When Purpose Meets the Lens: A Story from Indonesia

Storytelling is, without a doubt, a noble art. Every now and then, a story comes along that   reminds you why you chose this path in the first place—why, despite the chaos and the constant chase, you keep showing up with your camera, your curiosity, and your heart wide open. This story was exactly that.

A Long-Awaited Meeting in Bali

I was packing my bags with excitement. I was finally going to meet Patrick Moreau of Muse Storytelling—a mentor who had guided me for over a decade, now turned friend. Our meeting was happening in Bali, and little did I know that it would be far more than a long-awaited creative collaboration. It would become one of the most pivotal storytelling experiences of my life.

The moment I landed, Patrick greeted me not just with warmth but with a story.

Meeting Maria: A Story That Stays With You

Patrick had recently met Maria, a Russian woman with a past shaped by resilience and purpose. As a child, she fled Russia, made her way to Egypt, and eventually found refuge in Indonesia, where she now calls Bali home. Her journey was far from ordinary, and her spirit was even more extraordinary.

Maria had worn many hats—tourist guide, event manager—but none of them fulfilled her. Eventually, she became a midwife. It was during one of the deliveries that her life—and the lives of many—changed forever. The baby she had just delivered was going to be abandoned and discarded.

That moment shook her to her core.

She began to uncover the harsh truths surrounding abandoned children and pregnant women across Southeast Asia, particularly in underserved communities. Factors like poverty, lack of education, restrictive cultural beliefs, and religious pressures contributed to this crisis. And so, AnakKita was born.

The Mission of AnakKita

AnakKita Foundation is committed to rescuing abandoned children and supporting pregnant women in desperate situations. Their work is not just about saving lives—it's about transforming them.

• Operation Rescue: A frontline response to save abandoned babies and offer them shelter.

• The Evergreen Home: A safe space for mothers and children with a vetted care system.

• Support a Mother Program: Providing single pregnant mothers the help they need to survive and thrive.

• Big Umbrella Initiative: Collaborating with local communities, non-profits, and authorities to ensure no child is left behind.

A Story Worth Telling

Soon after I landed, Patrick asked me if I’d like to help create a sizzle reel—a short, powerful pitch to show producers in hopes of making a full-length documentary on AnakKita’s mission. I jumped at the opportunity.

What was originally a four-day trip to work on a film for Four Seasons and an unexpected story for Redux Foundation, suddenly had another powerful purpose—AnakKita.

• Four Seasons

• Redux

• AnakKita

Three stories. One trip. Endless purpose.

A Shoot That Felt Like Magic

We interviewed Maria for an hour. It was my first time conducting a live interview using the Muse Process, guided by the master himself, Patrick. The entire shoot felt effortlessly aligned. We reached the location ten minutes early, set up in under 45 minutes, and everything just flowed.

Lights. Camera. Sound. Art.

Maria arrived, already prepared to share. What followed was 60 minutes of raw, emotional storytelling. We listened, we filmed, and yes—we cried.

Alongside us was Artjom, a Russian cinematographer living in Bali, who captured beautiful B-roll of Maria working in her NGO and visiting the centers she helped create.

Editing with Intention and Innovation

Once back at our studio, we dove into post-production. What made this experience even more unique was our use of Musey, an AI agent —a perceptual artificial intelligence tool that analyzes and indexes video into human-friendly concepts. It allowed us to quickly navigate through hours of footage, pull the moments that mattered, and elevate the edit.

We even ran into a few audio glitches, but thanks to available AI tools, we were able to restore and enhance much of it, reminding us how, when used intentionally, technology can amplify creativity and maximize efficiency.

Why Storytelling Will Always Be My Calling

This experience reignited the very reason I fell in love with storytelling. It’s about stepping into something greater than yourself, giving voice to those who are often unheard, and transforming pain into a force for change.

What we created with Patrick Moreau, Maria, and the AnakKita Foundation wasn’t just a film—it was a reminder that when a story is told with heart and honesty, it doesn’t just touch lives—it transforms them.

Because some stories aren’t just meant to be shared—they’re meant to spark a movement.