As summer turns to autumn, we all feel nostalgic, so I think this time of year is a great time to reflect on my 8th year in the video production industry, which is globally connected to Romania. I look back on the story that brought me here and changed everything.
Late winter 2016 saw the start of this, when I received a call from a friend who was an ex-fixer based in London. I was tasked with assisting a History Channel team that was planning to film in Romania, Cluj-Napoca city, at the Museum of National History. The production was Ancient Aliens, a documentary production made for the History Channel.
I found the job tedious because I had to film a rock inside a museum for two days. At that time, I had to help myself with a high level of English, and there was a lot of confusion without knowing my role. As a production assistant, I was responsible for the logistical aspects of the shooting. After some time, I came to realize that, under the general title of a fixer, I was employed to work as a production coordinator, researcher, local producer, presenter, translator, and production manager. A fixer is a term that encompasses a wide range of media jobs.
Right after, it came a more adventurous project for Vice Tonight News, when I had the chance to work on a long-form video production about the 2016 protests of Romania against the Government connected with the collective fire.
In 2017, I was involved in travel shows and long-form documentary productions as a researcher, access producer, and location manager. Being in contact with the most iconic and also exclusive film locations in Romania, I delivered exclusive content for worldwide channels like : Discovery Channel or the BBC Radio, but also worked closely with freelance journalists on press investigations about political and social topics.
In 2018, I had my first experience working on a Netflix production as a full-time access producer for a sensitive documentary filmed in a Romanian prison. Later that same year, Netflix returned for a winter shoot in Transylvania for the comedic series Travels with My Father, produced by Tiger Aspect Productions in London and featuring Jack Whitehall and his father. The show’s narrative focused on showcasing Romania’s most iconic locations and people, highlighting the country’s rich cultural diversity. Additionally, I was involved in coordinating locations and providing filming access for An Extreme Railway Journey, a British production for Channel 5 that explored Romania’s rail lines.
Hey, guess what? Romania’s been a popular spot for filmmakers! We’re talking TV Arte, Polish crews, even Japanese and Chinese companies, all filming long-form stories and travel shows from the Danube Delta to the Carpathian Mountains. Freelance filmmakers love it here too! Remember “We Don’t Deserve Dogs”? That award-winning documentary filmed its transhumance scenes in Romania.
And in 2021, access documentaries were all the rage! National Geographic’s “Women at the End of the World,” made by a Polish team, filmed entirely in a Roma community in Gabor, showcasing their amazing traditions.
So, filmmakers from the UK, Germany, Denmark, and the Arab world were making these awesome long documentaries in Romania, and they were showing them on big platforms like Nike and UEFA.TV, Channel 5, National Geographic, and Al Jazeera.
Even with everything going on, I kept going with my video production work in 2022. It’s been a whole new ballgame since the war started in Ukraine. Because of where it is, Romania became the go-to spot for journalists wanting to cover the war’s impact as it unfolded. So many heartbreaking stories, so many lives changed – it’s all etched in my memory now. French and British journalists were the first to really spotlight what was happening in Romania, and I got to help out with journalistic pieces for France 24, Radio France International, and TV 5.
So, back in 2022, I took the plunge and launched AS Media Productions, a video production company right here in Bucharest, aiming to help out international production teams shooting in Romania.
Then, in 2023, I jumped into the exciting world of movie production! I had the pleasure of working alongside some talented filmmakers from Canada and the US, diving into intricate scripts and managing some pretty sizable budgets. Plus, I got involved in some gripping investigation pieces and hard-hitting documentaries. A real highlight was collaborating with BBC Nordic Productions on a series of true adoption stories from Romania.
2024 saw incredible growth in my planning and investigative abilities! The upcoming documentary on a notorious Romanian criminal is off to a fantastic start, and I’ve been deeply involved in fact-checking, research, and local production. The year culminated in a vibrant and engaging Romanian election season, attracting significant international interest. I had the rewarding opportunity to collaborate with esteemed international media outlets like El Mundo, Rai 1, Rai 3, TV 5, and BFMTV.
The project offered a fantastic opportunity to leverage diverse talents, particularly building bridges with key political figures during the presidential race. Meticulous planning was essential, of course, given the intense international media spotlight on Romania.
Even amidst the dynamic political landscape of 2025, Romania’s allure as a documentary travel show destination shone brightly! Thrilled to be back as the local producer for “Zero Stars,” this time for the Swedish version (after the Danish one in 2021), I embraced the chance to showcase the best of Romania. It’s always a joy! From the vibrant energy of Bucharest to the captivating beauty of Maramureș, the production promised to be an incredible journey across fifteen stunning locations, enriched by the contributions of passionate individuals.
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Looking back from 2025, things are shining bright! Romania’s potential as a filming destination is clearly blossoming, even if other locations are more well-known for now. The future is incredibly exciting!
