Other "Seagal brings Hollywood to Thailand "!!

BANGKOK POST - 30 April 2003

Seagal brings Hollywood to Thailand

Martial arts star wrote his latest movie with a Thai backdrop in mind and persuaded reluctant producers to film here

Story by PENCHAN PHOBORISUT, Picture by YINGYONG UN-ANONGRAK

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Steven Seagal can often be spotted in Thailand. The Hollywood action star is Buddhist. He loves the country's spectacular scenery so much that he plans to buy a house up in the mountains in northern Thailand. Seagal even persuaded Hollywood producers to film his upcoming movie, Belly of the Beasts, in Thailand, and wrote the movie himself with Thailand in mind.

The movie is currently filming here with Hong Kong director Tony Ching. The team has been here for four months and will wrap up its location shooting on May 5.

This interview with Seagal took place on the set in Bangkok where the crew was diligently shooting an action scene. Soldiers clad in green uniforms armed with rifles and guns hid behind jeeps stationed in front of a two-storey wooden mansion. The actors waited for a signal to fire at their opponents. Then, a piercing round of gunfire billowed smoke and startled the press crowd who had gathered to watch.

In the sweltering night with the added heat of the bright spotlights, we waited patiently for two hours, accompanied by mosquitoes, for the scene to finish.

Then out came Seagal wearing a ponytail, greeting us with a Thai wai.

``This has been a great experience for me,'' said Seagal. ``I've wanted to shoot a movie in Thailand for 15 to 20 years. This is my first chance to do it.''

Seagal needed to find a way to come up with the $20 to $30 million it takes to shoot a production in this country. ``I could never get the studio to come to Thailand up until now,'' confessed Seagal, who became famous for his impressive martial arts skills in films such as Under Siege, Marked for Death and Executive Decision.

Seagal put up a million dollars for the movie so that production could take place in Thailand.

``The money was spent on insurance. The movie, The Beach, had an astronomically terrible experience [filming] in this country,'' Seagal explained. ``Many people said they would never shoot a movie in Bangkok or Thailand again. [They said] no one would ever want to make a movie here.

``But I would attribute the failures of The Beach not to Thailand but to poor planning on the American side. You have to hire the right people and do the right thing. Even if you don't hire the right people, you have to be professional enough to get through it,'' Seagal said.

Seagal admitted that his current production has also encountered some difficulties while shooting but said he has received help from many people, including Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Set against a backdrop of Thailand, Seagal portrays a former CIA agent who searches for his kidnapped daughter.

````[The movie] is about treachery and about how money corrupts,'' he said. Seagal said he felt ``proud'' and ``honoured'' to be able to include in the movie references to Buddhism and great Buddhist monks. In the film, his character's brother is a Buddhist monk.

Seagal said that filming in the highly humid, 36-degree Celsius heat of the night has been a daunting task. ``Unfortunately, I didn't get the people who were working with me to move in a timely fashion. We were [supposed] to start in December when it would have been nicer weather.

``The heat now has been very hard for the fighting scenes. Doing a lot of fighting in this kind of heat is devastating. It's rough.''

Seagal does his own stunts. He said that the most difficult stunt he's ever done in his life was ``when I was dropped from 18 feet [5.5 metres] and broke my leg.'' He also cites jumping off a moving train and through a glass window as among the most difficult stunts he's done.

Seagal said that it was a great experience working with three local actors _ Sarah Malakul, Pongpat Wachirabanjong and Chakrit Yamnam.

``Until now, I haven't had a chance to work with Thai actors and actresses. The people I am working with are wonderful ... Sarah is right for the [role]. She could be my daughter in real life because we both look Oriental. Chakrit is a very deep, powerful, humble, sensitive actor. Pongpat is so humble and talented. I love him. He's just a great human being.''

Seagal said he wished he could have hired more Thai actors.

``I was going to put Add Carabao in this movie ... But Add was busy on tour. I couldn't get him.''

Seagal recently played guitar with the well-known Thai band, Carabao, at the Tawandaeng Brewery in Bangkok.

``I've been playing music since I was about five years old. It's my first love. I have played with many great legends. I was born and raised in the blues,'' Seagal said.

The actor has a blues and reggae album produced by Rick Wick that will be released in several months.

``[Rick Wick], in my opinion, is the greatest producer alive. He's won 30 Grammys. He's worked with Mariah Carey, Celine Dion and Jennifer Lopez,'' Seagal said.

Will we hear any of Seagal's songs in his movie?

``Actually, I've had offers to put my songs in most of my movies,'' he replied. ``But I have refused because I don't want people to think I use the movies to promote my music career.''

Belly of the Beast will be released in the United States at Christmas and is scheduled to be screened in Thailand in early 2004.
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"Then out came Seagal wearing a ponytail, greeting us with a Thai wai. "

Good News !! :)

in oneness
 

Pat

New Member
Thank you so much Suzi, it so great to hear some news about
Steven that isn't just negative crap from a scandal magazine.
Christmas seems a long way off but to get to see Steven
we just have to be patient. At lease we can watch our
DVD'S of his other movies over and over until we can see
a new one. Thank you one more time for all your hard work.
Love you,
Pat
 

Kwan

Be your self...
"Seagal does his own stunts. He said that the most difficult stunt he's ever done in his life was ``when I was dropped from 18 feet [5.5 metres] and broke my leg."
****
do someone know which movie that stunt toke place??
 

Lotussan

I Belong To Steven
Thanks Suzi! A current picture, I adore it, he is magnificent! He broke his leg? I didn't know that, I thought it was a knee injury...Tora, I am back, now...:)
 

Lotussan

I Belong To Steven
Wow, he does all that dangerous stuff? I am concerned...But I know he must have a hard time finding a double that is as handsome and tall as he is...;)
 

Amos Stevens

New Member
I think that it wasn't a broken leg,but when his knee was injured in Exit Wounds...

Lotussan-hus stunt doubles have to stay hidden from you for their own safety! hee hee
 

GlimmerMan

Huge Member
Yeah - Seagal injured his knee doing the car jump in Exit Wounds... as for a breaking his leg - who knows? The jump onto the moving train in Under Siege 2 possibly? I assume the jump through the glass window he speaks about is the one he does in 'Above The Law'. Suzi - it is good to see a positive and respectful article about Seagal for once - thankyou for bringing it to our attention.

Glimmer (pleased)
 
Originally posted by GlimmerMan
Yeah - Seagal injured his knee doing the car jump in Exit Wounds... as for a breaking his leg - who knows? The jump onto the moving train in Under Siege 2 possibly? I assume the jump through the glass window he speaks about is the one he does in 'Above The Law'. Suzi - it is good to see a positive and respectful article about Seagal for once - thankyou for bringing it to our attention.

Glimmer (pleased)
lol thats what I was going to say, finally some REporters with honor
 

Carol

New Member
Thanks Suzi! Great to hear some good news.
Carol
P.S. My other post was messed up . My keys are sticking.
 

J.Lucas

Active Member
Steven Seagal Does Casting For GENGHIS KHAN In Beijing (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

March 6, 2003

GENGHIS KHAN

According to Beijing Times, Steven Seagal has arrived in the city for his GENGHIS KHAN. Besides casting several martial-art actors, Seagal was looking for a tall and pretty girl who can dance. He said he would personally teach her martial art. More than 20 girl models represented by Pierre Cardin has been interviewed by Seagal last night at a restaurant. Seagal said "the script is done and the finance is secured - about 60 million dollars (US). But I can't tell you the source of the money. You have wait until the news conference next time. It hasn't been decided yet who would be the partner of GENGHIS KHAN, but I can assure you the shooting will start in March or April next year."



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