Department of Tourism aims to promote Thailand as World’s best film location

[webfact]

Department of Tourism aims to promote Thailand as World’s best film location

 

 

BANGKOK, 23rd June 2017 (NNT) - The Department of Tourism has launched the Thailand International Film Destination Festival 2017 (TIFDF2017), with the aim of promoting Thailand as the World's Best Film Location.

The TIFDT 2017’s concept is a “ fascinating destination”, which focuses on promoting the eight tourism clusters in Thailand among international filmmakers through a series of activities, such as a short-film competition among film students around the world.

Tourism and Sports Minister, Mrs Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul said this week that the international film industry is directly linked to Thailand’s tourism. The film industry not only brings in a large amount of money to the country, but also helps promote Thailand’s beautiful destinations internationally.

 

She added that this year, the Tourism Ministry is working in line with the government’s policy to support tourism in Thailand. The ministry is promoting the eight tourism clusters of tourism development for 2015-2017 to make Thai locations very well-known internationally.

In 2016, more than 700 foreign films were shot in Thailand, generating 2.3 billion baht. In the first five months of this year (Jan-May), a total of 369 films and videos were shot in Thailand, generating 1.4 billion baht. Compared to the same period last year (Jan-May 2016), an increase in number and revenue can be seen.

TIFDF has been held annually since 2013, to attract those in the film industry to shoot films in Thailand. Thailand is a dream destination for many travelers who have come to know Thailand through films, such as the James Bond epic which was shot in Koh Tapu, Phang Nga.

 

-- nnt 2017-06-23

[clockman]

Clutching at straws!

[Dobredin Ghusputin]

Anyone interested in making a documentary about a previous flim festival?

 

 

[trogers]

Have to be seen working hard, even on impossible dreams...

[Misterwhisper]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

In 2016, more than 700 foreign films were shot in Thailand, generating 2.3 billion baht. In the first five months of this year (Jan-May), a total of 369 films and videos were shot in Thailand, generating 1.4 billion baht. Compared to the same period last year (Jan-May 2016), an increase in number and revenue can be seen.

Misleading, as usual.

 

Of those "more than 700 foreign films" quoted, a tiny fraction was actually cinematic feature-length movies or TV series episodes, the vast majority of them from India and China.

 

A small handful of the big screen productions (if you can call a Bollywood film with a total budget of less than $2 million that) were entirely shot in Thailand, while for the rest only a few scenes were filmed in the country.

 

By far the most "films" shot in Thailand that year comprised short films, TV commercials, music videos, corporate videos, and some documentaries.

 

And quite a number was actually not shot here at all, but had merely their post-production (editing, effects, etc.) done in Thailand. They couldn't care less about the "fascinating destination" but chose Thailand to have their editing done on the cheap.

 

If you divide the quoted 2.3 billion baht by 700 productions, you get an average of roughly 3.3 million baht per "film", not even enough to shoot a decent commercial anywhere.

 

I recently spoke to an Indian film producer whose new feature film project has a total production budget of about $2.2 million. Keep in mind that this includes everything from equipment hire to the cast's and crew's wages to equipment hire, travel cost, shooting permits, final editing, promotion/marketing, etc. etc.

 

He plans to shoot 2 scenes of his movie in Thailand over a period of 5 to 7 days maximum and has earmarked about 3% of his budget for that (or $66,000) , including local crew and equipment hire and flying in the main cast and key personnel from Bollywood (who will certainly not be staying in Khao San guesthouses).

 

While it is certainly not wrong for Thailand to promote itself as a filming destination, the minister once again is going overboard in announcing a future hub where there is none.

Edited June 23, 2017 by Misterwhisper

[starky]

Didnt they already try this a few years back?

[mickmac]

Just now, starky said:

Didnt they already try this a few years back?

They were supposed to be opening studios in Chiang Mai, San Kampang if I remember correctly.  Though nothing appears to have been developed.

 

[Upnotover]

55 minutes ago, starky said:

Didnt they already try this a few years back?

Yep.

4 hours ago, webfact said:

TIFDF has been held annually since 2013, to attract those in the film industry to shoot films in Thailand

 

[natway09]

Any band wagon will do, now there is no real sex available.

Do these people have any brains at all??

 

[Jessi]

Just another HUB for Thailand.

[williamgeorgeallen]

they are missing out on half the film industry. porn movies. now they have stamped out prostitution those girls need work and it would help kick start the thai film industry. how can i tell madam TAT of my idea?

[BuckBee]

xxx movies perhaps !

Need start doing more films themselves, ongbak and chocolate was good but not seen much film magic since that and chocolate took a lot of style and scenes from tarantino lol .

Best get back to exporting rice fairly if possible lol ...

[yellowboat]

Not sure how Thailand rates against PineWood down in JB.  Thailand's neighbors are wanting the same things, and  are more flexible and welcoming. 

[wakeupplease]

Mrs Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul should stop dreaming up ideas to get her self into the news (Hey Look At Me) and start doing things to make it safer for tourists and may like to start with stopping the bloody corruption that all Tourists have to put up with or like many have done of late and that is vote with their feet, except those from China who are new to the game but will learn quickly.

 

But maybe its the sexy movie she is thinking about, take it off the streets and put in in the movies.

 

James Bond Movie, how long ago was that? Living in the past as per usual. Oh I forgot the beach where everyone complained about the mess it made.

Edited June 23, 2017 by wakeupplease

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

Wonder what happened with the dream they had a couple of years ago to make Bangkok the Fashion hub of the world (not to mention all the other weird Hub ideas we regularly read about) What went wrong????

[ratcatcher]

43 minutes ago, wakeupplease said:

Mrs Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul should stop dreaming up ideas to get her self into the news (Hey Look At Me) and start doing things to make it safer for tourists and may like to start with stopping the bloody corruption that all Tourists have to put up with or like many have done of late and that is vote with their feet, except those from China who are new to the game but will learn quickly.

 

But maybe its the sexy movie she is thinking about, take it off the streets and put in in the movies.

 

James Bond Movie, how long ago was that? Living in the past as per usual. Oh I forgot the beach where everyone complained about the mess it made.

"James Bond Movie, how long ago was that? "  Kobkarn was a schoolgirl when Roger Moooe was spinning around Phang Na Bay in 1974.

 Living in the past as per usual.  I expect she gets a kick out of those old bond movies.

Oh I forgot the beach where everyone complained about the mess it made. That would be the Son of the Beach, Leonardo Di caprio on that one.

[Chama1]

Thailand is a beautiful place for filming but the constant money grab and old boy networks will make the probability of keeping cost in line will be low enough that film makers will avoid coming here to film. Until the root of the problem is solved bringing in foreign industry will be a challenge. Low wages are more than offset by other "expenses". 

[KIWIBATCH]

Hub hub hub hub hub hub hub hub... hub of this...hub of that......she just cant stop herself...got to be in the news at least once a week......

[IAMHERE]

I'd think the 'work permits' would just be too much of a hassle for most films that a foreign studio would even think of filming in Thailand.

[drgoon]

Come on you guys, don't be so pessimistic.

 

There have been some great movies made in Thailand

 

TukTuk Patrol

Asia Street Meat

Ma Lee

 

 

Thailand....

 

The hub of the universe.

[balo]

15 hours ago, webfact said:

n 2016, more than 700 foreign films were shot in Thailand,

And all of them starred Steven Seagal   . 

[hotchilli]

The list just gets longer and longer

[NCC1701A]

Yes the first production can be called "Death Island", based on true events.

 

 

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

11 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

Yes the first production can be called "Death Island", based on true events.

 

 

Featuring love, death, police corruption, torture, parody of justice trials, and even a dictator, could be a real blockbuster!  

[Reigntax]

10 hours ago, balo said:

And all of them starred Steven Seagal   . 

 

My favourite 'Somchai does Seaguls'

Edited June 24, 2017 by Reigntax

[geriatrickid]

Are they focusing on quality films or those pornographic embarrassments that are advertised as Naughty Lady Boys,  Delicious Delights of the Orient etc.?

Edited June 24, 2017 by geriatrickid

[coulson]

Are they confusing youtubers with actual filmmakers?

[PETERTHEEATER]

Yes, ideal location for a remake of 'Lawrence of Arabia'....

[Redline]

Are they counting tourists with handycams?  Who is the audience for this scam, I mean scheme?  I guess they can get some Youtubers and maybe Somalia involved

[fish monger]

On ‎23‎/‎6‎/‎2560 at 6:44 PM, williamgeorgeallen said:

they are missing out on half the film industry. porn movies. now they have stamped out prostitution those girls need work and it would help kick start the thai film industry. how can i tell madam TAT of my idea?

Go to her face book page...! She does have one.