New Documentary Film Release

Produced by Jim Laurie.  Directed, filmed and edited by Rob McBride.  Written by Jim Laurie and Rob McBride. Post production editor: Ng Ka Ho.

We are pleased to announce the release of CAMBODIA O.R.  Versioned for the BBC  as- Cambodia Surgical Ward .

The film is a gritty, fly-on-the-wall profile of a small Anglo-American-Khmer surgical team trying to save lives among Cambodia's poorest and most desperate in Phnom Penh.    See excerpts on You Tube by clicking the Video Archive tab to the right or see:
 http://www.youtube.com/profile?gl=US&user=jimlaurie1#p/a/u/0/nzzvwsHn2ak

''Cambodia Surgical Ward'' received its first broadcast airing on BBC WORLD NEWS on January 30 and 31, 2010.  It had four airings in all territories except North America and the United Kingdom.   Distribution of the film in those areas is being sought.   
     Watch this space for news later in the year.

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Viewer comments on Cambodia Surgical Ward:

Saw film on Cambodian children, brilliant! Loved it!  Keep up the good work, keep making a difference!    Romano Karim, Pakistan

 Saw your documetary about the surgical ward in P. P.  I appreciated it very much. Fascinating to see these doctors take care of the poorest people inflicted by the heaviest diseases and deepest sorrows. Doctor Jim is fantastic!      Angela Ferrari  Rome Italy

 Congratulations on your sensitive well told film   Tuon Sary, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Just saw film on BBC.  Excellent Work.  Please pass on compliments to Rob McBride as well.  D. Plott in Chiang Mai Thailand   

"Saw your excellent programme re the Clinic in Cambodia on BBC world yesterday.  It was very moving and I can only applaud the work that they are doing there.  Good job you did there."      D. Phillips in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia

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For other recent films produced by Jim Laurie see: http://www.earthfactor.org

Jim's documentary film background: 

In 1979, for the first time, I had the opportunity to be attached to a documentary film unit.  In those days ABC News had a strong unit under the leadership of Pamela Hill.  The “ABC Close-up” unit produced an average 12 one hour documentaries a year to much critical acclaim.   In 1979, I was seconded to “Close-up” to write, co-produce with Phil Lewis, and present a film focusing on the Cambodian famine.   Entitled “Cambodia: This Shattered Land” it aired on the ABC network in 1980.  

This film led to other projects including “Japan: Myths Behind the Miracle” with director Malcolm Clarke in 1981, “The Yellow River,” a joint ABC–NHK production in 1987,  and later after my departure from ABC News – “Vietnam Now and Then” in 2000 and “Earth Factor: Making a Difference” (2008).

 In 2000, I created my first regular current affairs television series for STAR Group Ltd.  Called “Focus Asia,” it aired weekly through June 2004.   The series was picked up by Public Broadcast stations in the United States and aired from 2001 to 2005 on about 30 stations of the PBS network.

 In 2008, I created in association with presenter Lorraine Hahn, a six part series to highlight environmental awareness in Asia:   Called “Earth Factor Asia,” it has aired on Public Broadcast stations in California.    See www.earthfactor.org
Funding is currently being sought to continue work on this series. 

I have also developed a TV series for the production arm of the Journalism Media Studies Centre in 2007-08.  The JMSC's Business Leaders series aired on BBC WORLD NEWS in 2008 and excerpts may be seen at www.asiabusinessleaders.com