This project began in April with a single bid to our director—a testament to the excellent relationships we'd cultivated with both agency and client. The brief demanded an epic long-form piece shot in Asia, but the budget was challenging at £750k for production. We identified brilliant solutions in Thailand and were set to shoot in June for a summer release. Then came the first hurdle: the talent would only travel within North America. After months searching for a solution, the client secured additional funding for both production and talent fees. If we could shoot in October, the talent would travel to Thailand. We'd have half a day's rehearsal and one shoot day. With a holiday ship date, we were off. Authenticity was paramount. Beyond shooting on 16mm film, the music was composed and recorded by Adrian Younge with a live orchestra on 2-inch tape. The Shaw Brothers films provided our creative compass. Real Kung Fu. Real props. Real sets. We engaged Ming Liu, a legendary fight and stunt choreographer from numerous original Shaw Brothers productions. His decades of expertise shaped the training montage, the iconic running-on-water sequence, and the climactic fight scene, executed with precision by our exceptional body double and Paco Yick—a 75-year-old veteran Shaw Brothers star who brought unparalleled authenticity to every frame. The celebrity talent presented familiar constraints: one day, limited hours, multiple complex locations. Whilst athletic, he had no Kung Fu training. We cast Tarrell, an exceptional body double capable of performing choreography to an extraordinarily high standard. Given the tight timeline and intricate choreography, Stray London developed a comprehensive head replacement strategy using traditional techniques combined with cutting-edge AI technology. The Kung Fu Performing Monks were discovered in China and flown to Thailand with their master. Their perfectly synchronised movements represented a level of discipline impossible to replicate without genuine practitioners. The marriage of old-world craftsmanship with modern technology created something genuinely special: a film honouring its heritage whilst pushing production innovation forward.