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| Chakrit, Bowie |
Leading man Chakrit Yamnam went before the media this week to complain about his portrayal as a real-life Casanova with wandering hands, in tricky publicity for his latest movie.
While most actors would be delighted to be feted as a Casanova, in real life as on the screen, Chakrit is having none of it. In fact, he wept.
To prove his family-man credentials, Chakrit took his mother along too. As Chakrit talked to the media about his ordeal, he started to well up, and hurriedly pulled his mother out of the room.
Chakrit plays a young Casanova with a string of girlfriends in the film, Fan Kao (My Ex).
He is popularly portrayed by the Thai media as a ladies' man anyway. In fact, that's probably why he was cast. His character, Ben, jumps from one girlfriend to another, but has cause to regret his womanising ways when a former girlfriend dies and comes back as a ghost to haunt him.
Publicity for the movie, which opened last Thursday, suggested Chakrit was simply playing to type. It wasn't just Ben in those scenes, it was Chakrit as well. This upset the actor, who insists he is really not like that.
News items about the romance/thriller claimed Chakrit the actor had taken liberties with actress Attama ''Bowie'' Chiwanitchapan as they filmed their love scene, and become aroused at the sight of actress/singer Wanida ''Gybzy'' Termthanporn while they were taking a dip in the sea.
They were meant in jest, but Chakrit said he is still angry with entertainment company RS Promotions, which produced the film and released the publicity.
''I was playing a character who happens to be a Casanova, not myself, but the publicity said it was Leg 1 actually me. RS did not talk to me about the approach they were taking to promoting it, but I'm sure they are responsible,'' he said.
In real life, Chakrit said, he had a steady girlfriend, to whom he was faithful. ''The publicity has forced both Bowie and Gybzy to answer awkward questions from the media,'' he complained.
Chakrit said he had become so upset after seeing the publicity that he had contemplated leaving the industry. He had asked his mother whether it would not be better for him to resume his old life in the US.
''Claims that my son is a Casanova or ladies' man get no laughs from us,'' his mother told journalists. "I never wanted my son to enter show business, but I can't stop him doing something he loves.''
RS chiefs called the media to explain their approach to selling the film. Chakrit, they said, had refused to take part in promotional activities for it. Executive Komsan Chetchotisak denied releasing publicity that exploited Chakrit's reputation as a Casanova. The media put its own spin on the stories, he said.
Chakrit wasn't always so serious about his Casanova image. ''Jokingly, I asked director Piyaphan Chuphet if he was trying to cash in on my image when he cast me in Fan Kao, as my character is similar,'' he admitted. -
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| Peuy |
Saucy actress Panward ''Peuy'' Hemmanee is in a dilemma - should she take off her clothes for overseas fame, or keep them on to avoid shocking modest Thai audiences at home?
Peuy is pondering whether to take the lead role in Thailand's first mainstream ''erotic'' movie, Innocent Love, but is getting conflicting messages about how much she will have to bare.
Director Bongkoj ''Tak'' Khongmalai is at pains to emphasise Leg 2 that it is an erotic rather than a sexy film. As a woman herself, she doesn't want to make a film that exploits flesh. In an arty sense, it simply ''celebrates the female form''.
However, the man overseeing Tak's first directorial effort for Sahamongkol Films, veteran producer Pracha Pinkaew, wants Peuy to take off as much as possible, so the film will appeal to overseas audiences.
He knows that they will expect her to take her clothes off, even if Thais don't. Peuy, however, is worried that if the film flops, she will be left with a tattered domestic reputation as the ''actress who showed too much''. Her career as a mainstream actress may suffer.
For the last few months, she has been negotiating with Tak about how much flesh she has to show, and Tak, who is writing the script, has scaled back the naughty scenes.
''She has boosted the drama and romance, and cut the erotic stuff way back,'' says Peuy approvingly. "However, when I talk to Pracha, he tries to coax me into taking more off. They have such different ideas about where this film is headed that I'm left asking: Just whose film is it?'' says Peuy.
Pracha showed her a clip of Hong Kong actress Shu Qi, who acted in pornographic movies before becoming a mainstream hit.
''He likens my role to one played by Shu Qi. I would like to go `inter' like her - who wouldn't? - but I fear that if it all goes wrong, my career could be ruined,'' says Peuy.
Pracha says the film is likely to attract a stiff rating; audiences would need to be aged at least 20 to see it.
''I would probably have to appear topless, though on the bottom half I could wear underwear, a bikini or G-string,'' she says.
''Based on what Pracha wants me to do, I probably won't take the role, as few actresses would end up as lucky as Shu Qi,'' she says.
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| Mario, Coco |
Actor Mario Maurer and former manager Nirun ''Coco'' Limsomwong can look each other in the eye again - barely - after settling their multi-million baht contract and damages dispute.
The two sides announced this Leg 3 week they had agreed to withdraw the cases they had brought against each other. Before the media, Mario apologised and gave Coco a wai.
Coco accepted it, and with a conciliator standing between them, the two also managed to shake hands. Neither show of conciliation looked convincing, but then the two have been at loggerheads for months.
At the Southern Bangkok Civil Court, both sides turned up for one last stab at conciliation before the matter went before the judges. Mario (Love of Siam, Buppha Rahtree 3.1, 3.2 nf) sent his mum and his lawyer.
Hours into the meeting, both sides were making such good progress that Mario's lawyer called the young actor in from Chon Buri, where he was making a soap opera. Mario turned up late in the day to sign an agreement settling their dispute.
The young actor will have to pay Coco damages, but neither side would reveal how much.
''Mario apologised, and as his elder I should accept. I hope he grows into a fine young man and prospers in the industry,'' said Coco.
Mario said he never forgot people who helped him. Coco had introduced him to the industry, and he would be forever grateful.
''I am pleased we can look each other in the eye again,'' said Mario.
The signs weren't always so promising. Last week, Coco said he feared they would not be able to settle, after Mario refused to attend a conciliation hearing personally.
Coco, who discovered the young star, started the legal action after Mario left him for rival manager, Supachai ''A'' Sriwichit. Coco said Mario left him in breach of their contract, and accused A of stealing his star property away.
Coco sought 600,000 baht from Mario for breach of contract, and also sought 6 million baht in damages against A, for luring Mario away to join his own stable.
Mario and A lodged a case of their own against Coco, for damaging their reputation, after he aired details of their dispute in the media.
In that suit, Mario wanted 4 million baht. Mario also claimed 980,000 baht in another suit where he accused Coco of paying less than stipulated under their contract.
Under their agreement, Coco tears up his contract with Mario, which still has another year to run. Both also agree to drop their civil cases against each other.
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