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
2025
2023-2024
2023
2019
2018
2017-2018
2016
2015
2014
2012
2001-2009
Travelling to Kenya, Laos and Yunnan, China for work.
Working on another National Geographic TV series, this time as an episode Director of Photography.
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.
Grasped the opportunity to work on my first feature film as Director of Photography.
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)
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.
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.
Helped to make Average Guys and co-founded the Not Safe For TV channel.
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.
Spent 6 months on internship filming with the Singapore Commandos.
Lived and studied in Jönköping, Sweden for 5 months. Discovered Lasse Hallström's My Life as a Dog (1985).
Gave up on my (father's) dream of studying law (or economics).
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.