URACHA, BEN AND LESLIE VISIT SIAM - THE KINGDOM OF THAILAND

By Uracha Thitiluck-Oliver

Despite all flood and flow of water the sprits of Thai people still up. What I mean is… water given life… but some time it overwhelming… flood on you!!!

When we were in Thailand in September, 30 days before the flood hit Bangkok we were invited out for lunch by the Thai Unit to cosy restaurant full of trees near old railway depot where is now also become groovy cool antique market.

The atmosphere was nostalgia of old Siam, combination old meet new. The food was excellence but the companions were better than lunch with PM. We were treat as good old teachers they respect. Benefit to me as Thai person; chat like I was on fire.

Thai Unit member build up from combination of generation of SFS from 2006 - 08 and 09 graduated. They use to work as team at School for many productions.


Bundit Theanrat (06), Appichart Thaweeaphiradeevicha (08), Skan Aryuapong (08), (Jam) Kamowan Silapaporn (08), Karn Kasamsuk (09), Pavin Kittikovit (09), Sayumphu Kunrapeegayson (09) Luk Varasin (09)

This September business trip was the fruit of their idea - building film school in Thailand. When met them in January 2011, the idea of film school came from the Thai Unit wonder mind, I still remember the words said in broken English “How if we have Sydney Film School in Thailand? We miss the way we learn from school so much! The ways of thinking.” (The rest in Thai) Wow! Big statement, I thought, so I did really dig deep into the meaning of their words hopefully this is going to be the answer of the meaning of life?

January 2011, Jam’s Restaurant…“How if we have Sydney Film School in Thailand?

Well to be fair, they all had some hands on skills, actively working in the industry before they came to school but their answer was “We learn to slow down, thinking more details before we press start button or call action, we more appreciated our culture & background and see it differently from before we went to Australia”.

Then we went on talking from political issues, culture changes, economic, book, play, dance, and marriage to their new film topic. Such a big idea conversation over laughter I feel reward to hear they used and adapt their experience from living life overseas, gain knowledge then start to build some thing back home, I can feel it all work out in their working world, it was so much joy!

I feel sad for Leslie and Ben that could not translate as quick as we would love them to hear. Like secret film society (a famous SFS graduated group) the unit are helping each other make films on their spare time. But they hardly have spare time now. They all promise themselves to work as freelancer, pitch job and generate role to the group. The jobs are paid and most of them are in the industry, from advertising productions shoot with all kind of camera format, directing job or crew job for drama series, short film (full funding), produced TV program and theatre, graphic work including event organiser. They have got into funded short film festival cycle and contact of independent big name filmmaker in Thailand for future project.

Strong intention to expel old ideas.

In October, back in Thailand during university holiday last year Pavin, the yongest member began a short film project from the book written by Warin Leopairote, award winning Thai writer. Karn helped takeing care of DOP role and manage the rental of camera equipment from Appichart’s production company, Jam who was generous with office space, casting arrangement, Training actors and being Production manager on shoot. They also received assistance from many contract via Thai Unit conections. Borrow equipments for free, came to help with prop to set design and take care of them on location shoot (jungle of north Thailand). In old Thai proverb we say “meet again when the nation needed” word of mounth calling help when ever we had to face war) Months before this production they got funding to make short flilm and we had story in the preious news letter.

Karn Kasamsuk, photographer and award winning of SFS best DOP, “ Wish“ 2009, now working consistently on short film, TV drama, AD shoot on Film, and have been working as camera assistant on international film shoot in Thailand. Will shoot again in January 2012 (base in Chang Mai), “The Rocket”, a film by SFS teachers, Producer Sylvia Wilczynski and Director Kim Mordaunt. Also teaching Bangkok Uni.

Appichart Thaweeaphiradeevicha, National award winner director before SFS, set up 5D equipments hire to big budget films, then mostly given free help to love of low budget film. Last job, finished night before our lunch is the Hong Kong production document “Life on Cha Paya River”. He just finished directing TV drama on air.
We ask him if it is like other drama we saw on TV, full of over-acting? He replies faster than face book chat…“ No, no not over-acting like the other Thai TV, I have learn the craft of Bresson”, we all laugh with guilt. Oh no what did we do to him, he doing well. He had point… and will proof.

Jam’s restaurant family business took off well. She plans to help them with what she good at, Production Manager Production design, casting catering.

Skan’s production company, freelancer for any job come in his way, teaching film course at Bangkok University and being more active in short film world. He is about to work on project of 700 years history of Chiang Rai by making “The Portrait of People”. Skan big dream is Sydney Film School in his hometown of Chiang Rai.

Latest news on the face book, as big flood seperate them to leave Bangkok. Once the river subside the words “meet again when the nation needed” will spread again.

Uracha Thitiluck-Oliver

 

 

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