# นักทำสารคดีที่มองสงครามผ่านเลนส์ทุกระยะ | Wannasingh Prasertkul | TEDxBangkok

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0LDetz87uw
Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/o0LDetz87uw
Generated: 2026-01-20T20:02:10.59+00:00

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## Quick Overview

Documentary filmmaker Wannasingh Prasertkul explains that war, whether in conflict zones like Ukraine or in places like the Congo, is fundamentally driven by the equation: Resources minus People equals Scarcity, and Scarcity minus Process equals War, emphasizing that capturing these raw human emotions and realities requires different filming techniques like using 85mm for intimate portraits and 24mm for wide context.

**Key Points:**
- Wannasingh documented conflicts in 122 locations, including Rwanda (40 years prior) and the Congo, where he witnessed the rawest human emotions.
- He defines the underlying cause of conflict as: Resources - People = Scarcity, and Scarcity - Process = War.
- He uses the 85mm lens (The Close Up) for intimate portraits to capture raw emotion, and the 24mm lens (The Wide Angle) for broader context.
- Filming in conflict zones like Ukraine involved extreme conditions, such as documenting Russian soldiers operating in Ukrainian territory, which required avoiding focus on national identity and instead focusing on the universal human experience.
- He emphasizes that true documentary work requires showing the inherent value of life, even in the most desolate environments, contrasting the suffering of war with the simple needs of survival (like hunger).
- The drone, or 'God's Eyes,' offers a detached, God's-eye view, contrasting with the close, intimate, and often painful focus of ground-level filming.
- His ultimate goal is to show that all life, whether human or animal (like the gorillas he filmed), shares the fundamental struggle for survival against scarcity.

![Screenshot at 00:23: The speaker, Wannasingh Prasertkul, stands on stage wearing tactical gear and holding a complex camera rig, immediately establishing his role as an immersive documentary filmmaker.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/o0LDetz87uw/00-00-23.jpg)

**Context:** Wannasingh Prasertkul, a documentary filmmaker known for his work in conflict zones and remote areas, presents his philosophy on capturing reality through the lens at TEDxBangkok. He shares personal experiences from filming in places like Rwanda, Congo, and Ukraine, illustrating how different focal lengths (85mm vs. 24mm) and tools like drones help him approach subjects—from human suffering to wildlife—to tell stories that transcend politics and focus on core human emotions and universal struggles.

## Detailed Analysis

Wannasingh Prasertkul opens by greeting the audience and immediately showcasing his heavy camera rig, weighing 25 kilograms, which he uses in his work. He explains his approach to storytelling, which involves using different focal lengths to capture varying perspectives: the 85mm lens for intimate, close-up portraits emphasizing emotion, and the 24mm lens for wider, contextual shots. He recounts his extensive experience documenting conflict in 122 locations, citing Rwanda (40 years prior) and the Congo, where he encountered individuals driven by desperation, exemplified by people begging for money. He presents a fundamental equation for conflict: Resources - People = Scarcity, and Scarcity - Process = War. He contrasts this with his documentation of the war in Ukraine, where he focused on the universal experience of fear and survival rather than national politics, showing images of destroyed buildings and interviewing a man who stated he did not hate his enemies, referencing Christian teachings. He also contrasts ground-level filming with drone footage ('God's Eyes'), which offers a broader, more objective view, such as the aerial shot of a refugee camp. He concludes by urging the audience to recognize that the struggle for survival (represented by the equation) is universal, affecting humans and animals alike, and that his goal is to show this shared humanity through his lens.

### Filmmaking Philosophy

- Using 85mm for intimate portraits capturing raw emotion
- Using 24mm for wide context and environment
- Utilizing drones for an objective, God's-eye view

### Conflict Documentation

- Documented war in 122 locations, including Rwanda and Congo
- Experienced locals demanding money due to scarcity
- Filmed Ukrainian conflict, focusing on universal human experience over politics

### The Equation of War

- War is defined as Resources - People = Scarcity, and Scarcity - Process = War
- This cycle is evident globally, from resource disputes to conflicts like those in Congo and Ukraine

### Narrative Focus

- Avoided focusing solely on political sides or violence, instead capturing the raw emotional core and the struggle for survival (e.g., hunger, fear of death) experienced by all species.

### Conclusion

- All life, including humans and the gorillas he filmed, shares the fundamental struggle against scarcity; the difference lies in the narrative process applied to that struggle.

![Screenshot at 00:23: The speaker, Wannasingh Prasertkul, stands on stage wearing tactical gear and holding a complex camera rig, immediately establishing his role as an immersive documentary filmmaker.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/o0LDetz87uw/00-00-23.jpg)
![Screenshot at 00:54: A close-up comparison of the 85mm lens \('The Close Up'\) being used to capture intimate, emotional portraits, contrasting with wider views.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/o0LDetz87uw/00-00-54.jpg)
![Screenshot at 03:32: A slide displaying the mathematical equation defining the root cause of conflict: Scarcity \(Resources - People\) leading to War \(Scarcity - Process\).](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/o0LDetz87uw/00-03-32.jpg)
![Screenshot at 04:16: A slide showing a journalist's hat with 'PRESS' visible, referencing his work covering conflicts and the need for protection.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/o0LDetz87uw/00-04-16.jpg)
![Screenshot at 16:15: An aerial drone shot displaying a densely packed refugee camp, illustrating the wide, objective perspective drones provide.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/o0LDetz87uw/00-16-15.jpg)
