Filmmaker Austin Flack On His Upcoming Trip To Thailand

In nine days I will be returning to Thailand, finishing a project I began over a year ago. Last July, I spent a morning following two Burmese children, Kimboee and her brother Nezo, from the Burmese/Thai border crossing at Myawaddy into the narrow alleys and crowded market places of Mae Sot, where they went to beg—a daily ritual. My plan was to film them all day, from crossing to crossing.

Unfortunately my film was left unfinished. All of the children I met were barefoot and after several hours of filming I made the ‘mistake’ of buying them sandals in the market. I soon attracted a sizable crowd of street children hoping for handouts, rendering my fly-on-the-wall documentary approach obsolete. I had to leave Mae Sot the next day and returned to the states without a film. More frustratingly, I didn’t have a plan to help Kimboee, Nezo, and the other children like them.

Fortunately, the story doesn’t end there…

eleho is partnering with our friends at Compasio to help them build a drop-in center in Mae Sot. During my upcoming trip back to Mae Sot, I will be creating a short documentary film telling the story of these street children and highlighting the amazing work Compasio is doing to provide these children with safety, education, and opportunity. This film will be the centerpiece of ‘twenty4hope’, social media and monthly giving campaign, which will give individuals the opportunity to partner with Compasio, for as little as $20 a month, and help give hope to the street children of Thailand.

I am excited to announce that Cinevate has generously offered to provide some their amazing gear for the shoot. If you know anything about filmmaking, they make the best lens adaptors and camera accessories money can buy, and we am very, very grateful for their support.

In addition, this film wouldn’t be possible without the support of Pray With Africa, a Nashville-based non-profit, and my dear friends. Please check out the website and the documentary (which I created): “Listen: A New African Narrative.”  We’d love to book a screening at your church or school—contact info is on the website.

I look forward to updating you from the field in the next few weeks. As always, your prayers and support are vital. Thank you for reading this.

If you would like to support my trip you can donate here