Most people wishing to have an excuse to keep coming back to Pattaya go out and buy a beer bar or make a small investment, but Big Ollie has the marbles to go large - still, an interesting venture, and I hope it comes off. Can you suggest any films which might be ideal to be (re)made in Pattaya - and I'm not thinking of that cut price Japanese porno romp that was interrupted by the BIB in a beach hut recently!

Stone's Hollywood plans for Thailand

Director Oliver Stone is planning to turn Thailand into the new Hollywood, after buying a plot of land to build a studio on.

The 'Platoon' filmmaker has been working on the project with producer David Winters, and hopes to attract other stars to move their sets to the south-east Asian country.

A friend of Stone says: "He and David have found some land halfway between Bangkok and Pattaya and a studio is being built for use by the US and British film industry.

"Obviously the beautiful coastlines have always made perfect filming locales, but although it's one of the booming Pacific rim economies, it's also a relatively cheap place to make films and a place where extras can be employed at a reduced rate."

And the pal reveals stars have already got a nickname for the site.

He adds: "It's early days but already those working alongside Stone are jokingly calling it Ollywood."

Stone is not the only movie mogul to move away from Hollywood - Mel Gibson is on a similar mission to turn Costa Rica into the next movie hotspot.

This might be a fun place to visit both during, and after construction. Anybody got more details on the specific location?

Ollywood will never be Hollywood as is Bollywood!

If I would have his fame and Money, I know what I would do....

Thailand was used for many years as a location for Vietnam war movies as Southern Thailand's geography closely resembles Vietnam.

Since Vietnam has opened up and liberalised, there is no need to use Thailand anymore, they can go to Vietnam itself (as long as the movie doesn't put Vietnam in a bad light). Also, it seems like movies about the Vietnam war have gone out of fashion.

I think Ollie's idea of opening a production facility here is going to sink like a Stone.

I think Ollie's idea of opening a production facility here is going to sink like a Stone.

Not so sure about that, it might be "the flavour of the month" for a while with the Thai movie production houses & if he runs it right it may turn into a decent money maker.

Then again I have no clue about a movie production!

Thailand was used for many years as a location for Vietnam war movies as Southern Thailand's geography closely resembles Vietnam.

Since Vietnam has opened up and liberalised, there is no need to use Thailand anymore, they can go to Vietnam itself (as long as the movie doesn't put Vietnam in a bad light). Also, it seems like movies about the Vietnam war have gone out of fashion.

I think Ollie's idea of opening a production facility here is going to sink like a Stone.

But Thailand has recently featured in many non-Vietnam box office hits, including Around the World in 80 Days, The Beach (obviously) American Gangster (seriously), Bridget Jones, Rambo and Alexander, to name but a few. If the tax breaks are good enough, if production costs are low and the technical support is good, I can't see why this would fail.

Interestingly, your point about Vietnam permitting filming so long as the films don't portray that country in a bad light are also relevant here - for example The King and I (original and remake) are still banned in Thailand!

"Good technical support" and "Thailand" in the same sentence? You're obviously joking?!?!

An Asian version of "St Trinians"... could be a good theam for a bar as well.

BB

I'd rather deal with all of Thailand's problems than to deal with the US communist labor unions. I would guess the cost of making a movie will drop by two thirds.

I heard a while back that he was exploring buying into a go go bar, with some local contacts and friends he has, and that he wanted to do a film set in a go go bar in Pattaya (but that could also be a Vietnam era film). Someone told me he is a frequent visitor here but likes to keep himself to himself.

I heard a while back that he was exploring buying into a go go bar, with some local contacts and friends he has, and that he wanted to do a film set in a go go bar in Pattaya (but that could also be a Vietnam era film). Someone told me he is a frequent visitor here but likes to keep himself to himself.

In the duplicate thread about this I mentioned he was seen in Nana Pl;aza a few years ago - he kept himself to himself there.

"Good technical support" and "Thailand" in the same sentence? You're obviously joking?!?!

Think you're a bit off the mark there mate - there's plenty of expertise in the A/V industry here, just the implementation (as usual) can be a bit shoddy.