Thailand one-stop service center to woo foreign film producers

PHUKET: -- Thailand plans to establish a one-stop service center to facilitate foreign film makers to produce films here to boost the country's income, a senior official of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) said on Thursday.

Thanittha Maneechoti, Executive Director of TAT's Tourism Services Development Department, disclosed that last year foreign film shot in Thailand earned the country more than Bt500 million (US$12.5 million).

The southern Andaman coastal areas are the most popular places of interest to foreign film makers, she said.

However, filming of long movies is still not popular among foreign filmmakers, as they are not confident regarding safety, as they mistakenly perceived that the Andaman coastal provinces are located near the violence-plagued southern border provinces of Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani, she noted.

Currently, most films shot in Thailand are advertising, music video, and documentary in nature even though the country is promoting across a wider spectrum.

Several agencies are co-operating in supporting the establishment of the one-stop service center and plus tax reduction benefits to boost the income from foreign film making so that it could reach Bt10 billion (US$250 million) annually in the future.

Since January, film producers have contacted concerned government agencies to shoot four movies in Thailand, accounting for an estimated income of Bt500 million (US$12.5 million), according to the TAT official.

--TNA 2006-02-23

(quote) However, filming of long movies is still not popular among foreign filmmakers, as they are not confident regarding safety, as they mistakenly perceived that the Andaman coastal provinces are located near the violence-plagued southern border provinces of Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani, she noted.

Could it be possible the decline in foreign film makers have anything to do with how sadly the "Beach" , ( Leonardo DiCaprio), move producers were ripped off and then blamed for ruining the beach and had to pay an exorborant amount of money for the clean-up & restoration on Phi Phi Island.

"After filming, the Thai government alleged that Twentieth Century Fox ruined the beach, while Fox denied the allegations and stated that the beach was cleaner than it was when filming began."

Source: www.haro-online.com/movies/beach.html

I can see it now, "Thailand, The Movie Hub of Asia"..........

Reminds me of some of the Island folks years back who encouraged/welcomed you to build your house on their land and not pay them any money, "come, live on my land for free". After the house is finished he comes over to borrow some money, if refused you're evicted, no recourse.....not true you say? This happened to many people on the Islands 15 years ago, these days we have Thaivisa to help inform us....thanks TV, great site.