What Took You So Long Foundation

Teams

The What Took You So Long Foundation was created in 2008 by Sebastian Lindstrom and Evan Fowler. It was launched in the summer of 2009 with the expedition moving across the African continent.

Alicia Sully introduced the focus of using documentary as a tool for social change.  In 2010 their first documentary “1+1=11″ was completed by crowd-funding and toured across US, Europe, and Africa using Open Space Technology.

For more information email info@whattookyousolong.org

Sebastian Lindstrom (Sweden) DIRECTOR/ PRODUCER / CO-FOUNDER

An experienced team leader and guerrilla filmmaker, Sebastian was formerly a member of the Swedish Special Forces. He has many years experience living and working in West Africa and is the founder and chairman of Light For Children, an NGO working with HIV-affected children in Ghana. Over the last five years he has led  teams to Africa, PNG and Asia providing support in multiple roles of team leader, fixer, audio and producer. Contact him at sebastian@whattookyousolong.org

Alicia Sully (United States) DIRECTOR/ FILMMAKER / CO-FOUNDER

Alicia is a film maker and former Peace Corps volunteer in Ghana, where from 2007-2009 she produced a feature on urban migration & HIV/AIDS, “Kayayo, If I Had Known” and presented it to over 10,000 people in rural villages. She documented the work of numerous NGOs in over 20 countries in Africa. Her past credits include the award winning short film “Zmrzlina (ice cream),” 35mm. She is also the producer of the short “The Fourth of July Parade.” She is the cinematographer for all the WTYSL expeditions and is currently searching for camel cheese. Contact her at alicia@whattookyousolong.org

Philippa Young (England) DIRECTOR/ WRITER/ CO-PRODUCER

Philippa is a freelance writer, editor and researcher. She has worked as a travel editor in Hong Kong, for Oxford University Press, the Asian Human Rights Commission, independent newspaper The Positive News, and provides development consultancy for several NGOs. Philippa is currently a director and writer for the What Took You So Long Foundation, filming a 20-country documentary on the emergence of camels and camel milk as a force of change for the world. Contact her at philippa@whattookyousolong.org

Evan Fowler (Hong Kong/ UK) CO-FOUNDER

Evan founded Mirror Productions, a Hong Kong based multimedia production company promoting social and environmental awareness in Asia. His directorial credits include videos for the RSPCA and Civic Exchange, and the feature length film, “Obruni, Where Are You Going?” He is also an experienced traveller, and has traveled extensively in Asia, Europe, and North America. He directed the twenty-two 3 minute episodes Across Africa and the first Papua New Guinea expedition. Currently he resides in Hong Kong.

Peter Pavlakis (USA) / Editor

Peter Pavlakis was raised in Buffalo, NY and at 18 moved to New York City to learn the secrets of digital filmmaking at The School of Visual Arts. After finishing his education there, he proceeded to work at the school for two years filming and editing instructional and promotional videos for educational purposes and diverse NYC corporations. Independently, he worked with friends in directing a series of similar and increasingly bleak short films, with the aim of getting them into the festival circuit. In April of 2012 he left it all to become a video nomad with the folks at the What Took You So Long Foundation.

Fredrik Rosberg (Sweden) Co-Producer/ Audio/ Nairobi Intern

Fredrik has capabilities within International Relations and global developments under the umbrella of sustainability and fair trade. He wants to accumulate experiences, become familiarized with customs and traditions worldwide to acquire more comprehension about social development issues and act upon them professionally. He is doing this with the WTYSL team in Nairobi, Kenya.

Mbindyo Kimanthi (Kenya) Production Manager

He recently graduated from Daystar University with a degree in Communications (PR and Electronic Media). He aspired to be a doctor at a tender age, but now finds passion in telling stories through the lens. He was part of a team that received training in Switzerland on the use of Media to report, campaign and promote social change. He has experience engaging with communities for development. He is a jolly fellow who certainly contribute to the passion and the energy within the team!

Francesca Washtell (UK) Blogger/ Assistant Director

A second year International History undergraduate student at the London School of Economics with main areas of interest in Africa, international development and journalism. Francesca spent six months backpacking on her own in Eastern and Southern Africa when she was 18 and is eager to do more. She has written for Think Africa Press.

Doug Akin (USA) Production Assistant/ Chef

Today, Doug heads up new business efforts for Mr Youth and develops social marketing campaigns and platforms for clients such as Pepsi, Staples, Kellogg’s, Nike, T-Mobile, Johnson & Johnson and Nestle. He leads the agency with creative passion and whirlwind enthusiasm that make pitches positively electric and proves he’s up for anything. Just don’t ask him to eat frogs’ legs (unless they’re served at his much buzzed about NY restaurant, Charles).

CHEESE August 2010 – PRESENT

Neha Malhotra (Indian) Local Producer / Public Relations

Moving home base from India to Hong Kong has lead to many an interesting experience for Neha who graduated from the University of Hong Kong. In 2008 she found herself doing an internship in a Belfast based NGO (Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities), this experience ignited a perpetual desire to travel and learn more about people and places. Ever since she has backpacked through Europe, volunteered for WWF and Fair Trade Voice (student organization) and has started studying for a PhD in the field of Human Movement science at The University of Hong Kong where she met WTYSL team member Sebastian who introduced her to The Camel Cheese project. Neha joined the team in India in December 2010.

Sueminn Cho (USA) Illustrator/ Production Assistant

Sueminn finished her first year at Columbia University in May 2010, and is now enjoying a year away from school.  So far in her gap year, she has canvassed for the environmental organization Green Peace, backpacked in Latin America, and worked on a gourmet food truck in New York City.  Growing up, Sueminn attended school on four continents, and has interned at the International Center of Photography, illustrated articles for The Gadfly (a student philosophy magazine), and written for Columbia University’s undergraduate film blog.  She eagerly looks forward to her first taste of camel cheese. She joinined the crew in Morocco from November 2010.

Brock Le Mieux (USA) Podcasts/ Production Assistant

Brock has been living in Amsterdam for the last year working with Knowmads, an entrepreneurial learning platform. With a focus on social innovation, new business design, creativity, and international project design, his biggest question in life is how to move from place to place, meeting and writing about people.Whether it was squatting with circus performers in Montreal, falling in love in India, or walking across Spain, camel cheese completely makes sense now. Brock joined the crew in Morocco from November 2010.

Ludvig Leffler (Sweden) Chef

Formally a member of the Swedish Special Forces, nowadays Ludvig has been working in different Michelin star restaurants in Sweden to try to be one of the best chefs in the world. Except that, he also cares about the environment and says it’s a shame that the people on this planet do not care about it more. He has also traveled to Ghana to work with Light for Children with Sebastian Lindstrom and a group of Hong Kong students in Kumasi to educate the school children in HIV/AIDS and malaria.

Fabian Wittleben (Germany) Photographer

Studying and working in Asia has given Fabian a taste for travelling and exploring, which he documents faithfully with his camera wherever he goes. He worked on the promotional book  “Obroni, where are you going?” with Ghanaian NGO Light for Children as photography director and continues this role with WTYSL’s latest project. He is currently working at a management consultant company . Fabian joined the team from China to Mongolia, August 2010.

Patrick Bostrom (Sweden) Fixer

An established social entrepreneur and change maker, Patrick founded Young Drucker Undergraduate teaching management skills to university students, co-founded www.icehongkong.com creating world talents, founded www.dogoodpin.com spreading good deeds around the world and has been training volunteers in Africa www.lightforchildren.org. In the coming years he aims to effectively combine the strengths of NGOs and social enterprises, changing the way business is conducted around the world.

Sebastian Bond (Sweden) Accountant

Business student at Uppsala University, a former member of the Swedish Special Forces. An experienced traveler who founded the travel company Snowtrip.se. He has studied in Seoul and worked within the field of international business Sweden/Korea/Ukraine. Bond worked with the NGO Light For Children in Sweden during start-up. He joined the crew for two weeks in China and Mongolia August 2010 and assisted the production team in account management.

Rebecca Kuntz (USA) Intern

Rebecca is currently a senior in high school in Chicago, Illinois. She loves working for the television station at her school and has produced, directed, and edited more than 100 episodes of original programs. She has a passion for film making and traveling and will continue her studies at Savannah College of Art and Design, majoring in Film and Television and minoring in French. She has only traveled outside of the US once but it constantly researching and planning for her next voyage. Life is either a great adventure or nothing at all. Rebecca has assisted the team from her home in Chicago since July 2010.

Papua New Guinea, December 2009- January 2010

Sofie Rørdam (Denmark) Editor/ Assistant Director

Sofie is currently studying Film and Anthropology at the University of Copenhagen. She works as an editor and associate producer at the Danish production company Bern Film. She is involved in volunteer work for Amnesty International and MS Action Aid Denmark among others. Sofie has traveled extensively in India, China and Southeast Asia. She edited the PNG documentary “Betelnut Bliss,” and returned to PNG in June 2010 to shoot an award winning video for DANIDA, to be screened in Danish secondary schools.

Wong Chau Nog (China/ Hong Kong) Production Assistant

Chau was born and raised in a remote, laggard village in Mainland China, but grew up to be quite different from the “typical” village girl. She is now studying journalism at the University of Hong Kong. Journalism provides the chance for continuous learning and exploration of the world, the two things which make her happy. Traveling also constitutes the happy elements of her life because by doing so, she gets to learn about other people’s cultures and lives, something which never ceases to amaze her and open her eyes to the beauties of the world. She is now on student exchange in Mexico.

Rohan Porteous (Australia) Production Assistant

Rohan has a diverse experience with film which ranges from working on some of Australia’s biggest commercials to shooting independently in Rwanda for World Vision. He spent 6 months of last year filming a unique indigenous education program on one of Australia’s most remote islands in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, and immediately before heading to PNG with the WTYSL crew he worked as video-coordinator for the Australian Youth Climate Coalition at the UN Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen. He is currently addicted to opportunity and absolutely loving each and every experience this journey is taking him on.

AFRICA TEAM June – September 2009

Hiroyasu Yumoto(Japan, production assistant)

Evan Fowler (United Kingdom/Hong Kong) Writer/ Director

Evan founded and runs Mirror Productions, a Hong Kong based multimedia production company promoting social and environmental awareness in Asia. His directorial credits include videos for the RSPCA and Civic Exchange, and the feature length film “Obruni, Where Are You Going?”. He is also an experienced traveller, and has travelled extensively in Asia, Europe and North America.

Hiroyasu Yumoto (Japan) Audio

Currently a student of East Asian Studies in Japan, Hiro has travelled extensively in Asia and the Indian sub-continent. His natural curiousity and knowledge of diverse cultures makes him an important member of the team.

Jennifer Wong Shuk Ting (Hong Kong) Book/ Production Assistant

Jennifer is a graduating student of Hong Kong University, where she studied government and public administration. She has past experience of volunteer work in China and Cambodia, and is eager to travel and learn more about development work and video production.

Matt Glenn (United States) Fixer

Matt joined the team in Morocco and traveled with the team as a production assistant to Ghana. Matt has worked and traveled in China for the past three years as a sourcing manager. A keen film enthusiast, his natural fascination with video production and his experience traveling rough made him a welcome addition to the team.

Jessica Sherrell (United States) Photographer

A professional photographer from the US, Jessica traveled with the team from Morocco to Ghana. Several of her photographs have been exhibited to acclaim at leading galleries in her home town of Austin, Texas, where she is developing a reputation for her delicately balanced pictures.

Caroline Briggert (Sweden) Translator

A communications consultant from Sweden, Caroline joined the team from Ghana to Kinshasa due to work commitment. Caroline has experience working in Southern Africa as a volunteer where she developed a deep sense of connection with the land and the people.

Christopher Wilson(Scotland) Fixer

Chris is currently studying for an Arts and Humanitarians Award at Newbattle Abbey in Dalkeith, Edinburgh. He has extensive experience working in the slums of India and met up with the team whilst in Belo, Cameroon.

INTERN TEAM Hong Kong

Tim Pritchard (HK) Editing Assistant/ Fixer

Since graduating from Kingston University in 2008 with a BA in Film, Tim has worked as an editor within the sports media industry in the UK and as a journalist in HK. A passionate traveler and film entusiast with an eclectic taste in music and sports have seen him engage in several creative projects in his time. He enjoys exploring his surrounding environment and posses an insatiable desire to seek out adventure and fresh challenges.

Max Glucksmann-Smith (France/ UK) Editing Assistant/ Fixer

Freelance editor and screenwriter, experience in Film and TV in London, France, Singapore and Hong Kong. A dedicated practitioner of Kung Fu and has performed with a Chinese circus group. Also dabbles in acting, stand up comedy, cartooning, cooking and blogging. A full-time student at the University of Hong Kong studying East Asian languages and cultures alongside journalism. Currently producing a travel show about Hong Kong for the internet. Passionate about working on and promoting film projects related to NGO’s and the people the in need of them.

Justin T. Weinzierl (USA) Editing Assistant

Justin is a student from Winona State University, located in Winona, Minnesota USA, and is studying Mass Communication in Advertising with a minor study in Communication Studies. His traveling ambition brought him to the University of Hong Kong to live and study for five months. From this adventure, he found the What Took You So Long Foundation and decided to hop on board as an editing intern, which has been a favorite hobby of his since obtaining his first iMac eight years ago. He has been an apple product addict ever since. Traveling, movies and a drive to turn any experience into a great one, is how this guy can be summed up. Don’t ever forget how to live your life.

Hiufu Wong (Hong Kong) Editing Assistant

Hiufu is going to graduate from journalism at the University of Hong Kong. She is a freelance reporter for the lifestyle page in a local newspaper and has traveled and produced multi-media news stories around Europe during her year of exchange in Denmark. Determined to be a journalist in the future, she loves traveling, listening to people’s stories and experiencing as much as possible in life. Smiling makes every life easier.