abbey ling thorley
production design & creative directionabout 
cv downloadsydney, australia / hong kong
studio@abbeylings.com
Abbey Ling Thorley is a Hong Kong–Australian production designer known for developing emotionally grounded, character-led environments across award-winning films and documentaries.

To Become A Lion

Documentary | 6 Mins

“A martial arts master traces the evolution of lion dancing mapped through his path to teaching.”

Full film on Youtube via NY Times Op Docs
NY Times Learning Network Film Club
Webby Awards Win

Winner, Best Art Direction People’s Voice Video & Film, The Webby Awards (2025)
Commissioned by The Powerhouse Museum
Released through New York Times Op Docs
Director David Ma
Producer Georgia Noe
EP Callum Cooper
DOP Jack McAvoy
1st AC Cameron Robertson
Production Designer Abbey Ling Thorley
Gaffer Nico Galbandian
Sound Recordist Stuart Melvey, Mara Scherdtfeger
Editor David Ma
Colourist Yanni Kronenberg
VFX Kenneth Zeng 
Score, Sound Design, Mix Mara Schwerdtfeger
Title Design Sylvia Zheng