Great content starts with....

Great content starts with understanding the people behind the message.

Recently, I had the opportunity to work as Director of Photography on a short narrative film written and directed by Paige Larianova. Paige is a big BMX fan, having ridden a lot in her life. The story for this project follows Darcy, a young BMX racer trying to find her place after her parents’ divorce, and the connection she develops with Lennie, a shy street kid. At its heart, it is a story about belonging, friendship, and finding confidence.

Sony FX6 witha OSEE evf. Rob Pendergrast audio engineer left.

One of the biggest challenges was working within limited time with young talent and helping them feel comfortable in front of a cinema camera. Creating the right environment for authentic performances is just as important as the technical side of filmmaking. From a crew side that means being engaged with them, calm and confident. I think the best approach is to treat everyone as equals and listen to their needs. We had a lot of the youth cast and family members interested in what we were doing and it was great to have some of the children pick up the clapper and help mark out the scenes. Perhaps they will be film makers in their futures and tell their stories.

From a cinematography perspective, the goal was to create something natural and grounded. We used a cinematic approach built around composed tripod shots, natural light, and subtle shaping with bounce and diffusion to support the emotion of the story without distracting from the characters. With limited time with the youth actors, time for each setup had to be well used, and flexible. Often this meant going with a gut feeling on blocking and camera position. With help from Nick Sheffield as gaffer providing assistance with lighting we managed to achieve some great looks with minimal gear and time. I was very gratefull to have him with me on this one.

Ninakaye Taanetinorau playing Mum, and Ron Anderson playing Dad.

One moment that really stood out was a scene beside the BMX track where the parents have an argument. The performances were powerful, and finding the right composition helped reinforce the emotional tension of the scene.

Working on this project reminded me why I love filmmaking. Finding those genuine moments, creating imagery that supports a story, and connecting with people through visuals is what drives me.

This is also the foundation of how I approach creating content for organisations. The best content comes from understanding the people behind the message — because that is where the stories that truly connect begin.

Thanks to Paige Larianova and the whole team for the opportunity to be part of this project.