Before shooting at the Building, two weeks ago. Left to right: Sotha, Kavich and me.

Tranche de Vie, by Davy Chou

The other day, leaving my usual cyber cafe in Phsar Tapang, the nice breeze cooling the heat of the street made me think: if I was just a little less busy, and if I could stop worrying about money, I would be truly happy here. But coming back to my apartment, even these little things went flying through the window, leaving only a genuine joy.

In one corner of my living room, Sotha is adding the final touches to a painting of Vichara Dany, on the first reproduction of the 1960s Cambodian movie posters we are preparing for our future exhibition at the Chinese House. In another corner, Kanitha, Pheap, Sithen and Phirun are starting to edit the sequence they filmed last week, for the last shooting of the collective film – a common effort directed by all 60 students in my workshop.

Kanitha's group has decided to recreate a 70s party, with ad hoc singers, musicians and dancers. The way they made this challenge their own, finding costumes, actors and props and meeting several times a week in my apartment for the setup – is quite amazing and got me truly taken aback. Actually, it's the first time a group has involved itself that much, preparing the shooting like a proper « court-métrage ».

For four weeks, my flat has been turned into an « atelier », where Sotha comes to paint every day, Kounila and Kanitha come and work on the exhibition, students meet here at lunchtime and the others who take turns everyday to finalise editing their sequences on time. This permanent waltzing of energies is the most beautiful thing that I've been given to see since arriving in Cambodia. This exhilarating feeling of a youth in progress is really what stops me from random discouragement, what gives me the most fantastic hopes for both our soon-to-be-finalised projects.

Shooting the « 70s party » sequence at the Chinese House, August 31st