Category : Fiction Length : 90 Language : Thai, regional Thai dialect (northeastern/Isan) Shooting format : HD Shooting location : Khon Kaen (Thailand) Shooting dates : December 2014 Stage of production : Development stage
Budget : 334 000
Financing in place : 80 000 Source of financment : Asian Cinema Fund Workshops or markets attended : CineMart 2013 Current situation : Seeking for European coproducer, Electric Eel Films international sale agent
Maenum CHAGASIK PRODUCER (Electric Eel Films)
Maenum Chagasik graduated in 2002 with a degree in Film Production from Thammasat University. She began her career working at the Thai Film Foundation helping to organize the Bangkok International Film Festival, as well as designing and teaching filmmaking workshops for children. In 2006-2010, she segued into production by working as assistant director for the independent film Wonderful Town, Hi-so, directed by Aditya Assarat, the film Mundane History, directed by Anocha Suwichakornpong and the film Eternity, directed by Sivaroj Kongsakul. Maenum was able to gain further experience of the independent film business. In 2011, she started production of a feature film directed by Wichanon Somumjarn, In April the Following Year, There Was a Fire (Electric Eel Films). The film was supported by the Hubert Bals Fund (post-production 2011) and selected for the Tiger Awards Competition, at the International Rotterdam Film Festival, 2012. The film is right now touring the festival circuit. Maenum is currently working as a producer of several projects, both short films and feature films.
Wichanon SOMUMJARN DIRECTOR
Wichanon Somumjarn was born in Khon Kaen, Thailand. He participated in Asian Film Academy (AFA), Pusan International Film Festival 2009. The following year, he was selected to attend the Berlinale Talent Campus in Germany and Tokyo Filmex: Next Masters in Japan. His short film, Four Boys, White Whiskey and Grilled Mouse was a hit in the international film festival circuit and won him Best Fiction award at the prestigious Tampere Film Festival in Finland in 2010. In April the Following Year, There Was a Fire is Wichanons first feature. It was supported by the Hubert Bals Fund (post-production) and selected for the Tiger Awards Competition at the Rotterdam International Film Festival, 2012.
SYNOPSIS DIRECTORS STATEMENT (extract)
Ann decides not to go to college after finishing high school. She When I was a university student in my hometown (Khon Kaen, in the takes a job at a health and beauty store to support her family northeast of Thailand), I met a girl whose life was vastly different from her mother and grandmother but doesn't make it past her mine and other students - whose sole duty was to study. While probation period. She decides to become a 'beer girl' (beer studying in a polytechnic, she also had to work to support herself. Her promoter in a restaurant, much like a waitress) to earn more jobs varied from selling cosmetics, working in a minimart, selling money. Ann meets Tum, a geology student. They start a insurance, to working as a beer girl. We shared the experiences with relationship founded on their mutual love of country music. One one another, in our markedly different worlds. And even though our day, Anns mother crashes her friend's car by accident. Ann relationship lasted only a short while, she made me understand better needs to find money to pay for the repair. She decides to take what life really means. [] up a risky job, all with the help from Tum. Something goes horribly wrong and they have to make an escape. In a remote Jai Duang Deaw Tee Nong Mee You (Beer Girl) is my second feature- village far away from the city, Ann and Tum find refuge in a length film in the style of poetic realism. The title is taken from a line in a small hut hidden in the deep woods. famous Thai country song, Sao Isan Ror Rak (Isan Girl Waiting for Love). The song is about an Isan girl, who spends her difficult life working as a farmer (while waiting for her true love). In my film, the CONTACT : protagonist, also an Isan girl, struggles to make ends meet. She works Company office : +66 2 662 2869 - any jobs she could find to support her family. The film does not only www.electriceelfilms.com focus on the little people in the society, but also delves into the heart of Maenum Chagasik : Thailands deep-rooted problems the power structure of the nation. tak_kae@yahoo.com Wichanon Somumjarn: infestfilm@gmail.com