Pakistan's Bonded Slaves
We met Rupo Bheel back in 2017 who had escaped a landlord's private jail in the scorching deserts of rural Umarkot in Sindh province. Along with activist Ghulam Rasool, me and the documentary crew set out to film this rescue operation to free Rupo's young wife and children. After a complex court case and a gruelling filming schedule, we were finally able to document these moments when the Sindh police raided the landlord's private jail to free some of the most vulnerable people on the planet. Despite such efforts, more than 3 million people like Rupo still remain stuck in debt bondage across Pakistan.
Directed and Produced: Shehzad Hameed Ahmad
Full Documentary for CNA: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/watch/undercover-asia/chained-debt-1634061
My top **19 ways to tell a video 🎥 story** that captivates and connects:
1. Start with a abrupt hook that grabs attention in the first 10 seconds.
2. Define the four P's of storytelling: plot, purpose, people and place
3. Utilize a clear narrative arc: setup, conflict, resolution.
4. Show, don’t tell to master the visual elements of your story
5. Understand your viewership, their interests, and their problems
6. Change the length of your story according to the broadcast medium
7. Go behind the scenes for an intimate, real feel.
8. Include twists and turns to keep viewers guessing.
9. Use lighting: less for negative emotions, more for happier ones.
10. Leverage pacing; slow down for impact, speed up for excitement.
11. Create a sense of urgency in your narrative.
12. Use colour psychology: an orange grade evokes happiness, youth
13. Make your message universal - everyone loves a good “human” story.
14. Harness the power of silence - sometimes less is more.
15. Engage with real-life stakes: what’s at risk?
16. Show transformation or growth – people love before-and-after stories.
17. Use metaphors or analogies to simplify complex topics.
18. End with a strong call to action that feels natural.
19. Experiment with different formats: animations, interviews, vlogs.
Which of these do you think will resonate the most in your next project? 💬👇 hashtag#VideoStorytelling hashtag#ContentCreation hashtag#StorytellingStrategy
Building something big 🤗
#dreams #goals #uae #startup #founder #media #journalism #film #documentary
Pakistan's Lucky Irani Circus
Our short documentary on Pakistan's only circus - The Lucky Irani - that travels with its 400-strong crew of local and international performers, touring from village to village to provide affordable entertainment while pushing against social, cultural and religious restrictions.
#pakistan #circus #performers #lahore #karachi #islamabad #rawalpindi #peshawar #art #circuslife #circusarts #circusinspiration #artoftheday #artist #pakistanstreetstyle #pakistani #pakistanmediaindustry
Pakistan's Water Sardar Fighting Heat Waves In World's Hottest City
In Jacobabad, one of the hottest cities on the planet, a Pakistani Sikh activist is fighting back against heat waves that are pushing the limits of human liveability. Temperatures in this landlocked city in Pakistan’s Sindh Province crossed 100 degrees for 51 straight days in 2022 and things have only gotten worse since then.
Copyrights: SHA Films
Excerpt from our documentary film "India's Disinformation War" where we got rare access to film the workings of a disinformation operative. Anil is hired by political parties to create factually incorrect content to create divisions by any means possible on the internet. He creates and spreads content in the shape of memes and caricatures across WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram and other social media sites. This is no secret in India as the country heads into the upcoming general elections. Back in 2019, the BJP planned to hire 200,000 cyber warriors like Anil in the state of Uttar Pradesh for their political campaigning on the web.
Full Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPHrjxlHx2E&t=8s
Award-winning documentary filmmaker Shehzad Hameed Ahmad's live conversation on CNA Singapore!
An award-winning documentary film company based in Colombia, Singapore and Pakistan [www.shafilms.net]
