Client: National Geographic (engaged as a vendor through Disney) Project type: Documentary Role: Filming Published: November 20, 2020 Watch: Remembering Lives Lost: COVID's Toll on nationalgeographic.com
About the film
In November 2020, National Geographic published Remembering Lives Lost: COVID's Toll, a short documentary video. National Geographic describes it as emotional testimonies from people in three hard-hit areas of the United States who lost loved ones to COVID-19 or its complications.
The film came out during the pandemic, when families across the country were grieving, often without being able to gather or hold the services they would normally have had. Its focus is simple and human: people speaking about the family members they lost.
Our role
Visual Lion founder Mohammed Al-mawla filmed documentary work featured in the film, working as a vendor through Disney. He is credited by name in the film.
To be clear about scope: Mohammed's role was filming. The film was produced and published by National Geographic, and we don't claim credit for its direction, its editing, or the finished piece. We share this project because it's work we're proud to have contributed to, not to claim credit for the film as a whole.
Why this project matters to us
Filming people who are grieving is some of the most sensitive work a camera operator can do. The people in a film like this are sharing some of the hardest moments of their lives, and they deserve to be treated with care from the moment the crew arrives to the moment it leaves.
Contributing to a national documentary about the human cost of COVID-19 also connects to work close to home. Visual Lion produced public service and COVID-19 video for the City of Dearborn during the pandemic, so we saw firsthand how much clear, respectful video mattered to our own community during that period.
What we bring from documentary work to every project
Documentary filming shapes how we approach all of our work, from campaign testimonials to government training videos and nonprofit impact stories. The principles we follow today:
- People first. We explain what we're filming and why, give people time, and don't rush emotional moments to hit a schedule.
- Unobtrusive setups. Small, quiet camera and lighting footprints help people forget the equipment and speak naturally.
- Listening over directing. In interviews, the best material usually comes from patience and follow-up questions, not scripted lines.
- Respecting the story. We capture what is true to the person on camera and leave room for how they want to tell it.
- Working to the producer's vision. When we're part of a larger production, our job is to deliver the footage the director and producers need, to their standards.
These same habits matter when we film a candidate's family for a bio video, interview program participants for an agency, or record a nonprofit's clients telling their stories in English or Arabic.
When documentary-style video is the right choice
Not every project needs a documentary approach, but it's often the strongest option when your message depends on trust. Real people speaking in their own words are more believable than a narrator reading a script. That's why we recommend documentary-style interviews for nonprofit impact stories, public health and safety messages, program explainers told by the people a program serves, and candidate videos built around neighbors and family rather than talking points. If you're not sure which style fits, we'll talk it through with you before anything is scripted.
Frequently asked questions
Did Visual Lion produce the National Geographic film? No. National Geographic produced and published Remembering Lives Lost: COVID's Toll. Mohammed Al-mawla filmed documentary work featured in it, as a vendor through Disney, and is credited by name.
Where can I watch it? The video is published on National Geographic's website: Remembering Lives Lost: COVID's Toll. We link to it rather than re-posting it, because the film belongs to National Geographic.
What does this mean for a project with Visual Lion? It means the person leading your shoot has filmed sensitive, interview-driven documentary material for a national publisher. Whether your project is a nonprofit impact story, a public information video, or a campaign testimonial, you get the same attention to the people in front of the camera.
Do you film documentary-style work in Arabic? Yes. We work in English and Arabic, including on-camera direction and subtitles, and can arrange other languages on request.
Do you travel outside Metro Detroit? Yes. We're based in Metro Detroit and serve all of Michigan, and we travel for projects beyond the state.
Related services
If you need documentary-style video with the same care, these pages explain how we work:
- Nonprofit and institutional video: mission videos, impact stories, fundraising and event films.
- Government video production: public information, training, and program videos for federal, state, and local agencies.
- Political campaign video: candidate bios, testimonials, and cable, CTV, and social ads.
More case studies
- Michigan Democratic Party: 20+ videos, including 2024 DNC coverage in Chicago and a rally headlined by President Barack Obama.
- DoD Office of Small Business Programs: Project Spectrum training videos and conference coverage.
- Hammoud for Mayor: a seven-format campaign video strategy in Dearborn.
- RE/MAX Michigan: a cinematic, on-location brand spot.
Have a story that needs careful hands?
Visual Lion is a Metro Detroit video production company serving Detroit, Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, and all of Michigan, in English and Arabic. Call (313) 442-3633, email moe@visuallion.us, or start a conversation.