Thailand Voice

Crack open a Heineken and raise a toast to cinematographer Christopher Doyle, the subject of In the Mood for Doyle , a mid-length documentary that will be featured in the second edition of the Terracotta Far East Film Festival in London. Directed by Yves Montmayeur and made for French… Read full story >>>

The first GTH joint of 2010 is Baan Chan … Talok Wai Gon (Por Son Wai) ( บ้าน ฉัน ..ตลก ไว้ ก่อน ( พ่อ สอน ไว้ ) ), which has been given the international English title of The Little Comedian and a trailer to go with that, embedded below. Directed by Fan Chan alumnus Witthaya … Read full story >>>

Yuthlert Sippapak is among the “outside producers” working with entertainment conglomerate RS Public’s new Film R Us production company. He says he has two projects lined up. First will be The Cult Maker , a documentary featuring Yuthlert’s Killer Tattoo star, veteran … Read full story >>>

Newley has a post with some photos he took from the Thaksin asset case at the Supreme Court yesterday. Note the female security officials which are being used to deal with female protesters – although you will see very few… Read full story >>>

Singer, actor, screenwriter, director and producer Surin Charoenpura, better known by his stage name Ruj Ronnapop ( รุจน์ รณภพ) , died on Sunday at age 78. He was the father of three actresses: Mai Charoenpura, “Sai” Inthira Charoenpura and Vipvadee Charoenpura. Born in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Ruj Ronnapop’s career spanned five decades. His … Read full story >>>

Opening tomorrow, October Sonata is a weepy romantic drama that is set in the 1970s. The star is “Koy” Ratchawin Wongviriya, the short-haired actress who gained notice from 2008’s love-triangle drama Rak/Sam/Sao ( The Last Moment ), in which she co-starred with “Pe” Arak… Read full story >>>

Flying home to see family for Christmas. Booked a flight with Egypt Air on Lastminute, cheapest one I could get (pushing 600 quid). As I usually fly with Etihad I thought it a good oppo to see how another airline compares. In short, Egypt … Read full story >>>

I received this email today: Please share your happiness and good time with “Khun Da Torpido” by sending her a card for the coming Christmas and New Year of 2010. You can send a card via a regular mail service to Khun Da at: PO. BOX 58 , P.N.S.(P… Read full story >>>

Girls wanted … by expat. Well that’s a pretty familiar theme in Thailand of course, but one apparently bewildered farang is in need of a whole bundle of Thai girls; at least according to this appeal he’s placed on the internet: “Could anybody give me any pointers of how to recruit Bar Staff… Read full story >>>

We took a step back into the past when we attended a traditional Lanna Thai Wedding in Chiang Mai. The Bride and Groom and their immediate families together with many of the guests were resplendent in traditional Lanna Costumes. A Thai Wedding ceremony is not normally conducted by a… Read full story >>>

– What’s the difference between Santa and Tiger Woods? – Santa knows to stop at three hoes. Ouch – sorry Tiger, I couldn’t resist. [Image via wetfdstamp on Twitter] Of course Tiger is half Thai (mother) which justifies me putting this gag here. Anyone got any others? Read full story >>>

Bangkok University has a new poll (Thai version here and Bangkok Post story here). Have adapted from the Bangkok University version although have made some changes for style, format, and content to reflect what the poll states.Sur… Read full story >>>

Watch out Jija, Quentin Tarantino has his eyes on you. “The Thai film Chocolate ” is No. 5 on the Inglourious Basterds director’s Top 8 films of 2009 , as listed to The Hollywood Reporter in a video clip . Chocolate , the 2008 debut for Jija, got a limited theatrical run … Read full story >>>

I’m familiar with comic actress “Tukky” Sudarat Butrprom’s work in movies. She had a great role in Mum Jokmok’s hi-so satire Wongkumlao earlier this year, and she has a disappointingly brief cameo as a Bang Fai Festival beauty queen in Yam Yasothon… Read full story >>>

Ever heard of Nathan Oman? He’s a big fake who’s now in real trouble. Earlier this year, Nathan — singer, actor, writer, tour guide — said he’d been in the Arabian desert, shooting The Prince of Red Shoe , an epic fantasy adventure, based on his own life as an orphaned half-Thai, half-Nepalese child. Bruce … Read full story >>>

The Thai-Hollywood romance Bitter/Sweet made its Asian premiere at the recent Mumbai Film Festival . Lekha Shankar was there and she sent this report. Story and photos by Lekha J. Shankar Bitter Sweet . the Thai-American film that was a surprisingly not selected for … Read full story >>>

And that’s it. After just six days? Yet that was as long as the public portion of the seventh edition of the Bangkok International Film Festival ran, wrapping up on Wednesday night with the closing film Sawasdee Bangkok (review forthcoming) and the awards ceremony (also coming). Except for perhaps the cinema … Read full story >>>

It seems that Typhoon Ketsana was just a wimper in Ubon Ratchatani. A fair bit of rain but not much wind and this morning even the sun was attempting to break through the clouds (to no avail). Of course Ketsana has wrecked… Read full story >>>

Top tennis stars Gilles Simon of France, John Isner of USA and Robby Ginepri of USA got some hands (and legs) on experience with Thai martial arts at the PTT Thailand Open 2009 tennis tournament yesterday. The three players were treated to an up close demonstration of sword fighting and Muay Thai before donning their boxing … Read full story >>>

Malaysians of Indian heritage are currently in a unique position. Not since the pre-Independence days in the 1950s has their influence has been courted by so many. Sitting imperviously on the proverbial political fence, the average Malaysian Indian voter is now getting very comfortable with the kingmaker pose. But there needs to be … Read full story >>>

Petchara Chaowarat , the biggest-name actress in the Thai movie business in the 1960s and ’70s, had her career sidelined by blindness. Legend has it that make-up to give her trademark “puppy-dog eyes” even more sparkle combined with the bright lights of film sets… Read full story >>>

I've just started a freelance writing career and, obviously, need the internet.  For three days, the internet has been on again off again in my apartment and, this morning, off for FOUR hours.  Impossible to make any kind of money… Read full story >>>

In an interview in the Guardian this weekend, former manager of Thailand Peter Reid made it quite clear that it was the desire to be involved in club football in its more intensive and indeed feverish day-to-day activity that… Read full story >>>

It’s one of those strong Thai rituals to send the sons to the temple to become monks and if it’s only for a few weeks, being taught humility and renunciation. Even for an atheist and nihilist monks can be today’s … Read full story >>>

“Noon” Siraphun Wattanajinda has dyed her hair an almost-white blond for her role in the suspense thriller, Number 9 or 9 Wat being produced by Oriental Eyes. Dirtii Laundry has more on the reaction of Noon’s mom to the new ‘do. The actress, whose break-out role was as a Bohemian … Read full story >>>

In case you have not noticed, there seems to be a full scale blow-out by Indonesians against Malaysians — and not between the governments but, instead, between the people. Of course, the countries have long-standing conflicts related to disputed borders (read here and here… Read full story >>>

Siam Report Matichon reports that Newin and his Bhum Jai Thai party are confident of a not guilty verdict in the rubber saplings corruption case, which is due on the 21st. รายงานข่าวจากแกนนำกลุ่มเพื่อนเนวิน พรรคภูมิใจไทย (ภท.) ระบุว่า นายเนวิน ชิดชอบ หัวหน้ากลุ่มเพื่อนเนวิน จะเดินทางไปฟังคำตัดสินของศาลฎีกาแผนคดีอาญาของผู้ดำรงตำแหน่งทางการเมือง คดีทุจริตกล้ายาง ที่นายเนวินตกเป็นจำเลยด้วยในวันที่ 21 กันยายนนี้แน่นอน โดยจะมีแกนนำกลุ่มและสมาชิกพรรค … Read full story >>>

Thailand’s so called new politicians standing for – for what exactly? – once again made it possible that the kingdom featured the headlines of CNN. Citizens hunting down citizens with batons, machetes and glowing metallic eyes. While red shirts were protesting peace… Read full story >>>

Pioneering indie director Cherd Songsri would have been 78 years old on Sunday. He died in 2006 after a fight with cancer, but his legacy remains strong, thanks to the efforts of the Film Archive in Salaya, Nakhon Pathom . On Sunday, September 20, the archive will show what’s probably my favorite … Read full story >>>

Hong Kong producer and former Mandarin Films chief Raymond Wong , who in July set up his new shingle Pegasus Films with Mainland China investors, is looking to produce an action film by Ringo Lam and has invited Donnie Yen and Tony Jaa to star and “have a series of fights”. That’s according … Read full story >>>