Documentary Outreach to Thailand (2025)
Meet The Crew
We’re excited to introduce the crew heading to Thailand for our upcoming Documentary Outreach. This post gives you a look at who’s joining the trip—complete with photos, bios, and links to personal or professional projects.
These aren’t just names on a list. Each person has a unique background, a story to tell, and a set of skills that will shape the work we do together. Get to know the people you’ll be creating with and see what they’re passionate about before we all hit the ground in Thailand.
EMILY BROWN
Emily is a writer and filmmaker hailing from Naarm/Melbourne, with an affection for exploring complex, human stories. She has written, directed and produced a number of award-winning short projects, which have gained both national and international recognition. Having completed a Bachelor of Film and Television (Honours) at Swinburne University, Emily has since worked as an Art Department Assistant, Runner and freelance Writer. She now works in digital television distribution, while focusing her passion projects on mental health advocacy.
CAYENNE CAVE
Hi! My name is Cayenne Cave, and I’m from San Francisco, California. I graduate in December with a degree in Documentary Studies & Production and Sociology from Ithaca College.
I believe that visual storytelling has the ability to bridge barriers between people, to educate, to inspire, and to create change in the world. My latest film, ‘Without Shame, Without Stigma, Without Fear,’ explores the climate of abortion access post-Roe v Wade, highlights the work of the local abortion activism group “End Abortion Stigma” and exposes the dangers of crisis pregnancy centers. The film screened at the Reproductive Justice Film Festival and won Best College Documentary at the Cayuga Film Festival.
I am excited to continue telling stories that matter and to collaborate with a team of passionate individuals in the Documentary Outreach program. Together, we can create impactful visual media that makes a difference.
GEWEN CHENG
Amateur fan of visual storytelling who makes incoherent stuff that rarely makes sense to anyone.
SOPHIA CRUISE
ZURI JOHNSON
Zuri Johnson is a passionate video producer and filmmaker based in Atlanta, where she runs Zuri Connects, a budding production company dedicated to storytelling through human connection. Her debut documentary film “Teaching Toddlers to Read” won Best Documentary Film at the Last Looks Student Film Festival, a testament to her commitment to impactful narratives. As an entrepreneur, she thrives on creating videos that amplify the voices of impact-driven businesses and non-profits. Every project she undertakes, whether a promotional video or a documentary, is rooted in the belief that at the heart of every story lies a profound human connection. This dedication to storytelling not only defines her work but also fulfills her deeply.
CHANTEL KOCH
Hi, I’m Chantel from Vienna!
Hopefully a future director with three years in the film and journalism game, fueled by coffee and a passion for documenting my travels through a lens. A self-proclaimed fantasy bookworm, I love tales filled with epic battles and a sprinkle of romance—because who says you can’t have both?
Starting December, I’m swapping the daily grind for a passport and an 4-month adventure across Southeast Asia! I hope for time to dedicate myself more to photography, behind-the-scenes magic, and many new experiences in the documentary film field, along with a chance to be part of the incredible Documentary Outreach in Thailand. I’m looking forward to the adventure—script in one hand, coffee in the other!
ANTHONY TRESSLER-HUGHES
I started out with photography by doing portrait photography in high school as well as working on the yearbook. This led me to pursue a degree in Film Studies to further strengthen these skills. During my time in undergrad I have created content for several companies such as Pulp Juice and Smoothie Bar and BORG Vodka Water.
ZALI WAGNER
My name is Zali, I am 21 years old and I live in Melbourne, Australia. I love all things film related and am very passionate about creating and telling stories. In 2022 I studied a Diploma of Screen and Media at RMIT, where I got to learn about the process of creating Film and TV. During this time I wrote and directed a short film for the course, where I was involved in the pre, during and post production process. In 2023 I was a Behind the Scenes Videographer on a student film where I put into practice the skills I learnt and was able experience a real set. I am eager to continue to develop these skills further throughout this experience.
OUTREACH
LEADER
ROBIN CANFIELD
ACTUALITY FIELD GUIDE + DOCUMENTARY COACH
Robin Canfield is an accomplished storyteller, photographer, and documentary filmmaker. He has spent the last 15 years tell stories in 30+ countries around the world. He co-founded Actuality Abroad and leads documentary workshops around the world, producing films that highlight the efforts of local changemakers. Under his guidance, Actuality Abroad has mentored hundreds of emerging documentary storytellers and contributed over 300+ ‘solution stories’ to the public domain.
With extensive expertise on collaborative documentary storytelling, Robin’s writing has been published by the Huffington Post, the Student Filmmakers Magazine, and in academic textbooks. His upcoming book, “The Impact Documentary Field Guide: How to Research, Plan, Film, and Finish Documentaries on Positive Change” is pending release with the Taylor and Francis publishing group.
A regular speaker at festivals and educational conferences, Robin advocates for a collaborative approach to real-life storytelling. He is currently in the early stages of a international research project to establish ethical standards and best practices for cross-cultural collaborative storytelling.