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“Elephant King” paints provocative portrait of Chiang Mai

Asia Books launches first “Book Caravan” in Pattaya

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“Elephant King” paints provocative portrait of Chiang Mai

Film producer Tom Waller poses for a photo in front of promotional posters
for his new movies “Elephant King” and “Soi Cowboy”.

Mark Whitman
So you think you know Thailand in general and Chiang Mai in particular?  A controversial new film – Elephant King – may just change that.
The brainchild of American writer/director Seth Gross­man, it is the latest release for the Thai company De Warrenne Pictures, which has its offices in Chiang Mai and Bangkok, or “Where the action is,” according to producer Tom Waller, who gave an interview to the Pattaya Mail Media Group during the run up to the film’s countrywide release on January 15.
Waller, who was born in Chiang Mai, is a producer for the company, which is fast becoming one of the busiest in Thailand.  Since Elephant King, shot in both Chiang Mai and New York, they have released Soi Cowboy to much acclaim at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival, and they begin shooting a new film in the next few days.  But for now, the concentration is on the Thai launch of Elephant King, which opens simultaneously in Pattaya, Bangkok and Chiang Mai, and, hopefully, in further cities after that.

The “Elephant King” was shot on location in Chiang Mai and New York.
Waller explained how the movie came about: “I met the director for the first time when he returned to Thailand.  He already had a script – based to some extent on his experiences here while working in the north of the country – and was looking for finance.  I read it and saw the potential, especially since the company has offices up here where much of the action is set.  We set up the finance and Seth directed his first feature after a number of short movies and television work.”
Filming concentrated in and around Chiang Mai, including some of the city’s most famous night spots, and also features some New York scenes.  The story tells of a young guy who leaves home for Thailand – and trouble.  His mother (played by Oscar-winner Ellen Burstyn) sends his younger brother to find out what’s happening to the boy.
“The main theme of the film is the relationship between the two brothers, Jake and Oliver,” said Waller.  “It’s a kind of victim-bully relationship between the younger, more introvert Oliver (Tate Ellington) and the party animal Jake (Jonno Roberts) which develops against the exotic background of the city.  There’s a third main character, Lek, played by a very beautiful Franco–Thai, Florence Faivre, who naturally contributes to the turmoil between the two brothers.
“Some aspects of the film are controversial and show the underside of Chiang Mai and Thailand, but we hope it’s a revealing and entertaining portrait of what happens when expats and Thais collide and the two cultures shed new light on each other.  It is set in one city but the themes relate to anywhere, whether it is Bangkok or Phuket, or even another country where interaction leads to human conflict,” he added.

The ‘indie’ feature has also opened in the U.S.A. and has been shown with great success at international festivals, where it picked up six different awards including ‘best film’ at both the Sacramento and Brooklyn festivals.  An award that especially pleased the makers came from the audience at Oxford in the U.K. where they voted it ‘most popular film.’
Grossman has already gone on to complete another feature, The Butterfly Effect, scheduled for release later this year.  Meanwhile Waller and his colleagues start shooting their new production soon after Elephant King and Soi Cowboy open.  Sadly, the latter is only opening in Bangkok at present, although it will hopefully be seen more widely later.

Asia Books launches first “Book Caravan” in Pattaya

Over 10,000 English books with discounts up to 80%

Asia Books Co., Ltd. in collaboration with The Avenue Pattaya is celebrating the New Year by organizing the first “Book Caravan” in Pattaya. There will be over 10,000 English books for sale with discounts up to 80%. The Book Caravan will also coincide with the official opening of the Bookazine Outlet at The Avenue Pattaya, which will cater to reading enthusiasts in Pattaya.

Phumate Manuphibul.

Phumate Manuphibul, Managing Director of Asia Books Co., Ltd. said that Asia Books objective for organizing the “Book Caravan” is to promote the joy of reading and to offer customers a wide range of books at good prices and for any budget.
Phumate added that Asia Books is also delighted to introduce the newest Bookazine outlet at The Avenue Pattaya, offering a wide variety of books at great prices as well as over 100 international magazines, over 100 bestseller titles and plenty of titles for readers’ pleasure. In addition to the new outlet, 5 other Bookazine stores are currently operated at the Royal Garden, Central Festival Center (Big C), Carrefour, Bangkok Pattaya Hospital and Jomtien.
The “Book Caravan” will include the “Book Buffet” promotion where customers pay only 999 baht and choose all the books they want. They can also enjoy the 99 baht book corner as well. For customers that purchase 1,000 baht or more, they will receive a 50 baht coupon that can be used at any of the 6 Bookazines in Pattaya.
Be sure not to miss the Book Caravan at The Avenue Pattaya from January 9-18, 2009.

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