Seven Days in Bukidnon:

Behind the Scenes of a Documentary Production

The Pineapple Studios Journal | Production Diaries

Of all the places Pineapple Studios could have ended up filming, there was something rather fitting about our latest production taking us to Bukidnon, home to some of the Philippines' most famous pineapple plantations.

For a company called Pineapple Studios, it felt like we'd come full circle.

Pineapple Studios meets the pineapple capital of the Philippines.

Our team travelled from Manila to Mindanao for a seven-day documentary shoot, exploring the province, meeting incredible people and capturing stories that we can't wait to share.

We can't reveal too much about the documentary just yet. You'll have to wait for the trailer for that!

But what we can share is what goes on behind the camera.

Because documentary filmmaking isn't just about arriving somewhere beautiful with a camera. It's about the research, the planning, the people, the unexpected discoveries and all the work that goes into turning real-life moments into a compelling story.

So welcome to our first Pineapple Studios production diary, taking you behind the scenes of life on location.

Getting There: The Production Before the Production

There's nothing quite like a 3 am alarm to remind you that production has officially begun.

And if there's one thing you learn quickly in filmmaking, it's that sometimes getting to the shoot can be a production in itself.

In early September, the Pineapple Studios team was preparing for a destination shoot, filming a documentary pilot in Bukidnon, Mindanao.

Seven days of filming, exploring new locations, meeting fascinating people and immersing ourselves in a world very different from the one we'd left behind in Manila.

But before we could get to any of that, we had to actually get there.

While most of Manila was still asleep, our crew was already waking up, making their way to the office and preparing for the journey ahead.

For us, the trip to Bukidnon began long before we even reached NAIA.

Transporting Dead Bodies?

Travelling with a documentary crew isn't quite the same as packing for a holiday.

There are cameras, lenses, sound equipment, lighting, luggage and countless other essentials that need to make it safely from one location to another.

In the middle of the night, our team was busy packing and checking equipment, making sure everything was accounted for.

From our FS6 camera to a folder full of release forms, every piece of equipment and paperwork had its place.

Our Pelican cases were packed and ready to go.

And then there were the light stands.

Wrapped together in a rather questionable-looking bundle, they looked suspiciously like something straight out of a crime documentary.

We were half expecting airport security to ask whether we were transporting a dead body.

Thankfully, no awkward explanations were required.

Just another perfectly normal day in production.

This Is Why Being Early Matters, Direk!

By 4:30 am, we'd made it to the airport.

And just when we thought everything was going according to plan, our director, Tom, and executive producer, Kim, realised that one rather important piece of equipment had been left behind.

A camera.

Yes, an actual camera.

Not exactly ideal when you're travelling across the country to film a documentary.

Fortunately, we'd built extra time into our schedule for exactly these kinds of unexpected situations.

Tom made a quick trip home while the rest of the crew continued organising the equipment and preparing for check-in.

Camera recovered, we were back on track.

Between the Pelican cases, personal luggage, camera bags and equipment that needed extra care, checking in an entire production crew was an adventure of its own.

But eventually, everything and everyone made it through.

And with coffees finally in hand, we could officially say our Bukidnon adventure had begun.

Welcome to Mindanao

After flying from Manila to Cagayan de Oro, we collected our equipment, met our driver, Kuya Rio, and began the journey into Bukidnon.

As the busy streets gave way to rolling green hills and mountain landscapes, we were reminded just how beautiful the Philippines is beyond the cities.

Our first stop was Manolo Fortich, just minutes away from the iconic Del Monte pineapple plantation.

For a company called Pineapple Studios, it couldn't have been a more fitting place to begin.

And in production, every minute counts.

We'd barely arrived before we were already meeting our first contributors.

Over lunch with some wonderful locals, conversations quickly turned into new connections, introductions and potential stories.

It's moments like these that remind us how valuable local knowledge is when producing a documentary.

That evening, we headed off to meet another contributor. Although it wasn't originally planned as a filming session, we brought our cameras along anyway.

One rule we always follow in documentary production: never assume you won't need your camera.

And thank goodness we did.

What started as a simple meeting turned into a beautiful, unexpected scene that we couldn't have planned even if we'd tried.

Luckily, our team was ready to capture it.

We'd spent weeks preparing for this production, but within hours of arriving, we were already discovering new stories and capturing moments we hadn't anticipated.

And that was only day one.

Beyond the Camera: How We Find the Story

Some of the most important work in documentary production happens long before the cameras start rolling.

Before travelling to Bukidnon, we'd spent weeks researching, developing our story, identifying potential contributors and planning the key moments we needed to capture.

But no matter how much you prepare, documentary filmmaking has a way of surprising you.

You might arrive expecting to follow one story, only to discover something even more compelling on the ground.

And that's where the real skill of documentary producing comes in.

Knowing when to follow a new lead, when to ask another question and when to change direction.

Our on-location team included a director, two camera operators, a production manager, a camera assistant, a researcher and a producer, all working together to bring the story to life.

While our camera team focused on capturing the action, research and producing continued behind the scenes.

Finding contributors, building relationships, securing permissions and developing stories as they unfolded.

It's a constant balance between following the plan and recognising when something unexpected deserves your attention.

Because great documentaries aren't just about capturing what's happening.

They're about recognising the story worth telling.

Life on Location

After spending our first night in Manolo Fortich, it was time to head further into Bukidnon, towards Impasugong, where we would be based for the remainder of the shoot.

As we made our way through the province, the busy streets of Manila became a distant memory, replaced by vast landscapes, countryside and mountain views that looked almost too good to be real.

Our accommodation for the week was a farmhouse nestled in the countryside.

On paper, it sounded rather idyllic.

In reality, we quickly discovered that we would be sharing our temporary home with a rather enthusiastic colony of ants.

And they were everywhere.

There was also the small matter of having no running hot water, which made showering after a long day of filming an experience in itself.

Yet somehow, despite being surrounded by countryside, with questionable plumbing and an army of unwanted houseguests, we still had Wi-Fi.

Modern technology really is a marvel.

But there was something rather special about waking up surrounded by nature, away from the noise of Manila, knowing that each day would bring new people, new experiences and new discoveries.

And that's one of the things we love most about filming on location.

No two days are ever quite the same.

Divide and Conquer: Finding the Story in the Chaos

The main event we were there to film was a large-scale competition, bringing together teams from across the region.

While we can't reveal too much about the documentary just yet, what we can tell you is that it was a huge undertaking.

With 23 teams of around 10 members each, that's approximately 230 potential contributors, not including organisers, spectators and everyone else behind the scenes.

And somewhere amongst all those people were the stories we were looking for.

This is where having a good team, clear communication and the ability to make quick decisions really matters.

We quickly divided and conquered.

One camera focused on capturing the finer details and atmosphere, while another moved around the grounds with our director, Tom, who was also operating a camera himself.

One of the advantages of having a director who can shoot is the flexibility it gives you, particularly when you're working with a lean production team.

Meanwhile, our researcher and producer were constantly on the move, speaking to contributors, following new leads and making sure we weren't missing important moments.

With everyone spread across a huge outdoor location, running between our production base and contributors dotted around the grounds became a workout in itself.

And our headsets?

Absolute lifesavers.

They allowed us to communicate in real time, redirect cameras and alert each other whenever something interesting was unfolding.

When you're filming real life, you don't always get a second chance to capture a moment.

Everyone needs to be ready.

Careful of the Carabaos!

Of course, filming in Bukidnon came with its fair share of unexpected adventures.

Long days under the sun, unpredictable conditions and the occasional encounter with an animal that wasn't particularly interested in being filmed.

At the beginning of the trip, Tom had given the crew one very clear instruction:

Stay away from the animals.

A perfectly reasonable request when you're working around large farm animals.

For the most part, we followed his advice.

For the most part.

There was one particularly memorable encounter involving a carabao that came a little too close for comfort.

Let's just say Tom's safety briefing suddenly made a lot more sense.

While we might have been there to capture the action, sometimes the action had other ideas.

And it's these moments that become the stories you laugh about long after the production has wrapped.

Despite the occasional animal-related excitement, what really stood out was the warmth and generosity of the local communities.

The people we encountered were incredibly welcoming, sharing their stories, their experiences and a glimpse into a way of life very different from the one we'd left behind in Manila.

As filmmakers, we have the privilege of stepping into other people's worlds, listening to their experiences and being trusted to share a part of their lives.

And that's something we never take for granted.

Because behind every great documentary are the people who trust us to tell their stories.

And occasionally, a carabao with other plans.

All in a Day's Work (Or Seven)

Of course, behind every beautiful shot is a crew working hard to make it happen.

By the end of the week, we'd accumulated our fair share of ant bites, sunburn and full-on workouts.

There were early call times, long filming days, last-minute schedule changes, equipment to carry from one location to another and plenty of thinking on our feet.

But that's production.

What looks effortless on screen often takes an extraordinary amount of effort behind the camera.

And that's exactly why having the right team matters.

With a small, focused crew, everyone had an important role to play, from researching and developing stories on the ground to directing, filming and making sure we captured the moments that mattered.

Our approach wasn't to overshoot or film everything simply because we could.

It was about being intentional, understanding the story we wanted to tell and making sure every day on location counted.

Of course, there were moments when a hot shower, an air-conditioned room and an ant-free bed sounded like the greatest luxuries in the world.

But looking back at the footage reminded us why we'd made the journey in the first place.

The landscapes, the people and the stories we'd captured were worth every early morning and every unexpected obstacle.

And above all, we felt incredibly grateful.

Grateful to explore another beautiful part of the Philippines.

Grateful to meet people who welcomed us into their communities.

And grateful that we get to call storytelling our job.

Because for us, documentary filmmaking is so much more than capturing beautiful images.

It's about curiosity, connection and discovering stories that deserve to be told.

Seven days, countless memories and one very special production.

And now, it's straight into the edit.

Because while the cameras may have stopped rolling, the storytelling is far from over.

This is where everything we've researched, discovered and captured begins to come together. Hours of footage become scenes, scenes become sequences and, eventually, a story worth sharing.

And that's when the real magic begins.

Pineapple Studios. Produced in the Philippines. Stories for the world.