EXCLUSIVE: Indie production house ASOB Media is dressing its doc series A Study on Beauty for MIPCOM Cannes.

Created and written by two-time Creative Arts Emmy winner Gabbi Pascua and directed by Alan Dennis (Morningside 5, 30 for 30), A Study on Beauty explores culture, history, and human identity through the lens of beauty and wellness over seven episodes. You can see a trailer above.

ASOB is framing it as “evoking the visual rigor of Chef’s Table and the cultural depth of Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown – with intimate human storytelling.” We first told you about the doc in December 2024, when it was known as A Study on Beauty: Through Smoke.

Season 1 spans three distinct global chapters, with the first chapter, ‘Through Smoke,’ which charts art and heritage of French perfumery was filmed on location across France, including in Grasse – the world’s perfume capital located just up the French Riviera from Cannes, along with Spain, Monaco, Switzerland and Italy. There are also chapters on ‘Onsen,’ which look at Japan’s ancient hot spring bathing rituals and generational healing practices, and ‘Homeland,’ which head to the Philippines to look into matriarchal heritage, colonial history, and indigenous traditions with 109-year-old Kalinga tattoo artist Whang-Od, beauty pioneer Dr. Vicki Belo, ‘the first Asian supermodel’ Anna Bayle and Miss Universe contestants.

Alongside the docuseries, ASOB Media will hit Cannes with a companion podcast, A Student of Beauty, and digital short-form series A Beauty Journey, which has already generated over one million organic cross-platform views.

“Beauty isn’t just cosmetic – it’s a universal language that sits right at the intersection of history, culture, and human connection,” said ASOB founders Pascua and Dennis in a statement. “Moving from behind the scenes into producing this series allowed us to tell stories that treat wellness and heritage with the dignity and scope they deserve.

“Taking A Study on Beauty to MIPCOM allows us to connect with global buyers and distribution partners who see the growing demand for evergreen, cross-cultural programming that actually resonates with audiences.”

Dennis has worked with major music stars such as John Legend, Jennifer Lopez, John Mayer, Meghan Trainor, Demi Lovato, Sia, and Diplo on music videos and short-form content, and began in feature films on Justin Barber horror thriller Phoenix Forgotten. He directed What We Share, a feature doc about Kelly Miyahara’s cancer journey.

Pascua is known for her work as a make-up artist on The Talk. She has served as a makeup artist working with major television networks including CBS, Disney-ABC, NBCUniversal, HBO, FOX, and Netflix, with editorial contributions to Vogue, Teen Vogue, Elle, and Vogue Philippines.

ASOB Media’s executive leadership team includes former Sony Pictures and Lionsgate corporate development exec Ka-Wai Ho, ex-Amazon finance and operations exec Shelby Barnes, business strategist Sal Benti and advisory board member Todd Burns.