Gajah Olen | Documentary Video Production in Kuching by Motion Foundry

A quiet look behind the filming of Gajah Olen at Borneo Cultures Museum. Shot by a Kuching-based film production house capturing traditional Malay wedding heritage.

There are stories we set out to film. And there are stories that quietly unfold in front of us — if we’re willing to slow down and watch.

This one began on an overcast afternoon in Kuching, at a place called Borneo Culture Museum. The kind of museum that doesn't shout for attention, but holds a quiet weight the moment you step inside. We were there to film Gajah Olen, a traditional bridal adornment once central to Malay wedding ceremonies in Sarawak — and slowly fading from everyday memory.

No call sheets. No storyboard. No need for direction.

There was just an elder — lifting each piece with care, telling us which part goes on the forehead, which part used to be made of pure gold, and how long ago, these crowns were only worn once in a woman’s lifetime. There was a younger woman sitting opposite her, listening, letting her hands be guided. No performance. Just a moment shared.

As a Kuching film production house, we’ve worked on all kinds of productions — commercials, documentaries, corporate videos, event coverage. But this felt different. Here, we weren’t trying to sell or promote anything. We were simply bearing witness to a tradition as it breathed.

The museum was quiet that day. Just the soft rustle of fabric, a few clicks from our camera, and the sound of a voice remembering.

Gajah Olen is more than a crown. It’s a symbol of transition. A weight of expectation. A language made of gold threads, hairpieces, veils and sequins. And for many, it’s a memory of a mother or grandmother, once seated the same way, having these same pieces gently placed.

Borneo Cultures Museum – A Living Archive

Borneo Cultures Museum — where we filmed — plays a quiet but vital role in Sarawak. For anyone doing heritage video production in Kuching, it’s a rare space where traditions aren’t just stored — they’re still spoken, still shown, still lived.

Why This Film Meant Something

When we left the shoot, there was no big wrap moment. Just a shared feeling that something important had passed through the room. And maybe, because we were there with cameras rolling, a piece of it might last just a little longer.

If you ever find yourself needing to capture a story like this —

Not to dramatize it.

Not to re-enact it.

But simply to preserve it, honestly and quietly —

That’s what we’re here for - A Kuching based film production house in Sarawak

Watch the full film here: