Hire Local. Deliver Global.

The longer I work across Asia, the more one thing stands out: local talent is still too often underestimated and undervalued. And it’s something I think our industry can do better.

On set in Hokkaido, Japan with our local Director of Photography (DP) and camera assistant.

I’ve worked hard to keep local crews at the heart of my productions. With clients, I’ll often frame it in practical terms; it’s cost-effective, it reduces travel and it protects the schedule. But the real reason is simpler: we know the right people, they’re excellent at what they do and supporting local craft is the right approach.

What I’d love to challenge is the assumption that flying someone in automatically guarantees higher quality. Asia isn’t a “backup option.” There’s deep expertise here - crews who know the terrain, understand the culture and can move quickly and confidently, without inflating budgets or emissions.

Of course, there are projects where bringing in specialist roles makes sense. But too often, the default decision is driven by “global consistency,” “HQ optics,” or “preferred vendors” and the result is predictable: local teams are sidelined, budgets get squeezed and productions become fatter than they need to be. It’s frustrating because in many cases the same level of craft (or better) is already on the ground.

This isn’t about drawing lines or pointing fingers. It’s about respect for local professionals, for the work and for making smarter decisions that benefit everyone: the client, the production and the planet.

Big Boat Films is built on local expertise. We already have the crews, networks and cultural know-how in place to make productions across Asia smoother, smarter and more sustainable without compromising on quality.