Four Directing Tips We Learned From Oscar-Nominated Filmmaker Eric Valli

The Himalayas. Once a sanctuary of solitude and sublime beauty, the summit of Everest has become a crowded playground for the world’s wealthiest thrill-seekers. This influx has marred the pristine landscape with heaps of trash and discarded oxygen tanks, prompting innovative solutions like drone cleanups. The commodification of these noble mountains mirrors a broader trend affecting everything from privacy to attention and art.

At the top of the world, you are no longer alone. At the top of the world, people queue up.

The vast expanses of these majestic mountains, once ripe for exploration and wonder, now face a digital encroachment on our human experience.

In this context, the work of Eric Valli—eternal traveller, cultural photographer, film director, and Nepal expert—has never been more essential. For decades, Valli has meticulously documented the high-altitude regions of Nepal, capturing their essence with unparalleled depth.

Eric entrusted The Hong Kong Fixer with two noteworthy projects. The first was "Yarsagumbu: Himalayan Gold Rush," a compelling documentary on the amazing cordyceps sinensis, a caterpillar colonised by fungus, collected at the top of mountains and a big business in Chinese medicine. The second was a commercial photoshoot for the Italian luxury brand Alviero Martini 1a Classe.

Here are four invaluable lessons from these collaborations:

1. The Creative Process: Seek, Then Lock On

Solving a creative problem often requires time and patience. This maturation period can be mistaken for procrastination, much to the chagrin of producers, production managers….. and fixers! However, this is the essence of creation. Eric deeply can engage a Rousseau like gestation phase, seeking THE shot with an intensive scan of the location. Ideas on legs.

For Alviero Martini’s 1a Classe shoot, while a couple of scenes were vividly imagined by Valli, one crucial element remained elusive. The iconic Hong Kong skyline needed to be captured perfectly. As an inveterate wanderer, Valli led us up Victoria Peak several times to find the ideal vantage point, perfectly contrasting with a red parrot he had spotted in Wan Chai.

We managed to bring the parrot to the peak and … without losing it and Eric, having locked on, got a great shot.

Doubt and fear of not finding the perfect idea can be daunting. Trusting the process and understanding that the brain continues to connect and seek solutions—even during sleep—is crucial.

The right idea will come.

2. The Direct Approach: Immerse

Full engagement with the subject matter is paramount. Valli immerses himself in the environments and societies he documents. He builds deep connections with the people he films and photographs, listening, visiting, leaving, and returning. This immersion is not about cultural assimilation but about achieving a form of cultural osmosis that enriches his perspective. While maintaining the necessary cultural distance that a photographer's eye demands, Valli achieves a balance that allows for a deep understanding without losing objectivity.

For "Yarsagumbu," this meant fully engaging with the local communities involved in the harvesting of cordyceps, understanding their livelihoods, and capturing their stories with authenticity.

3. The Notebook: Collect

An artist’s mind is a constant source of inspiration, where ideas can be fleeting obsessions, easily forgotten. Valli addresses this by keeping a notebook tucked in his belt at all times, capturing thoughts and observations that feed his creative reservoir—his "compost heap" of ideas, as Neil Gaiman might say. Most of these notes may never see the light of day, but the act of recording them fosters memory and connections with other ideas. Creativity thrives on these connections. An artist, after all, is a collector.

4. Language: The Master Key

Fluent in Nepalese, Valli uses language as a bridge to form deeper connections and uncover stories, much like Alexandra David Neel, who introduced Tibetan culture to the West. In an era where artificial intelligence and digital tools promise universal translation, the essence of storytelling—particularly in documentaries and portrait photography—remains deeply human. Language encompasses words, body language, emotion, and expression. No AI-powered brain implant could ever replace that.

At The Hong Kong Fixer, we understand that language is the master key to unlocking the power of stories in film and video production. For those seeking Cantonese dreams and high-quality video and film production, look no further than The HK Fixer.

Eric Valli’s approach to filmmaking offers practical lessons in patience, deep engagement, note-taking, and the power of language. From his commercial work in Hong Kong to documenting Nepal's cordyceps harvesters, Valli emphasises authentic storytelling. At The Hong Kong Fixer, we apply these insights in our projects, striving for creativity and genuine connection. Valli’s methods remind us of the value of capturing human stories with care and attention. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Eric Valli for his trust and collaboration.