Behind the Lens in Cambodia: Camera Operator & Sound Recordist on ABC Comedy TV Special

I had the exciting opportunity to work as both a camera operator and sound recordist on the Cambodia segment of a 1-hour, TV comedy special project for ABC.

The Cambodian segment of the programme, Cross Border Comedy followed Chinese-Australian comedian Annie Louey’s journey of performing in Cambodia while showcasing the vibrant and growing comedy scene in Cambodia.

The show followed Annie and Len, a local comedian, and Sam, a comedian, MC and stalwart of the Cambodian comedy scene as they prepared for and performed a stand-up, offering a humorous and insightful look into their lives and perspectives of Phnom Penh and how stand-up comedy in Cambodia has developed over the years.

This included filming interviews where they discussed their comedic journeys, their inspirations drawn from Cambodian culture and daily life, and the challenges of building a comedy scene in the Kingdom.

For the camera setup, I used a Sony a7siii camera paired with an Atomos Ninja V recorder. This combination allowed me to shoot in high-quality 4K ProRes HQ. We chose this setup for its exceptional low-light performance, crucial for capturing the atmosphere of various locations. The codec offered superior image quality and flexibility in post-production, ensuring the final footage for the TV special looked its best.

On the audio side, I employed two Sennheiser G4 wireless microphone systems for the main talent during interviews, ensuring clear and consistent dialogue capture. Complementing this, I used a Sennheiser MKH416 shotgun mic on a boom and a boom operator who captured the best possible audio. This was particularly important when filming in outside locations with heavy interference for the radio mics.

A key element of ABC’s vision for the performance segment, which took place at The Box Office, the venue for the performance, was to authentically capture the live sound of the comedians on stage, while recording crowd reaction through another channel, immersing the television audience in the energy of the event.

It was great to support the burgeoning comedy scene in Cambodia and to see my work contribute to a project broadcast on a major network like ABC.

The full episode is available to watch on YouTube.

You can find more examples of my work as a television (TV) camera operator in Cambodia here and here.