BLOOMBERG ORIGINALS
Over the past few years, I’ve had the opportunity to contribute to a range of Bloomberg Originals productions across Southeast Asia—shedding light on powerful, underreported stories from the region.
From uncovering the international black market for stolen Cambodian statues to investigating the rise of Chinese-backed scam centers in Laos, my work has explored the deep and complex transformations taking place across the Mekong region.
I’ve also documented the human and environmental consequences of China’s expanding dam projects along the Mekong River, offering a local perspective from Chiang Rai. In Cambodia, I reported on the country’s mounting microfinance crisis, capturing the voices of families trapped in cycles of debt as rural livelihoods disappear.
Inside China’s Controversial $167 Billion Mega-Dam
In one of the most earthquake-prone regions on Earth—where the Tibetan Plateau collides with the Himalayas—China is undertaking one of its most ambitious clean energy projects: a colossal hydropower system that could eclipse even the Three Gorges Dam. By tunneling through the mountains surrounding the world’s deepest canyon, the project represents a high-stakes bet on renewable energy—with major implications for downstream countries along the Mekong.
In December 2025, I traveled to Chiang Rai together with producer Olivia Yasukawa to explore the transboundary effects of upstream Chinese dams on communities living along the Thai stretch of the Mekong River.
The segment starts at 8.54
CREDITS
Producers: Olivia Yasukawa- Robin Fall
Editors: Lauren Teo - Vanessa Perdriau
Narrator: Leila Hussain
Reporter: Dan Murtaugh
Field Producers: Tom Gibson - Ryan Cavataro - Kazi Sharowar Hussain
Camera Operators: Jon M. Oldmeadow - James B. Hammond - Valeria Verastegui - Thomas Cristofoletti - Angus Bennett - Dhruba Jyoti Das - Bhargav Changmai
Motion Graphic Designer: Crystal Tai - Gonzalo Sepúlveda
Creative Director: Rubab Shakir
Sound Mix: Pitch & Sync
Colorist: Mike Keelin
Post Producer: Elizabeth Theiss
Additional Images: Thomas Cristofoletti
Managing Editor: David E. Rovella
Executive Producers: Alex Gittleson - Regina Dellea
How One Man Rules in Asia’s Golden Triangle
Law enforcement says illegal activity is thriving in the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone (GTSEZ) in Laos, where scammers, drug runners, and human traffickers allegedly operate with impunity.
This Bloomberg Originals investigation explores how a Chinese businessman became the de facto ruler of this remote area in Southeast Asia.
In May 2025, I traveled to the GTSEZ to witness firsthand the surreal reality of this place.
CREDITS
Producers: Taimoor Sobhan - Steph Chung
Editors: Lauren Teo - Richard Bardsley
Camera Operators: Thomas Cristofoletti - Taimoor Sobhan - Joshua Paul - Adryel Talamantes - Patrick Wang
Narrator: Patpicha Tanakasempipat
Motion Designer: Craig Maxwell
Reporters: Matthew Campbell - Patpicha Tanakasempipat
Supervising Producer: Tom Gibson
Creative Director: Rubab Shakir
Consulting Producer: Raymond Schillinger
Editorial Supervisor: David E. Rovella
Executive Producers: Lisa Yuriko Thomas - Alex Gittleson - Andrew Barden - Tre Shallowhorn - Kyle Kramer
Cambodia to Museums: We Want Our Statues Back
“Dynamite” Douglas Latchford was once known for buying and selling Cambodia’s beautiful, intricate temple statues—masterpieces that were looted from sacred sites across the country.
Now, Cambodia is working to bring them back.
For this film, I traveled to remote temples in Preah Vihear province alongside a former looter, and filmed interviews in Phnom Penh with the dedicated team working to recover these lost treasures.
CREDITS
Producers: Henry Baker - Adrianne Jeffries
Senior Producer: Leila Hussain
Editors: Alix Diaconis - Katharina Glanz
Camera: Thomas Cristofoletti - Andy Ball - Elliot Sng - Zach Goldstein
Video & Photo: Thomas Cristofoletti
Motion Designer: Gina Barton
Art Director: Rubab Shakir
Managing Editor: David Rovella
Executive Producer: Neville Gillett
Senior Executive Producer: Tre Shallowhorn
Head of Video Strategy: Raymond Schillinger
THE DARK SIDE OF MICROFINANCE
Microfinance, once hailed as a miracle cure for poverty, has become a lending system run amok—fueled by institutions that should be helping to fix it.
For this documentary, I traveled to rural Cambodia to document the work of the human rights NGO LICADHO, which is supporting families facing an extraordinary financial crisis.
CREDITS
Producer: Leila Hussain
Editor: Richard Bardsley
Original Reporting: Gavin Finch - David Kocieniewski
Camera: Thomas Cristofoletti - Sameera Rathnayaka - Yovegami Azcona - Tom Gibson - Jordan Oplinger - Michael Byhoff
Field Producer: Lucero Cruz
Fixer: Sun Narin - Aanya Wipulasena
Motion Designer: Christian Capestany
Art Director: Rubab Shakir
Executive Producer: Neville Gillett
Managing Editor: David Rovella
Senior Executive Producer: Tre Shallowhorn
Head of Video Strategy: Raymond Schillinger