So my first post of the new year are photos I shot back in August while visiting Burma. Nice work ethic, right?  Anyway, I was there visiting a friend who was a former colleague at the magazine here in Saigon, and is now the creative director of an advertising firm in Yangon. While I was there with him, they had to shoot a TV commercial for anti-mosquito products, and I thought it sounded interesting, so I tagged along. It turned out to be a pretty decent day, and I made a few images that I thought were sort of cool and wanted to share

Before the videography began, while it was still raining outside, a photoshoot took place inside. The two photographers were brothers, but that’s probably evident since they are wearing the same shirt.

This model and actress I might always be in love with. Besides being stunningly beautiful, very cool and speaking perfect English, she was also a doctor, well known rock star and of course on screen talent. How can you get any more perfect than that? Of course I botched the day by forgetting to give her my card. I think now she may be gone forever… but she’ll always live on in images!

Once the rain let up slightly, principal filming began outside.

The concept as I understood it, was sort of a public service annoucement, telling locals to keep their places free of trash and standing water where mosquitos might breed. But wouldn’t you think a mosquito repellent company would encouage more of them, thus selling more product?

After a few scenes were filmed outside, we headed over to a studio space to capture a few more scenes. Here, an assistant on the video crew stands in as lights are checked.

She went through at least three outfit changes. Not sure how that ever got cut together.

One of the most interesting things of the day was the equipment the crew were using. Things like styrofoam boards for bounce cards, a plastic pole and tape for a boom and this main electrical board that had to be about as safe as it looks.

There was no official director of the commercial, only a video crew hired to shoot, so my friend Jim became the de facto director.

And the final shot of the day was of the repellent coils the company sells along side the spray.

There are a few more shots in the archived gallery.