as an NGO videographer on an assignment for UNICEF was no exception.
I’d made a video case study about Panha just as she started started a role as a team leader as part of the Code for Girls project.
It was always the plan to make a follow up video of Panha to see the progress she had made over the
Panha spoke about the new skills she had learnt. ‘Now, I can use code in my designs
to make all kinds of models,’ she said.
We also interviewed Lida, Panha’s IT teacher. She spoke about the progress Panha had made.
‘It makes me very happy to see Panha undergoing such a positive transformation. She has gone from a girl with basic typing skills to a girl who is confident in writing code,’ she said.
Panha also spoke about the training she had provided to her team members.
‘Over the past 6 months, I have trained my team members in STEM subjects. We’ve learned about using a 3D printer and coding,’ she said.
Chaily, one of Panha’s team members was very positive about the training Panha has given her.
‘Panha has helped to improve my drawing skills, and she’s improved my leadership
and teamworking skills,’ she said.
Panha has had to overcome difficulties to provide the best training she can.
‘Even though I’m a very shy person. My confidence has improved,’ she said.
Panha plans to set up a dedicated STEM room at her school and wants to study computer science at university. She has even inspired Chaily to pursue a university course in civil engineering.
I wish both Panha and Chaily the best of luck in the future. It’s important that increasing numbers of girls enter the STEM sector as they are currently underrepresented. Hopefully they can both continue to be role models and inspire other girls to pursue their goals.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any video projects you’d like to discuss.
On Location - Filming a Corporate Video for Endo Lighting
It was great to team up with Khreativa Cambodia to work on a corporate video for Endo Lighting to showcase their lighting installations at the newly opened AEON 3 Mall in Phnom Penh.
Endo Lighting commissioned Khreativa Cambodia to provide a series of photos and a video and I was fortunate to be given the lead on the video production.
After a pre-production meeting and looking at the sample videos provided by the client, we decided on the techniques and equipment that we would use to capture the feeling of entering the mall and experiencing the different moods created by the coloured lighting throughout the day.
For the exteriors, I used my DJI Mavic 2 Pro due to its low-light capabilities, as some of the shots were taken at dusk, and stability in wind.
The client also wanted interior drone shots to show the Skywalk and to fly up the central atrium to show the different lighting atmospheres they created on different levels.
As the Mavic 2 has height restrictions when it can’t use enough GPS satellites, we had to hire a Mini 3 Pro to be able to capture the interior drone shots.
For the ground shots, I used a gimbal at eye level and a gimbal mounted on a boom to capture higher shots for a different perspective. A wireless transmitter was mounted to the set up so that we could monitor the feed and an assistant could remotely control tilts to add dynamism.
Endo Lighting were very happy with the video and even entered it into a corporate video competition!
You can see other examples of my corporate videos here and 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.