“Poro” means friend in Papua New Guinea. It’s more than a word — it’s a way of welcoming.
“Hello Poro” became a unifying creative device that bottled the warmth, openness and generosity of PNG’s people into a single, memorable line. Across each film, viewers are positioned as the “poro” — greeted again and again by locals and travellers alike. From misty highland peaks to open ocean horizons, the phrase echoes throughout, creating a rhythmic, emotional thread that connects place and people. The result is an invitation that feels personal, immersive and impossible to ignore.
Execution
We produced four 60-second films across key destinations: Mt Hagen, Kavieng, Port Moresby and Wewak. Each location was brought to life through authentic, joy-filled moments — designed to showcase not just what PNG looks like, but how it feels to be there.
I led the art direction and storyboarding across all four films, and was on the ground for shoots in Kavieng and Port Moresby.
Kavieng followed a young, adventurous couple exploring the New Ireland islands — capturing the untouched, almost surreal beauty of the region.
Port Moresby centred on a local family experiencing the city together, highlighting a more personal, everyday perspective of the capital.
Team on shoot: Charles Schaefer (Copywriter) Simon Budzevski (Creative Director)