How Do A Luk Kreung Get Into The Thai Entertainment Industry?

[Q_Q_Dude]

Just wondering out of self-curiosity, since I feel that I have the command of Thai and appearance that would translate well to the Thai movie industry.

My father knows some people involved with production. Should I use his networking to get to know the right people?

I don't care too much about the money (care more about having a stable job), but if I were looking into the future, what is the standard salary for a nationally somewhat known Thai entertainer/actor?

[Q_Q_Dude]

ahhh never mind

[cdnvic]

Stage fright?

[0Mix1up]

Nepotism is a good way to enter any industry.

Wages? Who'd know?

Stable job and entertainment industry are not compatible.

if you discount the larger players ie big club owners, agencies

[fxm88]

"How Do A Luk Kreung Get Into The Thai Entertainment Industry?"?

Same way as everybody else -- ON YOUR KNEES!

[Jockstar]

SH*te stirrers mostly.

"How Do A Luk Kreung Get Into The Thai Entertainment Industry?"?

Same way as everybody else -- ON YOUR KNEES!

Male or female!

Edited March 4, 2007 by Jockstar

[astral]

Just listen to the radio and TV.

There are many Luk Krueng who have made it, because they speak English very well................

[steveromagnino]

Just wondering out of self-curiosity, since I feel that I have the command of Thai and appearance that would translate well to the Thai movie industry.

My father knows some people involved with production. Should I use his networking to get to know the right people?

I don't care too much about the money (care more about having a stable job), but if I were looking into the future, what is the standard salary for a nationally somewhat known Thai entertainer/actor?

top level star (of which there are maybe 100) = income somewhere between 100,000b - 3m baht per month

medium level model/supporting star = income somewhere between 20,000 - 100,000b per month on average, with major seasonal fluctuations

low level pretty/c grade model = income something less than 50,000b a month, most likely less than 15,000b a month

extra work = income something less than 20k; strictly for unattractive people/holiday people

Order of income something like this

Own TV show/own production company/etc

Lead role in major advertisement for a well known person

Singer solo artist

Lead role in soap opera

TV ad lead role for unknown

Singer in group

Supporting role in soap opera

host of a TV show

MC work

Lead role in print media

Catwalk modelling (although frequency for women will help; men tend to not work more than 1 show a week)

Main support in print/TV

Advertorials

Fashion modelling (again, frequency helps)

Extra work

[wintermute]

Basically you have to be connected somehow to established people in the industry or you have to be so "hansum" or "narak" as a man or woman that they will sign you up doing small promotion gigs. A lot of the luk-kreung don't have an iota of talent in modeling,singing, or acting and have made it so Thailand's probably the best place to take advantage of your unique looks. In other places in Asia it's pretty old hat and in some places they don't really want luk-kreung at all (Japan and Korea).

I know there's quite a few agencies out there who do casting calls so you might want to check those out too. I knew a luk-kreung girl who was trying to break into the industry and despite having the looks it's still a tough business because there's a lot of marginally skilled bastard children of expats out there.

[MioBikerBoyz]

Being a mixed fruit in Thailand is like a walking star. There are quite a few good reasons, some may be explicit from my views and some may be simple, but I'll state them all here:

1) a: It is to do with the difference between the "Thai Thais" and the "Farang Thais". In this case I'm talking about lifestyle. Even rich Thais in Bkk do not possess the "Creativity" that 70% of the mixed fruits posses. We obtain this creativeness from education. Growing up with international private education, we are smart enough and prepared well enough to know how to use our brains.

Thai Thais who have studied and grew up with the local standard, actually Thai education has NO standards, its low as hel_l, will have to work hard to travel abroad to pick up on either language skills or behavioural skills to vary themselves in different situations.

b: In other words, Mixed fruits have been tought to THINK for themselves, whereas Thai Thais must be told everything "parrot fashion" style.

2) a: Mixed fruits are white. White ain't right. Metropolitan golden city praises white. I believe white is unhealthy and in-active.

b: Thai Thais are dark. To do with education, they work outdoore more frequently which does not bother their skin and are totally happy with it as well. Mixed fruits aren't happy.

3) a: Because in Thailand, if your a Thai and can speak more than 1 language fluently, your Jesus Christ. Agents will think your "qualified".

b: Thai Thais speak alot of other languages too! They got Southern Thai, Northern Thai, North-Eastern Thai and Central Thai...but no English, French, Japanese, Latin which by rules of the trade brand them "UNQUALIFIED". Nothing "Farang" enough for the agents.

Theres more but I won't get into it. But heres a story for y'all.

About 2 years ago when I was a newbie in LOS, I helped a buddy open up his music stall from Big C in Pattaya for the music festival. He was going to sell guitars, drums, keyboards and we had good room, so I decided to jam on his Gibson LP look-a-like and a friend of ours who was an Amateur DJ back in Switserland.

We are both mixed fruits, I'm American and hes Swiss. So we got the Thai look and all and got the English language nailed down. We decided to jam and have some fun, have a couple of beers and enjoyed the night away. Some recruiters were walking along the path from GRAMMY records Bangkok and saw us playing. They were impressed and stopped to chat. Asked me where I'm from and what musical instruments I played. I said this and that and so on and they were amazed! Gave me their business card and told me to get down to Bangkok asap to recruit for an up and coming band.

Not interested. I had better plans to become sell-outs for the Thai entertainment industry which was to teach English for a living, which I enjoy very very much. My buddy eventually joined the record company and was up and running somewhere in Bangkok playing his turn table, but not me.

SO if there are any "fame-hungry" mixed fruits here, try getting a proper working career where you can actually contribute more, rather than retarded modern music and movies Thailand has to offer, good luck!

MBB.

[samran]

sticking it to the man!

[phazey]

My boy's just been picked to be a new face for Carrefour - first job i know, but not bad for a 4yr old.

[steveromagnino]

My boy's just been picked to be a new face for Carrefour - first job i know, but not bad for a 4yr old.

Hmmm.Carrefour doesn't have a single presenter, they have a group of them and rotate through them, unless they have changed how they do things.

Make sure you get paid; don't trust ANY agents ever, and try to keep family/friends/hangers on to a minimum on the set. Make sure he is well behaved, well mannered and does what he is told, and he may be able to pay for your retirement one day :-)

You might hear some snide comments on the set regarding ethnicity; that's normal; bear in mind the types of families the majority of look krueng come from. the comment about family/hangers on applies. :-) Water off a duck's back my man/woman.

Have fun :-)

[phazey]

My boy's just been picked to be a new face for Carrefour - first job i know, but not bad for a 4yr old.

Hmmm.Carrefour doesn't have a single presenter, they have a group of them and rotate through them, unless they have changed how they do things.

Make sure you get paid; don't trust ANY agents ever, and try to keep family/friends/hangers on to a minimum on the set. Make sure he is well behaved, well mannered and does what he is told, and he may be able to pay for your retirement one day :-)

You might hear some snide comments on the set regarding ethnicity; that's normal; bear in mind the types of families the majority of look krueng come from. the comment about family/hangers on applies. :-) Water off a duck's back my man/woman.

Have fun :-)

The wife has modelled in several "glossy" publications (not top shelf ones btw) in the past, so knows the score. Mother is always by her side should any funny business take place.

As far as any cash, we've decided what he earns he keeps - it'll be put into trust until he is 18, OR to pay for university fee's. My only stipulation is that none of this is done on school time (we've already turned down one job cos they insisted on doing it during lessons, which is not acceptable to us).

[Stephen Cleary]

Ive been a main actor on a few TV Soap Operas before in LOS, worked as PA on several Hollywood movies, done a lotta commercial stuff etc..

Firstly, your best bet is to contact a couple of reputable modelling agencies based in Bangkok, nowadays these can be found with a simple google search, unlike in the past when it was mainly word of mouth. A lot of stars start off with commercials then climb the ladder.

A few websites on the Net give Foreigners details for just simple 'extra' work on TV Soapies and movies. Some folks may laugh at working for so little, but this is one way to meet a lot of influential people behind the scenes. And, if you speak decent Thais and have OK looks you could soon be offered basic speaking parts etc... (This is how i started before i was handed main parts)

A lot of the female stars also start off in Beauty Pagaents etc.... but for men however......

Unless you are a top-notch star, foreigners will be paid on a daily basis.

Most Thai main actors/actresses get paid only after the TV Soap Opera has finished showing on air. A friend of mine, a leading actor before explaind his distaste to this and it was often more than a year after his first day on the set before he finally saw his money. Another time he never received anything after the production company went bust.

Top stars are paid per episode, around 100,00 baht+. The average series = around 20. So that 2 million smackers.

The average main actor may only recive around 5,000. Times that by 20 and he gets 100,000. On the other hand though, that series may take up to 6 months to make! In the meantime, it is impossible to apply for a full-time job. Just hope you can score another main part on a movie etc.... This is the reason why i left the business.

Kantana TV, Thailand's biggest TV Soap Opera company often runs acting courses, learning with them would certainly bring you a lotta contacts. Do a google search for info.

BEC Tero enjoy having foreigners on their shows, the most famous being of course Andrew Biggs, then another guy there - Tony. I would advise conatcting them again via google.

Anyway, your first step, ought to be in the directions of modelling agencies. But DONT apply to too many at the same time, they'd prefer you stick to just 2/3 at first, as they are all offered the same contracts to win anyway. Stay away from any agency which charges you to apply! There are a lotta fake cowboy modelling agencies out there. Usually located in some apratment room.

IF you want anymore info then do send me a PM

Edited March 6, 2007 by stevesuphan

[Donz]

I was thinking what job I can do in Thailand if i was going to move there, Since im a luk Kreung maybe i will become an actor.

The Donz will be a star in Thailand, i can see it already.

[phazey]

I was thinking what job I can do in Thailand if i was going to move there, Since im a luk Kreung maybe i will become an actor.

The Donz will be a star in Thailand, i can see it already.

Thaksin - The Musical ?

[Pakboong]

It is incredible how overpaid Thai entertainers are relative to the Thai pay scale in general and the quality of the product. Most of their stuff his barely watchable.

If you have the skills and the looks, you can make a fortune by any standard.

[Pakboong]

My boy's just been picked to be a new face for Carrefour - first job i know, but not bad for a 4yr old.

Hmmm.Carrefour doesn't have a single presenter, they have a group of them and rotate through them, unless they have changed how they do things.

Make sure you get paid; don't trust ANY agents ever, and try to keep family/friends/hangers on to a minimum on the set. Make sure he is well behaved, well mannered and does what he is told, and he may be able to pay for your retirement one day :-)

You might hear some snide comments on the set regarding ethnicity; that's normal; bear in mind the types of families the majority of look krueng come from. the comment about family/hangers on applies. :-) Water off a duck's back my man/woman.

Have fun :-)

The wife has modelled in several "glossy" publications (not top shelf ones btw) in the past, so knows the score. Mother is always by her side should any funny business take place.

As far as any cash, we've decided what he earns he keeps - it'll be put into trust until he is 18, OR to pay for university fee's. My only stipulation is that none of this is done on school time (we've already turned down one job cos they insisted on doing it during lessons, which is not acceptable to us).

School pretty much makes you like everyone else, modeling sets you apart.

[sceadugenga]

It is incredible how overpaid Thai entertainers are relative to the Thai pay scale in general and the quality of the product. Most of their stuff his barely watchable.

If you have the skills and the looks, you can make a fortune by any standard.

It's incredible how overpaid American/British/Australian entertainers are relative to pay scales in general and the quality of the product. Most of their stuff is barely watchable.

[Pakboong]

It is incredible how overpaid Thai entertainers are relative to the Thai pay scale in general and the quality of the product. Most of their stuff his barely watchable.

If you have the skills and the looks, you can make a fortune by any standard.

It's incredible how overpaid American/British/Australian entertainers are relative to pay scales in general and the quality of the product. Most of their stuff is barely watchable.

agree

[halfkid]

so are you an actor yet? lol

[Jimjim]

To the OP, you have connections already. Go from there and you'll figure it out.