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Published on November 12, 2007

When he sets a deadline for a project to wrap, he means it.

Of course, these are movie deadlines we're talking about - they're as flexible as celluloid. Jira's no-nonsense schedule demands that his new romantic comedy be completed "by the end of this year!"

He doesn't seem to realise that that's about a month and a half away.

Meanwhile, the energetic 46-year-old is already gearing up for his next flick, tentatively called "Pochanakarn Khatakram", which translates as "Nutrition Slaughter".

It's an adaptation of the late MR Krukrit Pramoj's short story "Khatakram Kon Khrua" ("Murder in the Kitchen"), which, as part of his collection "Puean Non" ("Bedfellows"), used to be required reading in schools.

The story provides a perfect movie theme, ladling humour into a murder mystery.

And, like a lot of Kukrit's writing, it has frequent references to the food served in the palace. Jira says he's learned a great deal about the royal cuisine, but he's "downgraded" it for the film, turning instead to commoners' grub like khao khai jiew - your basic rice capped with an omelette.

"It's really hard adapting the script," Jira adds, "because MR Kukrit always had a twist at the ending." It sounds like a challenge, but Jira's friends and colleagues know he routinely goes for the difficult projects, including the translation to the screen of Arjin Panjapan's "Tin Mine".

Soopsip wishes him luck with the scriptwriting, and reminds his pals not to get mad if he hasn't been in touch lately. The man's got a deadline to meet.