Singaporean film producer and director Boi Kwong is betting that artificial intelligence (AI) can help level the playing field for Southeast Asian storytellers, unveiling a new production model that pairs traditional filmmaking with advanced digital production techniques in a move he believes could reshape how regional content is made.
The approach is being introduced through CROOKS, a planned nine-episode drama series starring award-winning Singaporean actor Christopher Lee and inspired by the life of Benny Se Teo, founder of the restaurant chain Eighteen Chefs. Produced by B-01 Films, the project combines live-action performances with AI-generated cinematic environments, allowing filmmakers to create expansive visual settings without the costs typically associated with large-scale sets, overseas shoots, or complex production infrastructure.
The production model reflects a broader challenge facing filmmakers across Southeast Asia, where creative ambition often collides with practical limitations. While the region has no shortage of stories and talent, projects can struggle to move beyond development because of budget constraints, limited studio space, expensive locations, and the high cost of building immersive cinematic worlds.
By shifting part of the production process into AI-assisted post-production, Boi believes filmmakers can stretch resources further while preserving the core elements of performance-driven storytelling. Actors are filmed in controlled live-action environments before AI tools are used to expand settings, create virtual backdrops, and enhance visual world-building around their performances.
“Southeast Asian filmmakers have always had to be clever with space, time and resources,” said Boi Kwong, filmmaker and founder of B-01 Films. “For film and television, AI gives us a way to turn those constraints into a competitive advantage. This is not about copying Hollywood budgets, but about giving Southeast Asian content houses a fairer shot at building the worlds their stories need while keeping the people, craft, and culture behind them.”
The workflow was developed with BYKAI, a Singapore-based creative technology company founded by Boi that focuses on AI-powered filmmaking and virtual production. Unlike projects generated entirely through artificial intelligence, the system places actors, scripts, and conventional filmmaking techniques at the center of the process, using AI as a supporting tool rather than a replacement for creative talent.
That philosophy is reflected in CROOKS, which follows a former convict who inherits a struggling restaurant and attempts to rebuild his life alongside a team of ex-offenders and social outcasts. Inspired by Se Teo’s real-life journey, the series explores themes of redemption, resilience, and second chances—ideas that mirror the production’s own emphasis on reinvention and new opportunities within the industry.
The project also marks another milestone in Boi’s career, which has largely focused on stories rooted in the realities of urban Singapore. His 2023 feature Geylang screened at the International Film Festival Rotterdam and earned a Best Action Choreography nomination at the 59th Golden Horse Awards. With CROOKS, he is extending that social-realist approach while experimenting with new tools that could broaden the visual scope of local storytelling.
Beyond a single series, B-01 Films sees the AI-hybrid model as a practical framework for future productions, including feature films, drama series, branded entertainment, and regional co-productions. The company argues that reducing dependence on physical sets and location-heavy shoots could make ambitious projects more achievable for producers working within tight budgets and compressed timelines.
The implications may extend beyond individual productions. As Southeast Asian content creators increasingly seek cross-border collaborations, the workflow could allow Singapore-based teams to develop stories set across multiple locations while retaining more creative, technical, and post-production work domestically. That, in turn, could strengthen Singapore’s position as a regional hub for content development and intellectual property creation.
The effort is supported by a network of local partners, including Shooting Gallery Productions, WOWFX Studios, and True Colour Media Group. More than 40 Singapore-based crew members are being trained to work within AI-enabled production environments, while the project also serves as a platform for younger talent entering the industry, including former students of Boi and graduates of the Institute of Technical Education.
“This isn’t about replacing workers; it’s about upskilling them,” said Boi. “By putting AI tools into the hands of our local crew and partnering with deep-tech experts, we are building a new pipeline that combines practical film craft with AI environment mastery.”
As debate continues worldwide over the role of artificial intelligence in creative industries, Boi argues that the technology should be viewed as an extension of existing filmmaking tools rather than a substitute for human storytelling. Through CROOKS, he hopes to demonstrate that AI can help remove production barriers while leaving performance, culture, and narrative firmly in human hands.
For Singapore’s screen industry, the experiment represents more than a technological test. It is an attempt to create a production model that can be scaled, exported, and adapted across Southeast Asia, positioning the city-state not only as a consumer of global content but as a source of innovative filmmaking practices for the region.
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