Foreign Production Incentives Under Consideration
The Office of Tourism Development (OTD) under the Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MOTS) is exploring effective tax incentive schemes aimed at making Thailand more attractive to foreign film producers to shoot productions in Thailand.
In a meeting with members of the production services private sector on May 5, 2009, MOTS Permanent Secretary Dr. Sasitara Pichaicharnnarong, indicated the OTD would analyze plans submitted by a the Foreign Film Production Services Association (Thailand) (FSA) and develop a two-year plan which will be put forward to the Cabinet.
(picture: Dr. Sasitara Pichaicharnnarong)
Two options being considered are a VAT refund (presently 7%) on import duties on equipment or film equipment rentals and tax breaks for foreign production companies that set up temporary office in Thailand while making a film here.
FSA has been urging the government to provide more incentives for foreign film production companies to encourage them to make more films in Thailand.
The private sector estimates that the proposed tax measures could boost the country's revenue from foreign film production by 20 per cent from Bt 2 billion in 2008. Revenues were forecasted to jump by up to Bt 5 billion if spending by employees of foreign film productions on shopping and living expenses were included.
Dr. Pichaicharnnarong said that offering tax privileges to encourage foreign production houses to film in Thailand would not only help boost confidence in Thailand, but would also help promote tourism in the country.
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Thailand Film Office Picks-up Second Place Best Theme Award at Locations Show
The Thailand Film Office was selected second Best Theme booth at the AFCI Locations Trade Show held April 16-18 2009 in Santa Monica, California.
The AFCI Locations Trade Show is the world's premier tradeshow for location filmmaking. The Show offers a unique opportunity to connect with a targeted audience and participate in discussions on issues facing the locations industry today.
Booth presentations were judged on overall physical presentation, design and creativity, and a number of other criteria. Judges were Larry Goebel – president of Imagination Worldwide; John Orland, president of Crossroads Productions and Wendy Williams, executive VP operations, Premier Entertainment.
Hawaii was the first place winner while Canada followed Thailand in third place.
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Meet Ministry Officials: Dr. Seksan Narkwong, Director General, Office of Tourism Development, Ministry of Tourism and Sports
The new Director General of the Office of Tourism Development of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports is Dr. Seksan Narkwong, former Inspector General for the Ministry. Dr. Narkwong has been with the Ministry for over 30 years.
As Director General, Dr. Narkwong oversees the Thailand Film Office.
Dr. Narkwong was kind enough to sit with FiT staff to discuss the proposed tax incentives for foreign film makers.
Film in Thailand (FiT): What is it about Thailand that attracts foreign film makers?
Dr. Seksan Narkwong (SN): First, I must say, I have been lucky as Inspector General for the Ministry of Tourism and Sports to have traveled the width and breadth of Thailand to inventory our array of tourism attractions.
What does Thailand have to offer? Everything! From sci-fi "moon scapes" and prehistoric dinosaur caves and rock carvings to our famous beaches, modern cities and tropical rainforests – Thailand has a wealth of locations to shoot and stories to tell.
FiT: Tell us something about the incentives for foreign film shoots being discussed.
SN: Please understand we have been discussing these incentives for awhile, trying to find common ground on revenue streams that help develop Thailand's economy and those that make us more competitive for production companies shooting off-shore.
What has changed now is the understanding on the part of the government to not only fast track implementation of incentives but to offer other promotional opportunities for the industry itself to grow and prosper through foreign investment.
FiT: So foreign production companies shooting in Thailand are good for the economy?
SN: Yes, very much so. In 2008 international film location revenue increased approximately 88% over the same period in 2007 (US $57.8 million vs. $30.63 million).
The best thing about revenue obtained through film shoots is that it largely goes directly into the grass roots economy.
Fit: Thank you so much for talking with us.
SN: My pleasure.
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What's Up Private Sector?
Production Company: Location Thailand Co Ltd
Line Producer: Ric Lawes
Client: Taxi Films Australia
TVC: 'Getaway' - Flight Centre - Australia
The Challenge - to be able to achieve a POV shot from a bouncing boat at full speed yet be close enough to frame the Flight Centre Representative in a Parasailing chute being blown from side to side 50 metres above the boat - not a studio shoot and impossible with long lens and steadicam.
Problem Solved - a rig on the sand, counter balanced by a crane and the parasail filled by wind machines, perfect match of ambient sky and light to the wide shot.
The Cost? - 60 tonne mobile crane, 15 riggers and 8 hours work – US$ 4,000
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Maetaman Elephant Camp in Chaing Mai Thailand hosted a crew from the National Geographic Channel who came to do a program on Elephant Artist Hong and her mahout (handler) Noi. Hong caused an "explosion" in interest in elephant art in 2008 when her "Self Portrait" paintings went "viral" on the internet.
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This year Oriental Post has post produced several Thai feature films including "Ong Bak 2" and "Best of Time". For both films, Oriental Post was involved in Conforming, Color Correction, Digital Output, and Mastering.
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De Warrenne Pictures Co. Ltd. partnered with GMA Networks (Manila) Inc. last year to produce 65 episodes of the popular reality television show "Survivor Philippines", based on the hit format owned by Castaway Television Productions Ltd. (UK). The location chosen by Executive Producer Donna Medina and Program Manager Neil Gumban of GMA Networks was Tarutao Maritime National Park in Satun province, Thailand.
Ko Tarutao was also used by the fifth season of the US version of "Survivor" for CBS six years ago. Thai Producer Tom Waller and Production Supervisor Oscar Kahar of De Warrenne Pictures recruited more than 100 local carpenters, boat captains and production crew to supplement the 90 strong Filipino team.
18 castaways competed for money and prizes during the 13 week show in two tribes 'Naak' and 'Jarakay', living in isolation on Ko Tarutao's pristine beaches. The staff and park rangers of Tarutao Maritime National Park assisted the production in providing logistics and accommodation for the local and foreign crew during the shoot which took place in August/September 2008.
Film Me
With the release of Paramount's new Star Trek movie, a revival in the sci-fi genre is eminent.
But you don't have to stand in front of a green screen or go to the Moon or the International Space Station to film space shots, all you need to do is Film in Thailand.
In Thailand's Northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani are geological formations that are more "Moon-like" than what you would expect to see along the banks of the Mekong River in tropical Thailand.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand, in an article by Steve Van Beek describes the area north of Ubon Ratchathani which they call "Moonscape on the Mekong": "One enters the 80 square kilometres of Kaeng Tana National Park. Bisected by the fabled Mun River, this is a region that portends the alien landforms to come. Black rocks and broken sandstone slabs are jumbled together along the riverbanks, their solidity crafted and displaced by cosmic forces. Water has etched the sandstone plates into intricate patterns; looking down on them is like viewing earth from space. In the swirling waters, grit, propelled by the currents has, over eons, pitted and pocked the ebony stones and ground potholes into the rock surfaces, scouring depressions that lend the stones the look of meteorites."
Nearby in Pha Taem National Park where the sun rises first each day, remnants of ancient cultures can be found painted on towering sandstone walls. Recently discovered archaeological evidence suggests that humans settled in the region between 14,000 to 6,000 years ago.
Remind you of opening scenes from "2001: A Space Odyssey"?
In the Park atop a water fall you will find fields of beautiful wildflowers, Lan Hin Thung Dawk Mai, as they are called. They bloom from late October to late February. Their colors range from silver to pink and include the Dusita, a purple insect-eating blossom.
Situated three kilometres from Pha Taem is another intriguing formation: a series of stone “mushrooms” comprising columns and caps. The columns date from 180 million years ago while the umbrella-like capstones comprise harder sandstone of the later Cretaceous period, 150 million years ago, a phenomenon common in the mountains of Northeast Thailand. Local people call these mushroom-like columns sa-liang, meaning "stone pillar."
These are just some of the thousands of fascinating locations you can Film in Thailand.
Pitch It to Me
"The air hung thick in the early morning rainy season downpour.
Elephants lined the mountain ridge: a thousand, probably two. Scantily clad warriors atop, yelling, waving colorful flags and banners, as if to threaten the cannons booming from the pirate Macassar warships offshore.
Phaulkon raised his hand. Suddenly, as if heeding their commander, the rains stopped: there was silence.
Siam's prime minister under Narai the Great of Ayutthaya let his hand fall swiftly.
The elephants raised their trunks and let out a bloodcurdling bey that caused a chill to run along his neck.
Arrows flew through the air finding their way into the armor of the advancing foreign troops. A smile crept across the Greek born Phaulkon's face as he considered the irony of leading the Siamese forces against the great armies of Europe. But after all, he was the Phaulkon, Lord of the Kingdom under King Narai of Siam." (all rights AMW International Co. Ltd.)
Sound like a scene from a movie to you?
Well, maybe a bit dramatic but it is all a part of Thai history.
In 1659, an unhappy young Greek boy, Constantine Hierakis (Phaulkon in English), signs on an English merchant ship to run away from home, works his way to Siam where he becomes a spice and silk trader as well as a gun runner, but is then betrayed by his concubine and threatened with bankruptcy.
He uses his considerable charm and powers of persuasion to work his way into the good graces of Narai, King of Siam (reigned 1656 – 1688) who makes him his Prime Minister, but also forces Phaulkon to marry Maria, a spoiled and willful, but beautiful, Japanese heiress to please the Japanese bankers of his Court.
Narai entrusts him with receiving an embassy from King Louis XIV of France, but unbeknownst to Narai and Constantine, the sole purpose of the embassy is to convert the King to Catholicism. The King and Phaulkon were hoping for military support to protect Siam from the imperialist designs of the British and Dutch.
French troops eventually land in Bangkok, but the whole scheme backfires, as the Siamese feel threatened by the presence of any foreign army, and blame Constantine, accusing him of attempting to destroy their religion and turn Siam into a French colony.
Meanwhile, marauding Macassar, Muslim residents of the Indonesian Archipelago city of the same name, continued to attack foreign vessels along the Spice Route off of Siam's coast.
Narai dies, a virtual prisoner in his palace, Maria becomes the slave of the Siamese crown prince, and Constantine is executed (some reports say thrown to tigers), at the age of 41.
Siam closes upon itself for over a hundred years, vowing never to trust a foreigner again-- which may be a reason why the kingdom has never been colonized.
So, now you know the story, come to Thailand WRITE IT and FILM IT!
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