Bangkok Knockout! Promotional Event!

So it was nearly 6 months ago that I was asked to come on board and write the dramatic scenes for a film that had stalled out in mid production. At the time I saw it as a project that would be a blast. When I was a kid I grew up watching Hong Kong Action films and was, like most of my generation, awed by the amazing skills and power of BRUCE LEE. When Punna called and asked for my help I was surprised when he said, "We've already shot 80% of the action, but we need you to write the entire story." What? What? You've done what? But you need what?

The action was so good he couldn't leave this stuff on the cutting room floor so my task was to not only create a story that might appeal to both a Thai and an international audience, but to make sure and weave the story around action scenes that had already been shot.

I thought my eyes were going to pop out as I finished watching the action scenes for about the 30th time. Finally I had an idea and went to work.

What we came up with is Bangkok Knockout! 

What I have taken from the experience is one of the toughest writing challenges of my life, one of the most eye opening about film and where I may play a part in it in the future, and most importantly a FAMILY atmosphere with Punna's Team that made me feel as if I had found home. After all Punna is from the rice fields of North East Thailand and I am from the corn fields of rural Nebraska. 

Check out this promotional video and COME OUT and see BANGKOK KNOCKOUT coming to theaters all over Thailand December 16th. 

WE are a WRAP

Levels of Death is the working ENGLISH title for this film. The best I could come up with. The Thai name is โครต โส or Kot So. It is actually in the Esson language. Anyway, the film is finished shooting and is in the editing and promotional stage. I am technically the writer, but actually was brought in half way through shooting to develop characters and more of a plot. I did what I could and enjoyed the process more than I could have imagined. I was able to bring in a number of great actors who shocked me with their talent. As the film is now it is about 30% in English and 70% in Thai and of course sub titles. I think the best part of this film was the TEAM WORK. It was a great project for combining a team of veteran Thai film makers with my team of international talent. I think we all hope this is the FIRST of MORE to come!

During a HOT shoot the Stunt Men Wait

Hurry up and wait is the life of the actor.

Shooting Day in Thai Heat

A hot shooting day for LEVELS OF DEATH.

Blasts From the Past

Here are 2 videos that people have asked me about lately. They are probably only fun if you are a Satit Kaset Alumni, but perhaps anyone would enjoy. Both are from the year 2007.

Sound and Vision

If good film revolves around STORY. Then home video should then contrast it by being a battery of memory and senses. Just as blogging, mostly nothing more than narcissistic sentimentality, contrast that of novel writing. So I have begun putting together some simple videos that have a smattering of eclectic sound and vision. The first of these is here.
Sound and Vision, of course inspired by David Bowie.

Little Friends

Okay so I have not been sleeping and this little guy came to visit me and discuss human and insect relations. As he pointed out it is a bit of a one sided conflict actually. He left me with his dance and I believe I have new appreciation for crawly things.

IP 12 Class

My kids in IP 12 are nerdy. I shot this video during their free time. I had expected them to all be playing around, but they surprised me--almost. 

Punna Stunt Team Thailand

Well I have been very quiet since the very difficult RED SUMMER. But life goes on. I have been brought into a team of film makers here in Thailand who are truly amazing. I was asked about 6 months ago to write a screen play for Punna the action director of such hits as Ombak, II, III, and many films before that. I wrote a few treatments for him that he turned down for budget reasons, but he liked the style of my visual script writing. Finally we came to my idea about TRUST and he believed in the story enough to want to make it.

We are just getting under way, but the great thing is he is putting together a team of all-star movie makers to do this project. I am just the writer, but he's allowing me to come on board and learn movie making from the best. Here is a video of Punna in action. 

BBC Has A Nice Piece about Bangkok

CLICK on the TITLE to go to the BBC article. I think they chose some good people to interview.

Thai Cats Jumping

One interesting element of being trapped in our houses during this political unrest is that we are getting a lot of home time. This video is of Nan training with Black and Coffee our two cats. Coffee is the leaper and Black is the heavy cat who can't get off the ground. With the malls closed in Thailand, which means movie theaters, restaurants, shops, bowling, well just about everything, who knows how much we may all learn about ourselves. 

Soldiers on Vipawadee Road Bangkok

This video was shot on my way home from the store. The soldiers are searching for Red Shirts who are now on the run after the destruction of their camp down town. On their way out of the city they have burned down Asia's 2nd largest mall along with some 35 plus other buildings and businesses. The tension has not been relieved, but is instead spreading to the outer provinces. It is still not safe to come to Thailand.

Too Much Blood in Bangkok

The Death toll has reached 65. Protesters loyal to former PM Thaksin have created the closest thing to a civil war Thailand has had in the modern era. Tonight, I sit typing this about a 30 minutes drive from the Red fortifications. On Vipawadee road outside my neighborhood soldiers with machine guns and shot guns patrol check points marked with swirls of barbed wire. As theatrical a scene I have never experienced first hand.

Still, most of us are going on about our day. I sat on my roof which looks out over the north side of Bangkok and other than the occasional sound of chirping birds I felt as if the city was sleeping. It is not, of course, in a state of rest. Truly the nation is a state of rebellion. Bangkok is the thrust of this movements attention, but cities outside the capital are also experiencing bombings, protests, and bloodshed.

I have always believed Thai people are the most peaceful on the planet. Their very nature is one of acceptance and tolerance, and yet the current stand off and escalating violence has proven to me that humans by nature are incapable of true peace.

I am not going to talk about what side did what. The sins of the many sides involved in this are mounting daily. What needs to be done is mediation and a serious look at the causes of protesters and government leaders. Most of us trapped in this ugly situation are scratching our heads as to the true requests and desires of all sides. When I listen to the government accept demand after demand by the Reds they seem far too wimpy for my American upbringing. Let's face it no such rebellion against the rich would be tolerated in the USA, look at the LA riots. You can burn a ghetto but don't head to Beverly Hills or you'll be met with tanks.

I come from the farm land of the US and so I do feel a sad kinsmen-ship for these REDS as they are mostly rice farmers, but I can't get a grip on what it is that they want the government to do. And I am tired of the fighting and disruptions they have caused my city. Protest if you want to, but from what they have been saying they did not come here to protest, they came here to martyr themselves and create chaos. How will they sway the people of Bangkok with this mindset. This only spreads fear and we are seeing now what fear brings -- 65 dead.

The photos I'm putting on here are AMAZING and I am taking them from the AP folks. These make me sad and I hope will let everyone who checks in on me through this blog see this tragedy unfolding in my adopted home.

We are currently excepting all prayers by all faiths!