Bloomberg Documentary Series Is an Adventure-Filled Exploration of Asia’s Economic Landscape
Heckler Singapore announces its first foray into long form storytelling with the release of Momentum, a six-part documentary series commissioned by Bloomberg, part of Bloomberg Originals.
From research and scripting, through to production and post, Heckler worked closely with the team at Bloomberg Originals to bring this series to life.
Produced by Jasmine Tay, Momentum takes viewers on an adventure-filled exploration of Asia’s ever-evolving economic landscape at the intersection of technology, sports, entertainment and culture; diving deep into the heart of markets and stories driving the transformation of the region.
Hosted by Bloomberg’s chief correspondent for Southeast Asia, Haslinda Amin, the episodes explore a range of topics from India’s burgeoning role in the international space race to the architectural renaissance that is reshaping Korea, to an AI powered robotic revolution in Japan to how Singapore is shaping up as a future city and how semiconductor technology in Japan is moving into the future.
Filmed across nine cities and over seven months, Jasmine Tay called on Singaporean director June Cheong for this all-female strong production team. Together, the duo battled typhoons, earthquakes, cancelled flights and crew health issues to bring the whirlwind series to life. Jasmine’s background in narrative production, coupled with Heckler Singapore’s strong expertise in CG/VFX helped elevate the series, defining a new visual language that aligned with the director’s vision.
Commenting on her experience working with Jasmine, June says, “Jasmine is the Dana Scully to my Fox Mulder, the Abed to my Troy, the Samwise Gamgee to my Frodo Baggins. Like all great producers, she tempered my flights of imagination with her voice of reason. She also believed in my directorial vision and came armed with an open mind, a keen eye for logistics and a genuine dedication to making this project the best it could be.
“We encountered many surprises, hiccups and last-minute changes on the shoot, but Jasmine handled all these production setbacks with equanimity."
According to Jasmine, June’s attention to detail and pursuit of perfection was equally important when it came to empowering the crew to do their best work.
She says: “This is my first time working with June and it was quite the ride! Her passion for the project was like a caffeine boost for the whole team – impossible to ignore. She's an extremely hardworking writer/director; always diving into the details and pushing for that extra bit of magic in every episode.
“While she occasionally drove us to the brink with her relentless pursuit of perfection, it was all in the name of making the show shine."
Jasmine also highlights the skillset transfer and unique challenges attached to producing both short and long form content, acknowledging that Momentum provided the perfect opportunity to flex her skills across both arenas.
She explains, “Producing for short form/TVC projects is a sprint, and long form storytelling is a marathon, and whilst both have their challenges and opportunities, each lean into skills that complement the other. Ultimately, it really comes down to managing people, being economical with your shots, and adhering to tight schedules.”
