Asia Times: Thailand shooting for stardom


	July 28, 2000	atimes.com

Southeast Asia

Thailand shooting for stardom

The worldwide release this year of the Hollywood film The Beach, set and filmed in Thailand, could not have come at a better time for the country's Department of Export Promotion (DEP).

Although the movie, starring heartthrob Leonardo DiCaprio, attracted some negative criticism for alleged destruction of parts of the natural park where it was filmed, it also served to focus attention on Thailand as a viable location for foreign filmmakers. And this is exactly what the DEP wants. It has set itself the target of turning the Kingdom into the leader in the entertainment industry in the region in the next three to five years.

An official of the DEP commented recently that the country had good potential because of the high quality of its human resources, its diversified natural beauty, low costs, and relatively sophisticated local film industry. "All we have lacked is marketing and promotion," he said.

With The Beach hitting the headlines, however, this has changed, putting Thailand firmly on the world map.

In the first half of 2000, 222 foreign films were produced in Thailand, generating more than 200 million baht (US$5 million). Japan was the number one producer with 82 films, followed by Hong Kong and Germany.

Thais can offer a range of services - acting as advisors on Thailand, helping with site selection, leasing production equipment. In the post-production phase, Thai companies have sufficient expertise to assist with film developing, editing, sound control, voice recording and imaging from telecine to color video film.

"When Western people think of the leaders in the Asian film industry, they generally think of Honk Kong and Japan. We want to change this. We have the ability to compete, but we have been overlooked for too long," the DEP official said.

Kosit Suvinitjit, president of the Thai Entertainment Industry Association, also has no doubts that Thailand can develop into a regional center, and he has been working closely with the DEP to achieve the goal. "In fact, it was the DEP which encouraged the industry to set up the association in 1998," says Kosit.

"We have been in close consultation with them, working on a development plan for the whole industry which will set the direction for the next few years. The plan is in progress and it will be submitted to the government soon so we can ask for support."

An issue that needs to be tackled, however, is one of bureaucracy. Before being allowed to shoot in the country, a foreign film unit has to obtain permission from the Film Board Department under the government's Public Relations Department. It then issues a license, but it is not valid for some locations, such as certain natural park reserves, which fall under another department. This often confusion and delays.

The DEP is organizing the Bangkok Entertainment Show - Thailand 2000 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center on December 8-10, 2000. It aims to promote the high standard of products in Thailand to the world market.

(From Manager Daily)

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