Temper Thailand
Hi:
I read the article that was posted about filming difficulties in Thailand. The article was written again by the Nation (a prominent English language newspaper) by Ken Ywin, a man who has a well-documented grudge against Mr. Seagal in Thailand, owing back to the time Mr. Ywin asked Mr. Seagal a rude and inappropriate question in public abbout the New York Jules Nasso case, which was completely irrelevant to the reason Steven had called the press conference. Since then, Mr. Ywin has taken every opportunity to make unfair comments about Mr. Seagal in the press and this is just another example.
The payment dispute Mr. Ywin is referring to involved his friend Dr. Ric Lawes a local Australian living in Thailand trying to promote the film industry here see:
www.blackopalcap.com/RicLawes.html
During Belly of the Beast filming, Mr. Seagal was solicited by Ric Lawes to use local film production crews, talent, and resources. Mr. Seagal tried to use local talent when he could but sometimes was blocked by contractual commitments to other companies, as you might imagine. Mr. Lawes then started a rumor that Seagal was "difficult", wouldn't support the local industry, wouldn't pay bills on time, etc. etc., all of which in my opinion is bull. Mr. Lawes then was able to use his influence on Mr. Ywin to get the paper to publish negative press on Seagal. All because Lawes/Ywin didn't profit from Seagal's project here.
So I wouldn't necessarily believe the article that Steven somehow didn't pay his bills.
And another issue that consistently irks me when I read posts that always say like Steven is a "bad ass . . ." this and that, Steven is a Master of Aikido. Anyone who knows anything about Aikido knows it is purely defensive- it is not even a competitive martial art- there are no winners and losers in true Aikido, no matter how it is manipulated to make for exciting movies. From my experience, Steven is a Master precisely because he is not a hot head, he does not lose his cool, he always speaks gently, he treats people gently and with respect and he always displays patience. These traits are necessarily related to his Aikido mastery, and one can speculate whether he had those traits to begin with or he developed them during his training.
Look, I know it's fun and human nature to speculate about a famous person, but all of this nonsense about him throwing temper tantrums is just so off the mark it's not even worth commenting on.
Does anyone really think Steven was able to fake his way to a Seventh Dan level only to be exposed as some uncontrollable prima donna hot head? That just doesn't happen folks.
But of course everyone is entitled to opinions, and I try to see both sides of every issue, but I cannot put aside my strong beliefs on this issue.
Thanks and best to all,
Ed