សួស្តី (‘Sus-day’ – Hello)
Welcome to Cambodia!
I am Sopheak, a native film / video production fixer, a.k.a. field or local producer, with just the kind of skills, experience and resources you are looking for to shoot your project smoothly in the land of Angkor Wat… and I also happen to speak English 🙂
My job, in a nutshell, is to be your producing’s right hand and give you piece of mind by helping:
- Find everything you need: locations, personages, talent, crew, equipment, logistics, etc.
- Process any required filming permits, visas for your crew and cast, and customs clearance licenses for your imports / exports upon arrival and departure.
- Research particular topics or storylines, their opportunities and challenges.
- Negotiate the best deals for anything or anyone you need to hire, buy or rent, so that you stay on budget with the greatest value.
- Coordinate with locals to ensure your project runs on-time and as seamlessly as possible.
- Manage any potential crisis (but hopefully none) to save you nasty headaches.
- Communicate with Khmer-speaking people effectively to get your message across.
- Supervise your production until a successful completion.
- And much more.
Long story short, I help you make stuff happen for your film or video shoot in Cambodia, whether it’s a commercial, a travel show, a documentary or a narrative short or feature film… bring it on!
Rest assured that my 6+ years’ background with established brands, my powerful network within the government and media industry, as well as my solid knowledge of my home country, make me and my team the right choice for your upcoming production.
Contact me and let’s get your story rolling!
Latest Clients
- Best Ever Food Review Show (USA / Vietnam)
- International Criminal Court (Netherlands)
- Junpasang Production / Ziben Safety (Korea)
- Spas / Yumark Pacific (Taiwan)
- Samai Rum / Rare Spirits Society (Venezuela / Cambodia)
- Missione Possibile (Italy)
- Uptown Media / Kabel Eins (Germany)
- RTI International (USA)
- ActionAid (UK)
- ACCI Missions & Relief (Australia)
- Better Care Network (USA)
- Rubber Knife Productions Ltd. (Thailand) / QuizRR (Sweden)
- Al Arabiya (UAE)
- 2iD / Two Islands Digial (Indonesia) / Channel NewsAsia (Singapore)
- Anodot (Israel)
- Meron Marketing (Israel)
- Townhouse (UK)
- See more here.
Benefits of working together
- Great value: the most bang for your buck.
- Robust experience: successful international & local projects (some award-winning).
- Unparalleled knowledge: native expert in Cambodia, from its people to its landscapes.
- Professional team: qualified technicians, artists and vendors for ambitious storytelling.
- Top-notch equipment: modern gear to produce industry-standard content.
- Extensive inventory: wide selection of (almost) any resource imaginable.
- Influential leverage: useful contacts with relevant authority.
- Scalable affordability: customizable budget to control how much you spend.
- Friendly service: customer is king.
Successfully Obtained Permits
- Angkor Wat temples / Apsara Authority (Siem Reap)
- Royal Palace (Phnom Penh)
- General Filming Permit (by Government)
- Customs Clearance (to import / export filming equipment)
- Silver Pagoda (Phnom Penh)
- National Museum (Phnom Penh)
- S21 Tuol Sleng (a.k.a. The Genocide Museum)
- Central Market (Phnom Penh)
- City of Phnom Penh (by Government)
- Silk Island
- Kampot, Pursat, Kampong Thom
- More…
Portfolio
Samples of some of my work.
The previous videos feature projects where I’ve held the position of either Line Producer, Fixer or 1st AD.
Fixer Rate Card (in USD)
Day Rate: $250*
Pay $200* only & save 20% (booking by October 31st, 2024)
Included:
- 2-person team: fixer + fixer’s assistant.
- Khmer / English service.
- Fixers’ local transportation during pre-production (in Phnom Penh).
- Up to 14 hours of work during production days (including commute time and meal breaks). Up to 10 hours of work during pre-production days (including commute time).
* Rate for documentary.
Regional Expenses (outside Phnom Penh):
In addition to the fixer’s day rate, during pre-production, some or all of the following reference fees may apply when working 40Km or farther from Phum Tumnob, Phnom Penh. These fees may vary depending on each project’s specific requirements.
- Hotel: $25 / per night (if stay is required)
- Meals & Beverages: $30 / day
- Travel (Phnom Penh to the province / roundtrip): $50
- Local Transportation (e.g. tuk tuk hire): $30-$40 / day
During production, Regional Expenses can be covered by the production, as long as they reflect similar or better quality.
The “Regional Expenses” fees shown above are for reference only.
Production Support Solutions
- Locations, Permits & Visas (for Crew / Talent)
- Talent, Personalities and Crew
- Camera, Lighting, Grip & Sound Equipment Rentals
- Production and Post Production Facilities (e.g. studios, suites)
- Logistics (accommodation, transportation, catering, etc.)
- Interpretation (Khmer-English)
Languages
- Khmer (native)
- English (advanced)
- German & Spanish (through 3rd party)
Production Equipment Rental
This is just a sample of all the video, audio and lighting gear that is available to you through my services as film fixer in Cambodia:
Camera – Body
Sony FX9, FX6, FX3, FS7M2, A7SIII, A7IV
Arri Alexa Mini (& LF)
Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K
Camera – Lenses
Carl Zeiss CP.3
Arri Ultra Primes, Alura Zoom
Fujinon MK18-55 & MK 50-135 (E-mount)
Rokinon Xeen (EF-mount)
Sigma (EF-mount)
Tamron (E-mount)
Camera – Support
Gimbal Ronin L, RS2 Pro Combo, Ronin 2
Manfrotto, Vinten, Sachtler Tripod, Baby legs, Hi-hat
X Jib Crane, Jimmy Jib, Mini Jib
Dutch Head 3-axis
Easy Rig
Lighting
Arri Orbiter, SkyPanel, M60, M90, M40, M18, M8
Arri Tungsten Fresnel 5K – 150W
Aputure LS 600d Pro, NOVA P300c, LS C300d Mark II, 200d, 200X
Source 4, Kino Flo
Sound
Sennheiser shotgun MKH 30 / 40 / 50 / 60, Wireless G3
Rode NTG4
Zoom H6
Aaton Cantar X3
Neumann KMR 81 i
Sanken COS-11D
To see the full list of optional equipment, solutions and crew that are available for rent / hire to your production, please email me from a business email address.
Keep in mind that I will first verify that it actually comes from a business or an established creator / filmmaker based outside Cambodia and not from other local services similar to mine.
Payment Methods
- Payoneer
- Xoom (by PayPal), Ria, MoneyGram, Western Union
- SWIFT / Wire transfer (to Advanced Bank Of Asia Limited)
Payment Schedule
Very simple:
- 20% to book (to save dates)
- 30% three (3) days before work starts (e.g. research, preproduction, etc.)
- 50% upon production wrap* (same day)
- Mandatory third-party fees, such as those for permits, rentals, expendables, etc., must be paid as per their own schedule. When working outside Phnom Penh, any associated travel expenses must be paid in advance. Any last minute production expenses paid for by us in advance on your behalf must be refunded at the end of the same day.
*Valid for clients based in Cambodia only. Clients based outside Cambodia must pay the remaining 50% upon completion of the first half of the shooting schedule (for example, at the end of the second day if the production lasts 4 days). If the project is no longer than 1 day of shoot, then the second 50% of the payment is due at the end of the 4th hour of the shooting day.
More about me
I was born and raised in Cambodia, the so-called Kingdom of Wonder. My name is Sopheak, which is perhaps the most common name in the country, just like “María” in Latin America or “Lisa” or “Emily” in the US.
Based in Phnom Penh, I have been working in the film and television / media industry since 2015, when I first embarked as 2nd assistant director and interpreter on the American narrative feature film “In the Life of Music” (2018), which later became Cambodia’s official contender to the 2020 Academy Awards (The Oscars ®).
Ever since then I’ve been working professionally as a production fixer and 1st AD (assistant director) on local and international projects for cinema, television and digital, including TV commercials (TVCs), documentaries, narrative short films and features, as well as TV Shows.
Obviously, getting around in Cambodia is a piece of cake to me, because I speak its language, Khmer, natively and also know the country like the back of my hand: its landscapes, flora, fauna, people, food and culture.
On top of that, I can also communicate in English fluently. So, believe me, you won’t be struggling to get those creative ideas out while we work together.
Lastly, just in case you find it useful, my filmmaking and video production knowledge is built upon my practical on-set experience and my education at Pour un Sourire d’Enfant (PSE)’s film school and Meta House, where I had the fortune of being taught by world-renowned storytellers and filmmakers, such as: Patrice Leconte, Enrique Sánchez Lansch and Arthur Cloquet.
What are you waiting for? Drop me a line!
Conditions
- You set the number of production days you need to book us for, and based on that information plus the complexity of any associated requirements (e.g. processing permits, hiring additional crew, etc.), we will determine the number of pre-production days we consider necessary. Please keep in mind that, as a general rule of thumb, every production day requires at least one pre-production day; the same applies to field research work, it usually requires some previous office work (e.g. researching, finding leads, calling, booking, etc.).
- I am not a company, I am a freelance production fixer or line producer, and first assistant director. My job is to arrange everything locally on your behalf. Thus, contracts and payments for third-parties are made directly between you and them after I have coordinated the production for you.
- As per Cambodian protocol, the production must provide the crew (e.g. the fixer team) with 3 meals, beverages, transportation and accommodation (if necessary) during principal photography; otherwise such items will be surcharged. However, the fixer’s transportation to the 1st location does not need to be provided by the production when shooting inside urban Phnom Penh*.
- Travel days and commute time qualify as work.
- Any tasks associated with your project, such as: researching, phone calling, meeting, planning, pre-interviewing, reporting, permit processing, etc. qualify as work.
- The fixer’s assistant is not a PA, his/her job is to support the fixer. Should you need a PA or runner, please ask us to add one if none has been already included in our quote.
- * Within a 10Km radius from Phum Tumnob.
- For safety reasons, should travel or commute be necessary for longer than one (1) hour during night time (after sunset / before sunrise), then accommodation will be required.
- I can accept your project if you do not have any fixer yet and need a person or team to do comprehensive production tasks on the Cambodian side. If you already have a fixer in Cambodia or are planning to hire one in addition to me, I cannot accept your project. Several production companies have already contacted me in the past to take care of the “remaining” production tasks, like gear rental, van / driver hire, or supportive crew (e.g. gaffer, grip or sound); please ask your “fixer” to take care of such tasks for you and, if s/he cannot do such basic things, then you should not hire him / her. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
- Other conditions may apply.
Last website update: 2022-12-23