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| Saipan |
Late last year, Saipan declared she was no longer willing to work with Coco, and tore up their contract. Coco, she said, took on too much work on her behalf, leaving her with no time to rest. He had also sworn at her and her mother, she claimed.
Under their agreement, he had agreed to look after her affairs until next September. Saipan's lawyer sent it back to him, asking that he declare the agreement over.
After that failed to work, she declared she would stop accepting work in the industry, until her contract with Coco ran out. She didn't want to have to pay Coco a share of her earnings, so would rather do without.
This week, however, Saipan emerged in a sporty spread for Volume magazine, which she accepted without discussing the matter with Coco - who says this breaches their contract.
"I have learned though the media that she has accepted modelling work and taken on a role in a movie. When she said she would stop accepting work, I was delighted, as it meant we were unlikely to end up in court.
"However, she has taken on a variety of work on her own behalf, without going through me. I am gathering information and could take legal action for breach of contract," he said. Saipan said she accepted the bikini shoot because she wants some pictures to remember herself by when she gets older.
"It's a first for me, but is not in a sexy vein. It's mannish and sporty," she said.
Defending her decision to accept the assignment, she said she had asked Coco to release her from the contract.
"Does he think I will just lie down and do nothing for the next nine months?" she asked.
He had stopped sending staff to look after her when she was working on assignments, which suggested that for him too, their contractual relationship had ended.
Coco said he had stopped sending staff to look after Saipan because she shoo-ed them away whenever they turned up. "Also, how am I to know what she is doing, when she will no longer keep in contact?" he asked.
"It takes two parties to cancel a contract. You can't just send it back to the other party and declare the thing is at an end," he said.
While he has yet to decide whether to take Saipan to court, he believes the chances of their ending the dispute amicably are remote. "She has accepted so much work on her own behalf now, and refuses to talk," he said.
Coco is no stranger to contract battles. Last year, Saipan - while still a loyal member of his stable - testified in court on Coco's behalf in a contract dispute with actor/model Mario Maurer (Love of Siam, 4 Romances).
Coco took Mario to court for breach of contract, after Mario left to join rival manager Supachai "A" Sriwichit. They settled the dispute in late August. -
2. Too young to be a dad
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| Por |
Actor Nattawut "Por" Sakidjai has his honour - at 35, he says, he is still too young to play the role of a father in soap operas.
Por, a lead actor with Channel 7, says he is unlikely to renew his contract with the company when it comes up for renewal in May.
He had been in the industry for 10 years, and most of the soaps in which he appeared were ratings winners. Both he and Channel 7 had done well from their relationship.
He has yet to give his reasons for abandoning the channel, but the choice of roles on offer might play a part.
"I have my honour and pride as an actor. At 35, an actor is still in his prime. So why am I being offered roles as a father or some senior cop?" he asked.
"If I play a role, it has to be one which is suitable, and which I am likely to enjoy. I don't anticipate having to play a dad until I am 65," he said.
Channel 7 boss Surang "Daeng" Prempri said it is up to an actor what he makes of challenges offered.
"Why be scared of something that has happened yet?" she said.
"If they want to leave, they'll all say they are unhappy about something. If he doesn't like a role, he doesn't have to accept it.
"It's also up to him whether he comes or goes. Please don't talk to me about actors with their noses out of joint," she said. -
3. Paid in full
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| Tony Jaa |
Last December, Eunhee Park, a shareholder in a film production house, took Jaa to court for failing to repay a 1 million baht loan.
Ms Park said Jaa borrowed the money in July, 2008, to help him finish his troubled big-budget martial arts film, Ong Bak 2.
His backers, Sahamongkol Film (SF), cut off financing for the film after he went drastically over-budget. He walked off the set for two months in protest.
Although Jaa and SF eventually reconciled, Jaa borrowed money from Ms Park in the interim, which he failed to pay back.
The two sides went back to court again last week, after an appearance earlier this month failed to arrive at a settlement.
Ms Park's Thai lawyer Jaruporn Reuangkeht said his client was willing to settle the dispute for 500,000 baht, down from the 700,000 she demanded at their most recent court appearance, only a week before.
Jaa refused to pay, arguing that 500,000 should be enough to settle their dispute.
"My client wants a speedy end to the case, so has agreed to accept Jaa's offer," said Mr Reuangkeht. "He has also agreed to pay 50,000 baht to a man who was looking after his interests while he was in financial trouble."
Ms Park is currently in the US being treated for cancer.
Jaa did not turn up in court. His lawyer said Ms Park had agreed to abandon her complaint, and the court had accepted his request that the complaint be withdrawn. -
4. Doing the right thing
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| Andrew |
Andrew works for Dara Videos, which makes TV soaps on contract for Channel 7.
The company says it is delighted that Andrew has asked to withdraw from the soap while he attempts to clear his name, but vows it will stick by him if he is found innocent by the court.
Police say they found Andrew with methamphetamines at an inner-city apartment on March 5.
Acting on a tip, Crime Suppression Division police raided the Palm Suite condominium in Phahon Yothin Road, Bang Khen.
The Thai/English actor was found in possession of a small bag of ice, and paraphernalia for taking the drug.
Bang Khen police charged Andrew with taking ice, and having the drug in his possession. The next day, the Criminal Court at Ratchadaphisek Road released him on 10,000 baht bail, and told him to report back on April 23.
Dara Video head Siam "Louis" Sangwaribut said Andrew had shown spirit by asking to withdraw from the TV soap, Neua Manoot, in which he is appearing.
Andrew recently moved from Channel 9 to Dara Video.
"I'm waiting for the court verdict. If it says he is guilty, he'll be banned from appearing on TV for two years, as you can't buck society," said Mr Louis.
"If he's cleared, he can carry on working for us. I don't know if he's involved in drugs or not, but I do know that he's well-mannered, and a hard worker."
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