Inside One of the Busiest Years of My Career
Towards the end of the year, I found myself running on fumes and really needing a break. The pace of 2025 had been intense.
Sweating in Angkor Wat
After working on a couple of corporate shoots in Finland, I jumped onto the Amazing Race Finland TV show. We headed first to Asia and spent a couple of weeks exploring countries like Cambodia, Thailand, and Sri Lanka (the rest is yet to be released).
The Finnish Camera and Sound Crew, ready to fly out! (I can’t remember who took the photo.)
Getting commissioned to produce a tv-show for National Broadcaster Yle
While making preparations for Amazing Race Suomi (produced by Fremantle Media for Nelonen), my wife Sára and I, through DanskArts Oy, were commissioned to produce a short documentary-style TV series for children aged 2–4 during the summer for the national broadcaster Yle. I only managed to finalise all the paperwork after arriving in Cambodia. After returning from the around-the-world trip, we immediately began casting for the series. Needless to say it had to be done swiftly.
The filming took place just before Midsummer. The (10 x 3 min) show features children accomplishing household-chores in a heartfelt, “trial and error” approach and is available at Yle Areena - Katso, minä osaan!
Working with the Sony Burano
While finishing post-production on our series, I was selected to work as Director of Photography on the Finnish version of Thank God, You’re Here. It was my first time shooting with the Sony BURANO, and I was able to bring Eino Leskinen on board as 1st AC and 2nd camera. It was an absolute joy to work on this production.
*Production: Fremantle Media. Channel: Mtv3
Pentulive - the most recognised live-show in Finland
The final eight weeks of the year, leading up to the Christmas holidays, were spent working on Pentulive, a series that follows puppies from birth until they are ready to move to their new homes. The show is the second most watched programme in Finland. I was responsible for camera work and editing.
“No one wants to follow a pessimist.” What could be done better this year?
Even though times are bleak, as Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, once said: “No one wants to follow a pessimist.”
I believe this is the right moment to take calculated risks and invest. As an example, We’ve just acquired the new DJI Ronin 4D 8K. At the same time, we are tightening our collaboration with Fortress Soundworks, a leading provider of field recording and sound post-production in Finland.
On a personal level, my goal this year is to delegate more effectively and to develop new productions across both television and corporate projects.
-Lauri Danska - lauri@danskarts.com
PS. Please feel free to get in touch if you ever require production services in Finland or elsewhere. We work with our own equipment and transport, including (but not limited to) Sony FX6, DJI Ronin 4D 8K, DJI Mini 4 Pro drone, GoPro’s, LED lighting, EasyRig Minimax and G-Master lenses. Our recent international clients include Philharmonia Orchestra London, Nvidia and ABC Australia.
