Raymond Pagnucco | Contributor
After receiving a degree in Asian Studies from SUNY Purchase in 2000, Raymond Pagnucco moved to Beijing, China to attend Beijing Sports University and Beijing Language and Culture University. While working as an English instructor in Beijing, he began his career in television hosting ESL television programs.
In 2003, Raymond teamed up with long time friend Spencer Mandell, to produce and shoot his first documentary film, God’s Open Hand. The film charts the course of Afghanistan’s fledgling democracy. This award-winning documentary features interviews with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and the Revolutionary Association of Women of Afghanistan (RAWA).
Between 2005 and 2010 Raymond worked as a cameraman, field producer and editor on various police reality shows, a 24-hour South Asian satellite news channel Samaa Television and filmed local news for Bronx Net Television. He also served as assistant director and cinematographer for Fornal Film’s award winning show Bronx Flavor which appeared on Bronx Net Television.
In 2011 Raymond teamed up with Sherif Elhelwa to shoot a documentary for Vice called Waiting for Al Qaeda. The documentary follows Sherif on his journey across Libya as he witnesses militants filling the void shortly after Muammar Gadaffi’s death.
In 2012 Bronx Flavor was picked up by the Cooking Channel and was reborn as the Culinary Adventures of Baron Ambrosia. Raymond worked as a cameraman on the program. Since then Raymond has worked with Fuji TV Network in NYC and with New York bureau of Feature Story News as a cameraman and editor. At Feature Story News Raymond shot and edited news stories for Channel News Asia and China Central Television-America.
In 2015 Raymond became a freelance contributor to Vice News, writing about Myanmar’s politics, the national ceasefire negotiations and ethnic armed groups. Over the last five years Raymond has made many trips to Southeast Asia and Myanmar. Raymond currently bases in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Follow Raymond on Twitter @RaymondPagnucco