cinematographer, director
Hi there! I'm Russell, and I specialise in cinematography in comedy, drama and documentary, as well as directing factual and human stories. In my storytelling, I find that having a distinct voice and understanding a viewer's expectations are the most important factors in producing fresh and original work.
I'd like to think of filmmaking as my quest to uncover our nature; how we relate to the world around us, and to each other. I like stories that exploit the mundane, that take something seemingly mind-numbing to subvert your wildest expectations. As a grandchild of first-generation immigrants – a Teochew fishmonger and a Nyonya matriarch – I'm especially drawn to stories that explore issues around identity, alienation and personal growth, and I've made a mission of uncovering the comedy and absurdity hidden in the banality of human life.
Born and raised in Singapore, I've travelled around the world for clients on projects of various formats and genres. While I enjoy working on big sets, where moving parts come together to make a greater whole, I also value the comfort and camaraderie of a small crew, where the camera is as much a character in the scene, capturing the understated magic of realism.
2026
Travelled to the Kenyan agrarian countryside, hopped on multiple trains through Laos and into Yunnan, China, drove through rural Maharashtra, India, and visited mountaintop ruins in Fuzhou, China, all for work.
Got to work on more National Geographic TV series and social media campaigns, as Director of Photography.
2025
Travelled to Nigeria and Mexico for work.
Found myself in Guizhou, China – fulfilling a longtime dream of going on assignment with National Geographic.
Premiered We Can Save The World!!! to a sold-out cinema at the New York Asian Film Festival, and multiple more sold-out screenings in an 8-week-long theatrical run back home in Singapore.
Picked up horse riding and natural horsemanship as a hobby, hoping to go on a multi-day horse trek in the near future.
Got certified as an International Kikisake-shi.
2023-2024
Grasped the opportunity to work on my first theatrical feature film as Director of Photography.
2023
Had my first credits on Netflix.
Premium Rush: Inside Air Cargo (Principal Director of Photography)
Food Tales (Director of Photography)
Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones (Camera Operator)
2019
Went on an alpine mountaineering course and summited my first >5000m peak (Friendship Peak [5287m], Himachal Pradesh, India).
Bought a surf housing and started getting into underwater image-making.
2018
Learnt to freedive, got certified for SSI level 1. Fell in love with surfing. Finally appreciating the endless years of competitive swimming.
Made a video about my journey recreating my late grandma’s sambal belacan. Ended up connecting with extended family members over lost recipes.
Grew increasingly disillusioned with the tiny, capitalist world of commercial and government videomaking. Took the leap into the freelance world, in search of more meaningful work.
2017-2018
Helped to make Average Guys and co-founded the Not Safe For TV channel.
2016
Made a documentary about the arts scene set against the political backdrop in Yangon, Myanmar. Screened at the Sapporo Short Fest.
Graduated with a Bachelor in Communication Studies.
Decided I wanted to be a filmmaker instead.
2015
Spent 6 months on internship, filming with the Singapore Commandos.
2014
Lived and studied in Jönköping, Sweden for 5 months. Discovered Lasse Hallström's My Life as a Dog (1985).
2012
Gave up on my (father's) dream of studying law (or economics).
2001-2009
Trained competitively in swimming up to 8 times a week, but never got anywhere with the sport. Struggled to figure out who I was and what I wanted to do.