Showing 1 - 6 of 6
Getting soft power right
Life, Published on 08/01/2024
» After three months in office, the Srettha Thavisin government has raved on about populist policies in the guise of digital wallets and soft power projects that will create income to boost our declining economy. With optimism, we learned that Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Pheu Thai party leader and head of the National Soft Power Strategy Committee (NSPSC), has drafted a budget of 5.1 billion baht to boost festivals and creative industries. It is welcoming news to hear this government is priortising art, music, literature, design, fashion, film, food, games, sports and festivals as essential sources for the creative economy. Where this enormous chunk of budget will come from, like digital wallets, remains to be seen.
Silence interrupted
Life, Tatat Bunnag, Published on 02/03/2022
» Much like his second feature film Blissfully Yours in 2002, serene stillness is the first impression we get from Apichatpong Weerasethakul's Memoria (in local cinemas tomorrow). Everything remains silent for a long period of time, but suddenly there's a loud booming sound resounding in the head of Jessica, played by Tilda Swinton, a British expat living in Colombia. The noise is loud enough to wake her up from the bed of her hotel room, as she begins experiencing a mysterious sensory syndrome. It forces Jessica out to the city and through the jungle in search of the source of the sound. From that moment on, the sound plays a crucial role to the story in Memoria. While this strange sound is the main inspiration for the film, it is also what Apichatpong has been struggling with over the past few years.
Happy birthday Uniqlo
Life, Noko, Published on 07/10/2021
» Ten years ago, Uniqlo chose an auspicious date, Sept 9, for its launch in Thailand.
The plague is coming
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 01/02/2019
» Hunger drives the story of Kingdom, in which people fight zombies with swords and make their escape on a cartwheel chase during the 16th-century Joseon Dynasty.
Into the strange forest
Life, Kong Rithdee, Published on 09/09/2016
» The dirt road is dry and red, scorched by the Isan sun. The headmaster is wary, sardonic, and enervated by the heat. The students, or at least some of them, are bored and ironic ("What do you want to be when you grow up?" a teacher asks. "A bank robber," he deadpans.) Next to this poor state school is a forest, sun-dappled, mysterious and probably haunted. Girls are warned not to go in there because they may never come back out.
Cranking up the synth
Life, Pimchanok Phungbun Na Ayudhya, Published on 18/08/2015
» The local music industry has seen many acts move from indie to major labels. Somphol Rungphanit (vocals), Piyawat Meekruea (guitar), Prateep Siri-issranan (guitar), Eaksiri Kumbungpai (bass) and Krittapong Sakulnam-anek (drums) of 25hours last year jumped on the bandwagon by signing with Genie Records, under GMM Grammy, after a seven-year stint with the independent Believe Records.