On site shooting! Audio/Video Production:
The studio is perhaps the most ambitious and integrated among the RDI projects. It includes educational and socially uplifting original karaoke songs, Public Service Announcements, radio shows, children's education television, movie dubbing, song composition and story reproduction and translation. A small staff on a limited budget is making strides with culturally appropriate entertainment and education that stems from the unique vision of RDI. 

Mickey, Ponloeu, Savoeun

RDI employs a staff of Khmer translators, composers, and general computer and video editing specialists.  With this talented crew of people (most of which lend their vocal talents as well to the various musical and audio dubbing projects), RDI has been able to hit the local airwaves with its original programming.

Today in Cambodia, few TV shows are original.  They usually consist of game shows and soap operas from Thailand, poorly dubbed and played repeatedly.  RDI has started a relationship with the local TV networks who are very interested in continually airing the RDI library of projects. *.wmv download Left Hand Right Hand

3 WisemanPublic Service Announcements:
When Cambodia experienced its largest flooding in years recently, RDI was quick to produce a PSA that featured our own "Mr. Op Op" a frog, (and naturally, a water specialist) who staged a press conference for the other puppets in the community to talk about how to treat the contaminated wells.  This PSA aired every hour for weeks, and Loc Op Op became a nationally recognized symbol, virtually overnight.  Following is a sample of another rain water related video education project.

Biking Puppet

As a result of the popularity, the Cambodian TV networks are now eager to air anything else RDI chooses to produce. Following are samples from commissioned projects on AIDS awareness and child protection.

Tep Rindaro Karaoke Projects: 
While this may seem unusual, RDI is interested in reaching the Khmer people where it is culturally relevant. Karaoke is extremely popular and widely participated in -- in most all of Asia. RDI produced Karaoke is used to tell stories that are sprinkled with educational concepts.. Why karaoke works. As a result, RDI has found gifted songwriters and singers to produce educational songs and uplifting songs for mass distribution in the market, on TV, and to supplement our various education projects.

Jeseph and his boss! Video Story Dubbing:
Cambodia is a story culture. Besides original puppet shows, audio stories, and live storytelling done by our RDI staff, we also have received permission to dub various animated stories into Khmer.

Traditional stories from far west Asia are being translated, dubbed and broadcast and distributed through various mediums. RDI currently has twelve 20 minute shows dubbed and in use. The audio is also extracted to produce high quality radio drama.

Meet with water expert! Audio Storytelling:
Radio drama is also a known quantity in current Cambodia culture. The RDI studio has produced various programs that are highly entertaining and told in a tradition Khmer style.

Print Translation Projects:
Much of what the public sees is highly visual or musical. However, a large portion of the studio staff workload is in translating stories, scripts, educational documents and curriculum from English to Khmer.

Why Karaoke Works
Karaoke as an activity in Cambodia bears little resemblance to the American style of karaoke. As opposed to the USA where karaoke is mainly a bar-room activity that enjoys only mild popularity overall, in Cambodia virtually everyone likes to participate. Entire families sing along in their homes. Karaoke is sung at large celebrations and parties, small restaurants, and even in outdoor parks. It also does NOT require an audience. While in the western world, karaoke tends to be a 'performance' activity, in many Asian cultures it is not. Also, every age group participates with equal enthusiasm.

Secondly, karaoke songs need not be hit songs to be popular in Khmer culture. The style of the song and the lyrical method is what makes particular songs enjoyable. Our Khmer staff is very skilled at crafting particular lyrics and stylistically attractive songs that most any Cambodian would enjoy singing. RDI also employs nationally recognized musicians and singers to provide the back-up music and vocals for the initial recording.

While Americans might find an educational song to be "cheesy" or less than desirable, RDI has found that audiences are EAGER to sing our educational songs because of the very high quality in which they are written, played, and vocalized. Adults and children actually will pick up a microphone and begin singing brand new songs they have never heard because of the familiar way the songs are produced. In numerous field tests Cambodians are excited to sing along with no prompting. This is truly a culturally appropriate method of combining education with popular entertainment.

Can Karaoke Teach?
When the RDI karaoke truck went on a field test with a volunteer group to check on water quality in a rural village, an interesting thing occurred. A crowd gathered around the truck. When the karaoke video CD was played, villagers clamored for the microphone. Instantly, children were singing along to the songs. While this may not seem to unusual, it must be noted that the karaoke songs were newly recorded RDI written songs about arsenic. The song had never been heard before, yet by the time the RDI team left that day, the informative songs were being sung by memory by various villagers. Furthermore, upon a return visit days later it was discovered that some villagers had actually already ACTED on the instructions in the song. Karaoke is without a doubt and effective way of communicating much more than just love songs. It can and does teach valuable and important information as well. See more frequently asked questions about RDI here.