Thai film industry hits new highs despite crisis<\/p>\n
By Peter Janssen<\/p>\n
BANGKOK (DPA): This year is slated to go down in Thailand's
\ncinema history as the year of the first Thai blockbuster and the
\nmaking of the most expensive local film.<\/p>\n
Naang Nak, a remake of one of Thailand's most popular love-
\nghost stories, grossed 140 million baht (US$3.7 million) at the
\nbox offices during its first three weeks at Bangkok theaters,
\nmaking it the highest earning Thai film in history.<\/p>\n
Titanic, the Hollywood blockbuster, earned 200 million baht in
\nThailand, leaving Naang Nak in its gigantic wake, but not too far
\nbehind.<\/p>\n
Suriyothai, a period piece of the 16th century Queen
\nSuriyothai of the Ayutthaya kingdom, will open in Bangkok
\ntheaters at year-end, timed to coincide with Thai King Bhumibol
\nAdulyadej's 72nd birthday celebrations on Dec. 5.<\/p>\n
The movie, directed by the renowned Prince Chatrichalerm
\nYukol, has an estimated production budget of 200-300 million baht
\n($5.3 million to $7.9 millions).<\/p>\n
\"I'm not at liberty to say the exact amount but it is very
\nexpensive,\" said the prince. He added coyly that the film is
\nbeing financed by \"someone whom I have a lot of respect for\", a
\nremark that appeared to reinforce rumors that Thai Queen Sirikit
\nis footing the bill.<\/p>\n
\"I think it is definitely Thailand's most expensive film,\" the
\nprince added.<\/p>\n
Such extravagance seems misplaced in Thailand this year, when
\nthe country is only beginning to recover from its worst economic
\nrecession in decades.<\/p>\n
Although Suriyothai is an exceptional case, industry experts
\nsay the recession has, in general, been good for the quality of
\nThai films, if not the quantity.<\/p>\n
\"If Thai films are getting better it's because people are
\ngetting more careful about where they put their money,\" said
\nBrian Bennett, organizer of the Bangkok Film Festival.<\/p>\n
Thailand's local film industry has been on a downward slide
\nfor almost two decades. In it's heyday in the late 1970s, when
\nthe local industry was protected by high tariffs on imported
\nmovies, Thai producers churned out about 200 films per annum.<\/p>\n
Last year 14 Thai films were made, and this year only nine are
\nexpected. While it is easy to blame their declining popularity on
\ncompetition from Hollywood and video stores, local directors
\nadmit that part of the problem is domestic.<\/p>\n
Five years ago the only films Thai directors dared to make, or
\ncould expect financial backing for, were teenybopper flicks
\ntargeting Thai youngsters - presumably the only people who hang
\nout at Bangkok malls and multiplexes and demand movies they can
\nidentify with during their self-centered pubescence.<\/p>\n
The commercial success of Naang Nak may have killed the teen
\ntrend.<\/p>\n
Nonzee Nimibutr, maker of Naang Nak and one of Thailand's new
\ngeneration of Thai directors, said, \"I don't know where the idea
\nthat only teenager films can make money came from but it was a
\ndangerous notion.\"<\/p>\n
\"The audience for Thai films is still out there but you have
\nto offer them something different and of good quality,\" said
\nNonzee in an interview with Deutsche Presse-Agentur.<\/p>\n
While Naang Nak hardly offers a new plot (the story has been
\nremade on film and for TV at least 20 times), Nonzee has won
\naccolades for his cinematography, scenery and for emphasizing the
\nlove story rather than the scary aspects of the legend.<\/p>\n
Naang Nak is based on a story about a couple who lived in a
\nBangkok suburb more than a century ago. The young Thai woman,
\nNak, dies during childbirth when her husband, Mak, is away at
\nwar, and then continues to live with him as a ghost upon his
\nreturn.<\/p>\n
Noonzee says his movie cost 25 million baht ($657,895) to
\nproduce, leaving the producer with a handsome profit.<\/p>\n
\"As far as I know of the nine films made in Thailand this year
\nnone made money except for Naang Nak,\" said Bennett, who plans to
\ninclude the film in the Bangkok Film Festival on Sept. 17-26.<\/p>\n
Bennet said that one reason the quality of local films has
\nimproved is because directors are broadening their target
\naudience.<\/p>\n
\"In the past they only made very, very Thai films, but that
\nhas died out,\" said Bennett.<\/p>\n
For instance, Naang Nak was one of the first Thai movies to
\ninclude English sub-titles. Director Noonzee hopes to enter the
\nmovie in the Seoul or perhaps even Cannes film festival.<\/p>\n
Suriyothai director Prince Chatrichalerm is unabashedly
\nplanning to enter his film, one of 40 movies and documentaries
\nthat he has produced, in next year's Oscar's competition.<\/p>\n
His film required five years of research and painstaking re-
\ncreation of Ayutthaya style props, not to mention an elephant
\nbattle scene with a cast of 10,000 extras.<\/p>\n
The prince, one of the few established Thai directors already
\nknown for high standards, is the first to admit that even quality
\nfilms need a common touch to succeed at the box office.<\/p>\n
\"A good film has got to touch people,\" said Chatrichalerm. \"If
\nthe story line is good, if it brings a tear to the eye or a laugh
\nto the lips, people will come to see it.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/thai-film-industry-hits-new-highs-despite-crisis-1447893297",
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