REBORN: a documentary for
a wellness retreat in Thailand
A documentary for a wellness retreat in Thailand
The true story of instructor Brad Hanson, who found in kung fu the strength to survive, heal and rebuild.
SYNOPSIS
Bullied as a child and marked by trauma, Brad spent years fighting depression, addiction and a fractured sense of reality.
At 13, kung fu became a lifeline. Through discipline, community and years of practice, it helped him stay alive and start again. Now an instructor, he offers others the safe space he once needed. A true story about resilience and the quiet power of transformation.
When an instructor story became a documentary
Nam Yang Kung Fu runs a wellness retreat in Thailand, founded by Iain Armstrong. In 2025, we spent two weeks on site with one goal: help them build a YouTube channel that brings people to the retreat. Together, we defined three content pillars: tea stories, live classes and instructor stories.
The instructor stories were short films introducing each teacher, made for the instructors page of their website. Brad Hanson’s was meant to be one of them, but his story moved us so deeply that a short film no longer felt enough. We took it further, into a full documentary, and suggested film festivals as the next step.
CLIENT
Nam Yang
LOCATION
Thailand
YEAR
2025
DURATION
7 min
LANGUAGE
English
TYPE
Documentary
How we told a story
of hardship and recovery
Three choices shaped the film: a clear arc to guide the story, the time to earn Brad’s trust, and a look and sound that follow his journey from darkness to hope.
01
Shaping the story
A good documentary starts with the right questions. We guide each interview toward a clear arc: where someone comes from, what changed them and where they are now. Then we shape the answers into a structure and film the scenes that bring it to life. With Brad, this gave the film its emotional journey.
02
Building trust
Honest stories need trust. We take the time to become part of the community, so people feel at ease with us long before the camera comes out. We listen without judgment and let each person set the pace. For Brad, that meant he could open up gradually, in his own words, and tell his story his way.
03
Crafting the look
Image and sound carry the emotion of a story. We use colour, light and music to follow its shifts, and keep everything natural: real places, real sound, no voice-over. In REBORN, the palette moves from cool to warm as Brad’s story turns toward hope. This way, it feels like a documentary, not a promotional video.
Moments from the retreat
Photographs by Catarina Calheiros, taken alongside the filming of REBORN.
What we delivered
REBORN was delivered as a finished documentary, together with photography, social media edits and a trailer for film festivals. It now lives on Nam Yang Kung Fu’s website, instructors page, YouTube channel and Instagram.
Main film
REBORN, a 7-minute documentary in English
Trailer
A short teaser to present the film at festivals
Photo gallery
Original photographs taken on site during filming
Social media assets
Short excerpts for the retreat’s social channels
From Thailand to
a London cinema
From Thailand to a London cinema
REBORN took us from the mountains of Thailand to the festival screen in London. After being selected for the Fighting Spirit Film Festival, we travelled to Rio Cinema to experience the screening in person. The film also received a Mention for Best Documentary at the Universal Martial Arts Film Festival.
“This comes across as very genuine and sincere. Really amazing and emotional. You definitely capture the spirit of what we are trying to do here.”
Ashley J.
Founder of Project Hammer
Questions about filming at a retreat
Here are the questions retreats and wellness organisations ask us before planning a documentary.
How long does it take to make a documentary?
Plan on a couple of weeks of pre-production, one to two weeks of filming, and two to three months to deliver the final edit. We start talking a few weeks before the shoot, so we can meet you and find the right people. For REBORN, we spent two weeks on site in Thailand.
How do you film difficult personal stories safely?
Yes. We meet each person and do pre-interviews before filming, so a connection already exists when the camera comes out. On the day, we stay warm, listen without judgment and go gradually. Everything is reviewed with them, and we never release a film without their agreement.
Do you travel to film at our retreat?
Yes. We have filmed in Thailand, the Netherlands, Portugal and France, and we can travel across Europe and worldwide when it is well organised in advance. Travel and accommodation are usually part of the package price, and we agree the details with each client.
What do you need from us before filming?
A few photos of the place, so we understand its universe and can pre-scout interview locations, plus a conversation about your why, because a good story usually starts there. Together we choose who to feature, plan which activities to film, and make sure everyone on site agrees to be filmed.
Who owns the film, and how can we use it?
The film is yours to use on your website, social media and YouTube, and the music is fully licensed through Epidemic Sound. Rights are shared between you and us, so with your agreement we may also post it on our channels, such as an Instagram collab post, to reach a wider audience.
More stories with purpose
Let's create something together
We’ll get back to you within 48 hours.