Amerika Samoa
Field Museum | Temporary Exhibition
My Role
Creative Direction
Field Cinematography
Photography
Editing
Overview
How do you create an authentic sense of place for visitors who may never have experienced American Samoa firsthand?
Amerika Samoa is a temporary exhibition at the Field Museum that invites visitors to experience the islands through contemporary art, cultural objects, original cinematography, and environmental storytelling.
To ensure the media reflected the landscape and culture authentically, I traveled to American Samoa to conduct location filming and visual research, collaborated with a local filmmaker to capture original footage that grounded the exhibition in the people and environment it represents.
Creative Challenge
The challenge extended beyond documenting cultural traditions. The media needed to communicate the relationship between people, landscape, and cultural practice while respecting the voices and perspectives of the community.
Creating that sense of place required firsthand observation, collaboration with local storytellers, and original cinematography that could immerse visitors in the rhythm and beauty of the islands.
Creative Direction
Authenticity guided every creative decision throughout the project. I chose to travel to American Samoa to document original footage rather than rely on existing media, believing that experiencing the landscape firsthand would create a stronger connection between the exhibition and the people it represents. Collaborating with local filmmaker Gabby Faʻaiʻuaso of Fale Film brought an invaluable local perspective to the production and helped shape imagery rooted in place and community. Together, these decisions ensured the media supported the exhibition's larger goal of creating an immersive experience grounded in cultural respect and lived experience.
Collaboration & Creative Leadership
Creating the exhibition media required close collaboration across disciplines and cultures. Working alongside curators, I translated curatorial goals into a cinematic experience that balanced cultural authenticity, environmental storytelling, and visitor engagement. This collaborative approach strengthened the exhibition's connection to place while reinforcing my belief that meaningful storytelling begins with listening, research, and partnership.
