Episode 10 : “Have I Really Made a Thai Film?" w/ Paul Spurrier

Poet in Bangkok

In the first episode of the second season, Colin and Donald interview Paul Spurrier, the writer and director of the haunting and affecting Thai-language film, The Forest. Paul talks about the experience of filming in the northeastern province of Issan, and how The Forest explores a part of Thailand seldom seen by westerners. Paul recounts his experiences as child actor and tells us the story of how he became proprietor of Bangkok’s smallest cinema, the Friese-Greene Club. He talks about the fascinating and surreal juxtapositions that seem to define contemporary Bangkok, and explains why he misses the naive way he once saw the city. He talks about the crisis facing the Thai film industry—a crisis of threats foreign and domestic. And Paul explains how his experience making promotional films for Pizza Hut and Britain’s Ministry of Defense has prepared him for making propaganda films for our future Martian overlords. ?The hosts share what they've been up to since the last episode and explain why they've decided to continue the podcast. Donald reflects on happiness in the land of smiles, visiting the USA and controlling his Martian Aphasia. Colin tells the story of trying to decide what to do after discovering something forbidden at one of Bangkok’s mazy and gargantuan markets. Written and produced by Donald and Colin. Edited and mixed by Colin. Music by Reports (reports.bandcamp.com/); additional music from the film "The Forest" courtesy of Paul Spurier. Thanks to Izotope (www.izotope.com) for the phenomenal sound editing software.