HOW DID YOU GET THE ROLE FOR GREAN FICTIONS IN THE FIRST PLACE?
FACTBOX
Niti "Pompam" Chaichitathorn, 32, has worked both in front of and behind the camera as the creative group head at GMMGrammy, being in charge of creative content on satellite TV Bang Channel. Since Oct 2011, Pompam has been known for travel showToey Tiew Thai (Kathoeys Travel Thailand, youtube.com/user/bangvdo) which he co-hosts with transgenderers Tachakorn "Godji" Boonlupyanun and Kittipat "Golf" Chalaragse. Pompam also plays a supporting role in a new teenage comedy film, Grean Fictions , which has already hit cinemas. It is directed by Chookiat "Madiew" Sakveerakul of Love of Siam fame. Pompam tells us the impact of being an out and proud person in the spotlight and that his new film has a message for people of all ages.
The director saw me on Toey Tiew Thai and approached me. He and I hit it off so here I am. The movie is about a group of male Matayom students in Chiang Mai who create a hit show on YouTube. I play Ajarn Daengtoi who is in charge of the school's drama club and he isn't nice. Basically, circumstances lead to him having a little clash with the boys. He adds a lot of colour to the film.
WAS IT DIFFICULT FOR YOU TO STAR IN A FILM?
It was because I'm used to TV shows that rely on spontaneity. Many things in a movie are planned ahead and I find it hard to do the same thing again and again. A movie is also a real group effort and requires a lot of focus. I'm naturally a person who can't stand still, but when shooting a scene in a movie, if I move even a bit I may ruin a shot.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE AUDIENCE WILL GET FROM THE MOVIE?
The film is funny and also makes you think. It compares the life of these students and the YouTube videos they make. Real life can't be deleted or edited. You may want to look back at both good and bad things in your life. I believe everyone wants good things to happen in their life and they tend to ignore negative things. I feel the movie tells you that it's OK to embrace all things, good and bad, and use them as lessons.
LET'S TALK ABOUT TOEY TIEW THAI, WHICH YOU'RE BEST KNOWN FOR. WHOSE IDEA WAS IT?
Basically we wanted a travel show for Bang Channel and I put my own spin on it. When it comes to travel shows, people think of places - why they are interesting, their histories and so on. In real life, these elements don't factor in that much. In each episode, our show focuses on actually spending time at tourist spots, the journey there and the ambience.
HOW HAS THE FEEDBACK FOR TOEY TIEW THAI BEEN?
I've received such overwhelming positive feedback. I feel like the show makes people who don't get to interact with gays or kathoeys in their daily life realise that we exist as part of the social fabric. Someone at first suggested making the show more theatrical a la Priscilla or To Wong Foo but I don't want that because I want to show gay and kathoey people as they come. I'm delighted when people say my show makes them more accepting of people who are different or realise that we're not outsiders. I think audiences don't see us as kathoey or gay hosts but they watch us more because we're funny and crazy. Also, for the kids who are figuring out who they are, I hope they realise that sexuality is part of who you are but isn't the biggest factor. If they study hard and have the right attitude about life, they will be fine regardless of their sexuality.G
