About — David De Silva | Producer-Director

About Me

I was born in Sri Lanka and moved to the UAE with my family when I was 10. Growing up in one of the most diverse countries in the world gave me a deep appreciation for different cultures and helped me build a community of friends from all walks of life.

My passion for video ignited during my teenage years when I started making short films, participating in film festivals, and helping friends with their video projects.

Excelling in school earned me a full scholarship at Khalifa University, where I pursued a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Engineering in Health, Safety, and Environment.

After graduation, I began a promising career as a project engineer with ADNOC, one of the major petroleum companies in the world. While I enjoyed the work, my heart remained with video production. To the surprise of my family and friends, I made the bold decision to switch careers and follow my passion for storytelling through video.

For over a decade, I worked in video production across the UAE with high-profile government and corporate clients, leading projects from concept through delivery and managing teams of up to 15 people.

In 2024, my wife and I moved to Calgary, where I've continued building on that foundation. Since arriving, I've directed political campaigns for the Government of Alberta, produced AI-integrated commercials for national brands, and explored what's possible when you combine traditional filmmaking with emerging AI tools. That intersection is where I'm most energised right now.

At this stage of my career, I work primarily as a producer and director, leading projects from concept through delivery and advising clients on creative strategy, production approach, and how to get the most out of their budget. That engineering mindset never really goes away.

A person wearing a yellow beanie and red plaid shirt is on a film set surrounded by lighting equipment, partially illuminated by warm light, with green screen visible behind them.

A man with curly hair and a beard leaning over the open roof of a car, talking to a woman sitting inside the car, with her face partially visible, in what appears to be a photo shoot setting.

Two men exchanging documents and handshaking in a studio with green screen and professional lighting.

A woman with blue eyes and dark hair sitting inside a car, talking on a cell phone, and looking up with a surprised or curious expression. A person wearing a gray jacket with patches leans into the car through the window, touching the woman's head, w

Two men are observing a video shoot setup with monitors showing a woman in a car speaking on the phone. One man is seated, and the other is standing, both looking at the monitors. The setup includes camera equipment, monitors, and lighting inside a g

A behind-the-scenes shot of a video shoot featuring a gray car in front of a green screen, with a man adjusting equipment and a monitor displaying the scene being filmed.

Group of people gathered around, one person is taking notes while others are listening or watching.

A group of people smiling and pointing at the camera inside a garage with a car and a green screen backdrop.

A person with curly hair is observing a scene with a green screen and filming equipment, including a monitor displaying the scene and crew members working, inside a dimly lit studio.

Behind the scenes of a film production, a man with glasses and a beige beanie is talking on the phone and holding a script, surrounded by two others in a dimly lit studio with a green screen backdrop, professional lighting, and a microphone overhead.

Group of people smiling and posing for a selfie in front of a green screen, some holding tools, in an indoor setting.

Film crew filming a person in a colorful outfit against a green screen in a studio with equipment and monitors.

A person wearing a black beanie and dark sweater, smiling and holding headphones to their ear while working with camera equipment in a well-lit studio.

Group of people taking a selfie in front of a green screen, smiling and making peace signs.

A video shoot or interview scene with two people seated at a table, filming equipment and lighting setup in a bright, white room with wooden flooring.

A diverse group of people smiling and posing for a selfie at an indoor event, with photography equipment, black curtains, and a mirror in the background.

A woman in a blue dress being interviewed by a group of journalists in a room with wooden paneling and two flags behind her. There is professional filming equipment and lights set up.

A woman in a black blazer standing in a room with two flags, one Canadian and one Alberta, behind her, mid-gesture, with a friendly expression.

An indoor interview setting with two people seated and talking, Canadian and provincial flags in the background, surrounded by professional filming equipment including cameras, lights, and a backdrop.

Three people working with camera and lighting equipment in a well-lit, formal room with beige carpet, wooden paneling, and large windows with curtains.

A person operating a video camera captures a scene in which a group of people, including a woman in a white coat, are seated and watching a presentation about medical scans displayed on a screen. The scene is set in a room with wood-paneled walls and

Two men are looking at a tablet on a tripod, capturing a photo of a woman and a child standing in a hallway. One man has glasses and a beard, the other has curly hair. The woman and child are visible on the tablet screen.

Two healthcare workers, one man and one woman, having a conversation in the hallway of a medical facility, with a man in the background making a peaceful gesture with his hands.

Two men looking at a tablet in a kitchen, one with a beard and the other with glasses and a baseball cap.

Medical professionals in protective gowns, gloves, and masks working together in a hospital room, with natural light coming through a window.

Group of eleven diverse people smiling, waving, and posing for a photo in an indoor room.

Three men in black shirts watching a screen or camera in a room with minimal decor, including a white wall with a small red decorative item.

Group of nine diverse people posing playfully in an office room, some making peace signs and silly faces, with a whiteboard and lockers in the background.

Group of people filming a man speaking in front of a green screen with professional studio lighting.

Three men in an industrial space working with filming equipment. One man is standing and gesturing towards a screen, another is operating a camera on a tripod, and the third is sitting on a wooden chair with tattoos on his arms, wearing glasses.

People working on a green screen for a video or photo shoot in a studio with professional lighting and equipment.

Three people in a photography studio with a green screen backdrop, large studio lights, and equipment visible.

Behind-the-scenes of a video shoot showing a green screen, studio lights, and crew members preparing for filming.

A group of five people taking a selfie outdoors on a sunny day with a field of corn and a clear blue sky in the background.

Person wearing beige jacket, with curly hair and black ear protection, operating a remote control drone outdoors near dried grass and water.

A woman being interviewed in a cozy living room with cameras and lighting equipment.

A man sits in a leather chair in a room decorated with wood paneling and a large clock. There is a projector screen displaying a historical painting of soldiers and flags.

A group of five people standing in front of a green screen, smiling and posing for a photo during a video call, with some making gestures like thumbs up and pointing.

Four smiling people taking a selfie in front of a professional video camera in a bright media room with wooden flooring and lockers.

A hospital room with medical equipment, a patient on a bed, and a person adjusting a large studio light. Camera and lighting equipment are set up for filming or photography.

A group of five diverse people sitting and smiling together inside, with large windows in the background showing a cityscape on a cloudy day.

A computer setup on a wooden desk with a large monitor displaying video editing software, a black keyboard, a wireless mouse, a small digital clock, and a ginger cat with white paws and green eyes sitting in front of the monitor. There is also a pott

A film crew is setting up equipment inside a church with rows of red chairs, a central cross on the wall, and a hanging chandelier. Two people are talking, and another person is adjusting equipment.

Two people, a man and a woman, are recording a podcast in a cozy room with led lights. They are sitting on a beige couch with a teddy bear and a sleeping dog between them. Each has a microphone and wears headphones.

A man in black shirt and glasses operating a camera mounted on a robotic rig with medical or industrial equipment attached. Two people in construction helmets and reflective vests stand in the background.

Two men having a conversation indoors, one wearing traditional Middle Eastern attire and the other in casual Western-style clothing, with plants and architectural features in the background.

A woman in a black business suit with curly red hair seated facing a man in traditional Middle Eastern attire, both participating in an interview or discussion in a professional setting with a camera crew, lighting equipment, and a man in a black shi

A woman in white traditional attire sits on a chair in a photography studio with professional lighting and camera equipment, behind a dark blue backdrop, with a sign that reads 'UAE tv' on the wall.

Screenshot of a video editing software interface showing a woman seated in an auditorium with rows of empty seats, smiling and wearing a headscarf, during the editing of a video project.

A man in traditional Middle Eastern attire sitting in a professional interview or recording studio with studio lighting, cameras, and equipment surrounding him.

A woman is being filmed in a home studio setting with professional camera equipment. She is seated on a chair, wearing a black top and black shoes, with a beige sofa, a side table, and a lamp in the background.

A man with a curly hairstyle and beard, wearing a white shirt and earrings, stands in front of a photography setup with professional lighting equipment, including a large umbrella light, and a camera mounted on a tripod. The background features a geo

Two men, wearing black face masks, are taking a selfie with a professional camera. The background features a geometric, metallic ceiling structure with light shining through.

Two people standing in front of a white backdrop with film equipment and lighting, being photographed by a man in black in an indoor space with large windows, some people visible in the background.

A man wearing traditional Middle Eastern attire being filmed by a camera crew in an office setting.

Two men wearing safety helmets and life jackets, smiling while holding cameras on a boat dock with ships and fishing boats in the background.

Screenshot of video editing software showing a man in traditional Middle Eastern attire speaking in a video interview, with subtitles and a timeline of video and audio clips at the bottom.

Two men operating a drone in a desert, one using a controller with a screen, the drone flying in the sky nearby.

Man in traditional Middle Eastern attire being filmed in a studio with two crew members, one holding papers and another operating equipment, against a wooden wall background.

A man wearing black pants, a navy blue shirt, and hiking shoes is holding a professional video camera with a mounted microphone and a phone attached, taking a picture or recording in an indoor setting with a reflective window showing gym equipment in

Two smiling men with sunglasses and cameras, one wearing an ID badge, standing outdoors in front of a large white observatory dome and a clear blue sky.

A woman being interviewed by a group of men in a modern indoor space, with filming equipment and a large bright light. The space has banners with environmental messages and red chairs.

A person in a suit and glasses being recorded on two cameras in an art museum or gallery, with paintings and sculptures displayed in the background.

A screenshot of a video editing software showing a video clip of a man in a suit giving a presentation. Text overlay identifies him as Adrian Metcalfe, who is a director of facilities, operations, and maintenance at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, and a

A man wearing a white helmet, sunglasses, and a red life vest holding a camera, standing on a dock with boats in the background.

Man in traditional Middle Eastern attire being recorded by two videographers inside a modern building with high, curved ceilings and a glass facade.

A behind-the-scenes view of a video or photo shoot with a green screen backdrop, studio lighting, cameras, and two people seated and preparing for filming.

A man dressed in traditional Middle Eastern white attire and headscarf standing in front of a camera and monitor, likely filming a video or live stream in a modern indoor space with shelves and plants.

Video Portfolio