Kriangkrai Vachiratamporn, 32, is best-known as the director behind the phenomenal hit Hormones The Series, a teen drama that raised the bar for television shows with its careful research and frankness in portraying adolescent woes. Now a producer of GDH's new TV series Project S, Kriangkrai is applying the same approach to the sports arena, combining meticulous scriptwriting with dramatic precision.
An anthology featuring a different sport for each season, Project S began in May with a focus on volleyball. Now it has moved on to badminton, and will follow with skateboarding and archery. The series is on air on the GMM channel and Line TV.
We caught up with Kriangkrai and asked him about the series.
What does the 'S' in Project S stand for?
It stands for sports and spirit. The series features four stories for four sports: volleyball [directed by Pitchaya Jarusboonpracha], badminton [directed by Naruebet Kuno], skateboarding [directed by Pat Boonnitipat] and archery [directed by Tanida Hantaweewatana]. Each series is about two months long. The first series started in May and the last series will end in December.
Why did you pick sports as the theme of the series?
We searched for a new idea last year after the success of Hormones [2013-2015]. Our team wanted to have a new series that was fun and not too contentious. We wanted to present another angle to young peoples' lifestyles. The first volleyball series, called Spike, tells the story of volleyball tournaments, which can make the audience feel like they are watching a Japanese volleyball cartoon or a real competition.
The second series [which started on July 15] is called Side By Side. It tells the story of two cousins, one of whom is autistic, who want to be professional badminton players.
How's the feedback so far?
Kriangkrai Vachiratamporn. Photo: Karnjana Karnjanatawe
It's not a talk-of-the-town series like Hormones. But those who already watched the first series seem to like it. Project S is made up of four series, so I hope that when people like the second one, they will go back to watch the first and the rest of the series too.
Hormones had a strong script. How did you work with scriptwriters in Project S?
I and my directors co-wrote them. Each director also has their own screenwriting team. I also work with my directors like a coach and share my experiences with them.
Each of my directors picks their own sport and theme based on their passion or interest. For example, the third series is about skateboarding because the director loves it and wants to show audiences that skateboarders are not punkish troublemakers as some people might think they are.
The archery series, on the other hand, was chosen by a director who doesn't play sport. She's just interested in archery. And when she tried it, she felt like the sport has something special.
What do you learn from the different roles of director and producer?
Being a producer teaches me a lot. Now I know the whole process before a director can make the story he/she wants. It's the duty of the producer to manage many things to make it happen for the director. It needs good negotiation skills too. Now I know that it's not that easy to make a movie. So when I direct my next movie, I will understand more the efforts of the producer.
Your latest film Pohn Jak Fah (A Gift), which is inspired by King Rama IX's royal compositions and which you co-directed with other three directors, has been selected by four international film festivals in the past few months. How was the reception of the film from international audiences?
I'm always eager to know if they appreciate the songs [by the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej] in the movie like Thai people do. The movie received a positive response at the first international film festival of this year in Osaka when the audience told us that they liked the music in the movie.
At the Shanghai International Film Festival, I believe the audience felt joy while watching it. It is because the idea of the movie was initiated from the idea of sending music as a gift to our loved ones. I hope that this movie can also be a gift from Thailand to our international audience.
Who is your favourite director?
I really like the Coen brothers. The American filmmakers have made films together since 1984, and their works are so diverse in genre and style. What I like is their dark humour or sense of irony. I also like their cinematography. I watch every film they've made.
What kind of movie would you like to do next?
I want to try as many genres of film as I can so I can keep discovering. If I have a chance, I'd like to make a sci-fi film and to tell a story about the future.
I've just finished making a short sci-fi film titled Better (To Be Better). I launched it online last month via a Facebook page [which has more than 2 million views now]. It was very enjoyable and I want to make a sci-fi feature film if I have the chance.
Side By Side is the second series, which started on July 15. Courtesy of GDH 559
The third series is about skateboarders. Courtesy of GDH 559
