And now for something completely different

Published on February 25, 2008

If things do seem dim, GMM Grammy Plc can show there's light at the end of tunnel. In among the soap operas and game shows it produces for the lowest common denominator of the population is "Dharma Delivery", which airs on public holidays - and it's a hit, with ratings and ad revenues continually climbing.

It's basically just a soliloquy on the dharma by well-known preacher Phra Maha Sompong Tarnputto, but it's popular enough that advertisers are keen to be involved, says Grammy marketing dude Surapol Perapongpipath.

Lots of people even buy the episodes on DVD, with part of the proceeds going to charity.

Excellent!

Now, what time is "Air Hostess War" on?

Double the delight for Sia Jiang

Prachya Pinkaew accepted the Suphanahongsa Award for Best Picture the other night with a rather backhanded compliment to powerful studio boss Somsak "Sia Jiang" Techaratanaprasert.

The audience at the Siam Niramitr Theatre cheered when "Rak Hang Siam" ("The Love of Siam") - the flick Prachya produced about family dysfunction and gay teen romance - scored the top prize.

Much of the credit, he told them, belongs to the big boss at Sahamongkol Film.

"I want to thank Sia Jiang for approving this project without, for once, being worried about the business aspect," Prachya said.

"Rak Hang Siam" did look like it was going to be an instantly forgettable movie when it first appeared, but it ended up earning Bt40 million and snagging a pair of major awards, including a Best Director trophy.

Filmmakers know, of course, that the business is a fickle mistress. Sometimes you think your picture's going to be a smash and no one comes to see it, and then other times you're ready to settle for critical acclaim instead of cash and find a commercial smash on your hands.

"Love of Siam" falls into the latter category, so Prachya knows Sia Jiang has nothing to complain about: His pockets are as bulging as his trophy case.

A clear failure to manipulate votes

Last year was a great one for the Thai film industry, with a string of quality product, so competition for the Suphanahongsa Awards was pretty fierce.

The clear favourites for Best Screenplay were "Rak Hang Siam" and the action drama "Chaiya", but the glory ultimately went to "Phuean Koo Rak Mueng Wa" ("Bangkok Love Story"), which Poj Anon both directed and scripted.

Chookiat Sakveerakul pulled the same double-duty for "Rak Hang Siam", as did Kongkiat Komsiri for "Chaiya", but by that time those guys weren't about to hang their heads in discouragement.

Chookiat had already picked up Best Picture and Kongkiat was nursing a Best Director award.

The only problem was that fans of their movies wanted to know what the heck happened in the Best Screenplay voting. One of the 19 judges tells Soopsip that everywhere they go now, someone asks them why neither of the favourites won the award.

What happened was the judges don't hang around with politicians enough. Otherwise they'd have been able to finagle a backstage deal to keep "Bangkok Love Story" out of the running. Instead, voting was evenly split between the favourites and Poj Anon's flick popped up the winner in the middle of the tug-of-war.

The Chuwit Show's on - hold my calls

Former back-rubber turned back-scratcher Chuwit Kamolvisith is a brilliant beacon to news-media moths and he knows how to crank up the wattage. He's no doubt the envy of many elected MPs for his ability to hold onto centre stage.

Talk-show producers adore him. His outspokenness, crazy sense of humour and fearless assaults on bigwigs guarantee high ratings.

So it was only a matter of time before Chuwit was cast in a soap opera, and in prime time at that. He's booked for Channel 3's "Phra Chan Son Dao", which will soon take over the Wednesday-Thursday slot currently occupied by "King Kaew Kafak".

It's a chance that Chuwit says he's been awaiting for three years. Interestingly, "Phra Chan Son Dao" has been in pre-production for three years. Did Chuwit's foray into politics somehow get in the way of this plan? The TV station swears it isn't so, insisting it just had too many series on the go and there was never a suitable timetable.

At any rate, Chuwit says he's going to be glued to the TV screen whenever the show is airing and won't tolerate any interruptions.

"Even if Khun Banharn calls my place, I won't take the call," he says, referring to Chart Thai party leader Banharn Silpa-archa.

We seriously doubt that Banharn has even thought about Chuwit since he booted him out of the party for being a loudmouth, but anyway, where's the popcorn?

Enjoy more Soopsip on the Net. Visit NationMulti-media.com/weblog and search for Soopsip, where you'll find a steady diet of political and celebrity gossip.

veen@nationgroup.com

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