The Path is a 12-minute, 30-second short documentary made between Indonesia and New Zealand and directed by Joseph J.U. Taylor. Production also involves Javier Guevara, with a 5,000-dollar budget. Shot digitally in colour, the film uses a 16:9 aspect ratio and mainly English and Spanish.
The film takes viewers to Bali, transformed into a stage for eight fighters from Indonesia, Spain, New Zealand, Iran and Australia. They are athletes in disciplines such as boxing, mixed martial arts (MMA) and Muay Thai. The footage shows their preparation, between intense training and physical challenges, with the aim of winning beneath the vivid lights of local competitions.
The documentary’s protagonists – including Pamela Pavlovits, TJ ‘The Rainmaker’ Comely, Ivana Yamcheshmeh, Kate Van Staveren, Alexander Tom Cabrera, Ni Putu Fitri Herlina, Rhyme ‘The Rage’ Lotto and Farzad ‘Cassonova’ Rangrazian – play themselves, offering an authentic portrait of the fighting world. The film focuses both on sporting challenges and on the athletes’ inner journey as they confront their limits and find discipline and clarity through physical confrontation.
The central message of The Path emerges from the contrast between exertion and reward: victory is not only the title at stake, but also personal growth and the achievement of inner balance. Through visual storytelling, the documentary explores the idea that sport can be a means of confronting fears, overcoming obstacles and redefining one’s identity.
From a production perspective, the work is neither a student project nor the director’s first film. Joseph J.U. Taylor has already made several documentaries and short films, including The Whip Fighters of Waerebo (2025) and Promoter in Paradise(2019). The Path was completed on 30 December 2024.
Film Information
Title: The Path
Original title: The Path
Director: Joseph J.U. Taylor
Production: Joseph J.U. Taylor, Javier Guevara
Country: Indonesia, New Zealand
Language: English, Spanish
Running time: 12 minutes and 30 seconds
Genre: Short documentary
Sport featured: Boxing, MMA, Muay Thai
Protagonist(s): Pamela Pavlovits, TJ ‘The Rainmaker’ Comely, Ivana Yamcheshmeh, Kate Van Staveren, Alexander Tom Cabrera, Ni Putu Fitri Herlina, Rhyme ‘The Rage’ Lotto, Farzad ‘Cassonova’ Rangrazian
Completion date: 30 December 2024
Premiere: [Not specified]
Distributor: [Not specified]
Shooting format: Digital, 16:9, colour
Director’s first film: No
Student project: No