A Creative Editorial Leader
based in New York.
I spearhead creative production projects to tell compelling regional stories on the global stage.
“Dynamic, diligent and a can-do attitude.” Those are the three words one of my clients picked to describe me. I thrive on working closely with media networks, brands and talent to develop original video content solutions.
With a portfolio that spans three decades, I’ve championed hundreds of award-winning, high-level video production projects, nurtured editorially focused creative teams and led profitable partnerships.
I’ve worn many hats throughout my career – journalist, documentary filmmaker, journalism professor and drama producer – my clients know me to continuously scale up my competencies to stay on top of the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Tempered by a culturally rich experience across Asia Pacific, I offer an entrepreneurial mindset in capturing, setting up and managing creative business verticals in the emerging “glocal market.”
A Creative
Editorial Leader,
based in New York.
“Dynamic, diligent and a can-do attitude.”
Those are the three words one of my clients picked to describe me.
I thrive on working closely with media networks, brands and talent to develop original video content solutions.
With a portfolio that spans three decades, I’ve championed hundreds of award-winning, high-level video production projects, nurtured editorially focused creative teams and led profitable partnerships.
I’ve worn many hats throughout my career – journalist, documentary filmmaker, journalism professor and drama producer – my clients know me to continuously scale up my competencies to stay on top of the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Happiness cannot be pursued; it must ensue.
My Areas of Expertise
Diversity & Multicultural Content
Long-form Factual Projects
Documentary Production
Short-form Commercials
New Program Commissioning
End-to-End Production Management
Training Journalists & Production Executives
Data-Driven Program Strategy
Content Strategy & Editorial Writing
Multicultural Content
Long-term Factual Projects
Documentary Production
Short-form Commercials
New Program Commissioning
End-to-end Production Management
Content Strategy
Training Journalists & Film Execs
Editorial Writing
Data-Driven Program Strategy
Brand Associations
Tempered with a rich multicultural experience across Asia Pacific & Europe,
I offer a unique regional perspective for networks looking to capture
the new “glocal” market.
Highlights of my Work
Docus
Feature-length Documentaries
Branded
Digital Shorts for global brands
Blogs
Reviews on Making of Interactive Docus
Dramas
Thrillers & Romance for TV/Digital
Factual
Entertainment & Reality Shows
Happiness cannot be pursued; it must ensue.
1. Factual Entertainment
To begin with my one of my strengths, here are a couple of TV & reality shows I’ve had the pleasure of developing from the ground up in South East Asia.
I loved tackling the challenge that comes with balancing the quality & speed of developing highly bingeable content.
Kitchen Wars (Perang Periuk)
Genre: Food/Entertainment (Malay)
2021 (Malaysia) for Astro Naura Channel
A family kitchen can make or break the peace. Kitchen War was a flavourful 10 week-long cooking saga between mother-in-laws and daughter-in-laws who brought their best culinary skills to the table. The food they made together was judged by celebrity chefs and ultimately also by their son/husband.
My favourite part about working on this piece was figuring out how to make each episode unique by leveraging the duo’s contrasting personalities.
The show won the best factual entertainment award by Asian Academy Creative Awards in 2021.
Stupid Man, Smart Phone
Genre: Travel (English)
2021 (Singapore) for Channel 5, Mediacorp
This series was produced in collaboration with BBC Studios.
Over eight episodes, we followed a reckless city-dwelling comedian attempting some of the world’s toughest outdoor adventures with his only survival tool, a smart phone. He was guided on his quests by an army of fans, so our biggest challenge was creating that following which propelled the storyline ahead.
Our quirky show bagged the Best Influencer Award 2018 by Asian Academy Creative Award.
2. Dramas
In contrast to factual entertainment, which is more focused on exploring the characters, drama series also require a deep understanding of what moves the local audience.
I’ve enjoyed crafting stories that resonated with the TG & opened new avenues for their genres in the local market.
The Demon Hunter (Asurai Vetai)
Genre: Thriller/Crime Drama (Tamil)
2021 (Malaysia) for Astro Vinmeen Channel
Produced in a record two months, this crime thriller followed an investigative team that tries to solve a string of brutal murders, all of which have their origins in the past. It had elements of the supernatural and mind-numbing suspense at every step of the way.
As someone who has worked with primarily non-fiction content, this helped me break out from the mold & get a grip on gritty creative storytelling. The show was the winner of the Best Original Script by Astro Ulagam Awards in 2021.
Cubit Cubit Cinta
Genre: Romance (Malay)
2019 (Malaysia) for Astro Citra
During my tenure as the Chief Operating Officer & Creative Director at Creative Stew, we produced our first made-for-TV movie. It’s a blooming love story between four amazing characters. It’s about how true love happens in the times of dating apps.
It aired on Astro and we received a lovely response for it. The entire emotional aspect of it brought me back to the days where I used to cover intimate human interest stories as a news correspondent in India.
A lot of hard work was put in this movie by everyone as it was our first fiction project!
3. Documentaries
During the early phase of my career, I was involved in leading the end-to-end production of some award-winning docus.
This genre demands absolute factual clarity mixed with the patience & humility to let the intricacies of the story unfold before your eyes.
Half Widows of Kashmir
Genre: Non Fiction (English)
2013 (Asia) with Creative Stew
This is one of the more recent docus I worked on. Dealing with a subject as sensitive as this can get on one’s nerves, but it gives one so much perspective on life.
The film documented the lives of widows in Kashmir whose husbands disappeared or were reported missing during the conflict in Kashmir. It was well-received by our audience from around the world, who took great interest in hearing about the untold, human part of the whole story.
Sandakan Death March
Genre: Historical Semi-fiction (English Malay)
2010 (Malaysia) for Astro Network
During my tenure as the Chief Operating Officer & Creative Director at Creative Stew, we produced our first made-for-TV movie. It’s a blooming love story between four amazing characters. It’s about how true love happens in the times of dating apps.
It aired on Astro and we received a lovely response for it. The entire emotional aspect of it brought me back to the days where I used to cover intimate human interest stories as a news correspondent in India.
A lot of hard work was put in this movie by everyone as it was our first fiction project!
Stuntmen of Bollywood
Genre: Non Fiction (English)
2003 (India) for National Geographic Channel
This is one of the more recent docus I worked on. Dealing with a subject as sensitive as this can get on one’s nerves, but it gives one so much perspective on life.
The film documented the lives of widows in Kashmir whose husbands disappeared or were reported missing during the conflict in Kashmir. It was well-received by our audience from around the world, who took great interest in hearing about the untold, human part of the whole story.
4. Branded Digital Shorts
It’s always fun to work with brands to create market awareness through creative content.
I found interesting the challenge of balancing the brand requirements and also preserving the integrity of the story.
Sandakan Death March
Genre: Digital Shorts (English)
2021 (Malaysia) for Asian Food Network (AFN)
Defying the impossible, this short series was produced during the COVID-19 pandemic for Discovery, Asian Food Channel (AFN), when countries in Asia were still under lockdowns.
The series explored innovative solutions developed by small business owners, hawkers, and other common folks to keep their food & essential products business running.
Arranging the resources, securing permissions, rapidly adapting the script & shooting as per last-minute schedule changes – it was an assignment I’ll never forget.
Seasoned with Experience.
Fueled by Curiosity.
Liked what I do?
Let’s work together!
Contact me for leadership roles, freelance assignments, consultations, speaking & training modules or just to chat about content creation.
