What happens when some of the country’s next gen female videographers, editors and photographers come together? You get a powerful reminder that collaboration trumps competition, and women are stronger together.
Meet "Page 5," as their chat is currently named, a group of young videographers, editors and photographers with a shared passion for storytelling, lenses and lights, but also travel, beauty, and art! All of whom know the value of a woman's point of view in capturing and telling stories, and the challenges that come with being in what is still a male-dominated field.
It was the thick of the December rush when this get together happened: at a time when reunions fill calendars, these women, upon the initiative of Tin Villanueva, decided to all meet up for the very first time. “It was so much fun spending time with like-minded women, and knowing that our experiences are aligned,” shares Kim Wee Ebol. “We talked about how we all started and our journey getting to where we are today, whether it’s about working behind the scenes or making sure that we execute good content for our clients, and wanting to create meaningful projects that will also make us feel fulfilled at the end of the day.”
Steph Cea adds, “It’s inspiring to be part of a community that shares the same space but still genuinely supports one another.”
She Talks Asia chats with four of these women about the highs and lows of working behind the scenes.
1. What has been your most unforgettable project so far?
Three come to mind!
Salinbago, a series of 12 documentaries featuring Philippine arts and crafts, to be able to preserve our strong heritage and culture. It was a project for the Design Center of the Philippines in partnership with the NCCA, and my first project where I truly appreciated the power of filmmaking, and how curiosity can fuel storytelling.
I shot short documentaries featuring Melbourne-based artists on what inspires them, and their design + thinking process. During this solo trip to Melbourne, I decided to work on this project while taking a short-course in RMIT on documentary video production.
Working with Heart Evangelista in Art Basel Hong Kong—a reminder that dreams do come true. Dream ko lang dati to visit Art Basel but sobrang swerte sa Universe na nakapunta ako for work!
2. What is the toughest part of your job that people may not realize?
For me, one of the toughest parts of the job is managing my energy.
We are always on the field. Once we arrive at the shoot location, we must always give our best: interacting with people, anticipating their next steps so we are ready to document the moment. Whole day na nakatayo with heavy equipment. Makipagsiksikan sa venue para lang makuha yung shot. Editing and most especially editing on time! Pag buhos ng creativity.
We want to give our all in every shoot. To be honest, until now, I’m still figuring out how to manage my energy.
There is a toughest but easiest part of the job: Trusting the process. Doing the small steps everyday—hoping that it will bloom in the future.
3. Advice for women who are interested to get into video production?
Tiwala lang!!!!!! Tiwala lang na dadami rin tayo.
Embrace your female energy. You have your own perspective of telling the story. Once you embrace that, you can attract clients na swak din sa what you can bring to the table.
For women creators in the advertising/marketing industry—embrace the way you consume content kasi yan din ang way para effective yung pag gawa ng budol content.
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1. What has been your most unforgettable project so far?
First thing that comes to mind is the project we shot for Tatler Asia featuring Laufey. It’s unforgettable for me because I couldn’t believe I had the opportunity to film an international singer alongside my team. The experience was nerve-wracking due to the time pressure and also because it was the first time working with the Tatler team who flew in from Singapore. The final video turned out amazing, making it a memorable milestone in my career.
2. What is the toughest part of your job that people may not realize?
I’d say it’s the constant cycle of creating and consuming. I often experience burnout and would have to take time to rest and recharge my creativity. Our job isn’t just plug and play—it requires energy and attention from pre-production all the way to post-production.
3. Advice for women who are interested to get into video production?
Just do your thing, and don’t let anyone bring you down. Focus on your craft because it will speak louder than words. At the same time, it’s okay to fail because it’s part of the game. Charge to experience and keep creating.
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1. What has been your most unforgettable project so far?
Instead of a project, I’d say most unforgettable client to work with— it was working with the Queen of All Media, Ms. Kris Aquino, back in 2019. I was still in my early years of being a video editor and videographer, so working with such an iconic figure felt surreal. My first project editing for her was a video where she bought Chanel earrings after surviving a Japan earthquake—so classic Kris Aquino. “Love, love, love!!!”
2. What is the toughest part of your job that people may not realize?
As a Freelancer, it’s all about balancing creativity with logistics. While it may look fun and glamorous—working with celebrities, content creators—it’s not just about that. Our reality involves tight deadlines, last-minute changes, indecisive clients, chasing invoices, keeping up with the trends and a whole lot more! Despite the challenges, though, I wouldn’t trade this job for anything else.
3. Advice for women who are interested in getting into the male-dominated space of video production?
It’s intimidating at first yes, but girl, trust me—you can do anything you set your mind to. It’s so important to find the right people and surround yourself with those who support and empower you to thrive. The industry may still have its barriers, but they’re breaking down faster than ever, and there’s a growing network of women supporting each other in the field. It’s time to shatter the norm that only guys can lift those big lenses, stabilizers, and all the heavy gear. Stay persistent, stay curious, and keep pushing those boundaries! You got this, we got this!
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1. What has been your most unforgettable project so far?
My first Hollywood coverage for Hope Soberano’s red carpet event for “Lisa Frankenstein” and the recently concluded Fashion Month, covering for Pia Wurtzbach, are some of my most unforgettable projects to date. Both events challenged my creativity as well as my capability to edit as quickly as possible since these types of content had to be released real-time. To top it off, I met so many icons and legends in their respective fields and I was also able to take photos and videos of them during the events, which is a bonus!
2. What is the toughest part of your job that people may not realize?
Toughest part, I would say, is the thought process and the planning that you go through before shoot days—I come up with a concept and treatment that would fit the overall vibe, making sure that I am able to translate my vision into the videos that I am shooting. Some creatives come up with the same kind of content, but that doesn’t mean that we’re copying each others outputs. I always believe in healthy competition and every work is inspired by another person’s work, we all improvise and translate materials based on our own interpretation and perspective.
3.Advice for women who are interested to get into the male-dominated space of video production?
Ever since I started working in the industry, the idea that “being a woman in a male-dominated industry” did not cross my mind.
I understand that there is pressure around the idea that this industry is male-dominated and I think media has been putting it this way for so long. But if we take a step back, we’ll come to realize that in these past years, there are so many wonderful female producers, directors, writers, cinematographers who work so hard to create beautiful materials for audiences to appreciate.
Never focus on the thought that it is a male-dominated space. Work hard and work your way up. Connect with as many people as you can and build strong relationships. Don’t stop creating and don’t let the idea of “being surrounded by men” hinder you from letting your vision come to life. It’s not you vs men, it’s only you vs you. Push yourself to do good, stay passionate, your work will always speak for itself and nobody can ever take away your ideas and creativity from you.
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