The Cambodian people gave the world the magnificent temples of Angkor, the Burmese the incredible temples of Bagan, so it is hardly surprising to find that the Mekong region is brimming with talented craftsmen. Carpenters, sculptors and tailors combine together to produce anything and everything a local set might require, from stilt houses to antique furniture, stone Gods to silk drapes. Some international production crews are understandably concerned about committing to the region without an army of an art department from overseas, but in reality this is overkill, as with the right direction Cambodians and their counterparts in Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam can produce sets and props of every shape and size. Working with an international Production Designer, Art Director, Property Master or Costume Designer, Hanuman Films’ set teams can ensure an elegant and accurate set for a fraction of the cost in the US or Europe. When in the Mekong region...

Our skilled carpenters, bricklayers, electricians and labourers can cover all construction needs in Cambodia and the Mekong region. They are adept at recreating traditional villages in any location required, as well as capturing the essence of colonial-era architecture at short notice. If the site is sensitive such as the temples of Angkor, our construction team can create a set away from the location and move it in just a day or two before shooting. This was the routine for filming the floating village scene at Angkor Wat for Tomb Raider. As Angkor Wat is the most sensitive of all Angkor’s incredible structures, we were not permitted to leave the village standing for longer than was absolutely necessary. We opted to construct it and dress it off-site, before shipping it into Angkor Wat and reassembling it the day before filming.

However, it’s not only sets which require construction. Often access to locations is a logistical nightmare in the region, particularly at some of the popular jungle ruins at Angkor such as Ta Prohm. Our workers are highly experienced at building safe and sensitive wooden staircases to easily access higher points of major temples. Safety and sensitivity are of equal importance, as not only must we ensure the crew gets to the location with a minimum of fuss, but we must be sure that the temple authorities are happy we are not interfering with the aesthetic and integrity of the temple for other visitors.

Sometimes it is necessary to go one step further and construct a small road to a location. In consultation with local authorities, we assess what work might need to be done to access a particular location. Sometimes we commission the work to make access easier, or sometimes it is requested by the authorities to protect ancient stones before they give us access to certain areas. Either way, our team can sandbag a trail through the worst conditions and are well versed in constructing temporary bridges to overcome seasonal watercourses. During Tomb Raider, getting the service vehicles in from Thailand required a monumental effort and we employed two military units to take care of bridge construction on National Highway 6 between Poipet and Siem Reap. Thankfully those days are generally a thing of the past as regional infrastructure improves. But sandbagging and temporary bridge construction are still an everyday reality for access to Ta Prohm, as during the recent filming of Jean-Jacques Annaud’s Two Brothers.

A local construction crew in the Mekong region may not look quite like a construction team from Los Angeles or London, but they can get the job done just as well. Bamboo scaffolding may not look quite as sophisticated as a metal scaffold, but it was bamboo scaffolds that were used to build Angkor and their reliability is legendary in Asia. When in Rome…

The Mekong region is a rich source of props, whether for a film about Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand or Vietnam. Cambodia has a rich array of beautiful objects for an opulent set, including beatific Buddhas, intricate stone and wood carvings, stunning silver, luxuriant lacquerware, elegant furniture and traditional silk. But even the every day objects in Cambodia have great character and other interesting items include fish traps, rattan work and bamboo objects. We can source anything from fine art to political propaganda, cyclos to long boats, as long as it is linked to Cambodia or the Mekong region. Hanuman Films has a network of partners – collectors and seekers alike – in this part of the world, so it is often far easier for us to track down objects than for an art department located a world away.

Not only is the region a rich source of props, but skilled artisans here ensure that even if you can’t find exactly what you are looking for, you can produce it quickly and cheaply in-country. Local carpenters are adept at constructing elegant furniture in any style to the suit the need and wood and stone carvers can turn out replica statues or pieces in no time at all.

The Mekong region is a rich source of costumes for designers. There is an array of clothes available in local markets, as Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam receive a huge volume of international donations annually. Anything can be found from Asia, Europe and the Americas. When it comes to traditional local costumes, everything is available locally including the krama (checked scarf) of Cambodia, the silk skirts of Laos, the longgi of Myanmar and the Ao Yai of Vietnam. Anything that isn’t immediately available, such as period costume, can be tailored cheaply. Asian tailors are highly skilled and can copy any photograph or design at short notice. With the supervision of an experienced international costume designer, anything is possible in Cambodia and the Mekong region.