THE NATION
Lights, camera, and...
Published on Feb 13, 2003
ACTION!
........................[/]
A rumour, and, therefore, unconfirmed: Steven Seagal and Menahem Golan get their scripts accepted by bypassing the approval system. They do this by claiming to be a Thai production. Then, they can denigrate the Kingdom, monks and Buddhism simply by citing the loophole that Thais do not need to get their scripts approved.
I would call this ‘reverse racism’.
..............................(.../..)
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UNEDITED CUTS: Damn the censor
Published on Feb 20, 2003
The first column and I’ve received brickbats – and bouquets? Here goes:
Dear Ken,
In your first column (February 13 ) you deplore (twice) how a Seagal/Golem film bypassed the Film Censor Board, apparently because the farangs got a special deal.
First of all, I am astonished that an art/film person like yourself thinks it’s normal that artistic works have to be approved by bureaucrats and censors (Joseph Stalin would certainly approve), before they are created or released. The fact that this is the situation in Thailand is a sign of backwardness and should not be accepted by artists or people interested in arts.
I also think I smell a faint wisp of xenophobia through your lines because you emphasise the “farang” aspect in the affair, but that’s a very minor point and concern.
Basically I like your style but would appreciate it if you could reflect briefly on the matter and perhaps shift to a stance of condemning the censorship laws and oddities in this and in other countries.
Best regards,
Hans Stockmayr
Bangkok.
Dear Hans,
It’s unfortunate that any foreign production in Thailand has to present its screenplay to the censorship board for approval. Censorship is savage and unreasonable, to say the least, and has cost Thailand many production dollars due to what can only be construed as “bias”.
The Film Board presently has the mandate to veto all scripts on behalf of the Thai government to make sure the screenplay does not impact upon the “security” of Thailand or the monarchy, which we accept. However, it is hard to fathom where the line should be drawn. Thai productions on the other hand can film what they like as they do not have to be submitted at all.
This is a major problem, especially where a script has such things as drugs, pirates, prostitutes, sex and terrorists. Needless to say, it is hard to see how that does not exist in real life, so I concur with your thoughts about “artistic licence”.
A producer and director should have the right to film their material as it is part of an integral story, provided it does not have an impact upon the Kingdom.
I am all for script censorship laws being revoked. I’m in favour of all movies being shot here with English scripts to be released in English-speaking countries, without local censorship. Therefore, I cannot see why such a prejudiced outlook from the government is used on foreign filmmakers. It appears more than one sided, to say the least.
I would hope the government relaxes the rules as it is costing Thailand millions in lost revenue, jobs and balance of trade deficit reduction.
Ken
- Meanwhile, speculation surrounds Steven Seagal and his entourage’s arrival after the Film Board rejected their first script. Apparently, Menahem Golan has been appointed producer and is bypassing the system as he did with his own film, and appears to be thumbing his nose at the censorship board. Time will tell if protocol will be satisfied or the Film Board will just ignore the insult.
- Even more problems seem to be attached to Steven Seagal with rumours of lack of payment to local contractors from his last visit, physical threats to individuals, and a local expat working with him who has a prior criminal record in Thailand. I wonder if Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra would have been so willing to allow a photo shoot in an English-language newspaper if he knew Seagal had these problems? Especially those “other” problems regarding his purported former CIA associations, and now, mafia connections in the US, as well as law suits against former partner Jules Nasso?
- Recently we saw Kantana announce his intention to build a “Movie Town” as did Matching Studio. I wonder what a search under the name “Movie Town” at the Commercial Department would reveal. Like, who in fact owns it?
Kantana also mentioned a film “university” but chances of success may not be good. And who in Thailand has the experience to teach a film curriculum at university level?
KenYwin@Nationgroup.com
*************************************
????????????????? !!!!!!!!!!!
I couldn't understand what does it means ??
Lights, camera, and...
Published on Feb 13, 2003
ACTION!
........................[/]
A rumour, and, therefore, unconfirmed: Steven Seagal and Menahem Golan get their scripts accepted by bypassing the approval system. They do this by claiming to be a Thai production. Then, they can denigrate the Kingdom, monks and Buddhism simply by citing the loophole that Thais do not need to get their scripts approved.
I would call this ‘reverse racism’.
..............................(.../..)
**************************************
UNEDITED CUTS: Damn the censor
Published on Feb 20, 2003
The first column and I’ve received brickbats – and bouquets? Here goes:
Dear Ken,
In your first column (February 13 ) you deplore (twice) how a Seagal/Golem film bypassed the Film Censor Board, apparently because the farangs got a special deal.
First of all, I am astonished that an art/film person like yourself thinks it’s normal that artistic works have to be approved by bureaucrats and censors (Joseph Stalin would certainly approve), before they are created or released. The fact that this is the situation in Thailand is a sign of backwardness and should not be accepted by artists or people interested in arts.
I also think I smell a faint wisp of xenophobia through your lines because you emphasise the “farang” aspect in the affair, but that’s a very minor point and concern.
Basically I like your style but would appreciate it if you could reflect briefly on the matter and perhaps shift to a stance of condemning the censorship laws and oddities in this and in other countries.
Best regards,
Hans Stockmayr
Bangkok.
Dear Hans,
It’s unfortunate that any foreign production in Thailand has to present its screenplay to the censorship board for approval. Censorship is savage and unreasonable, to say the least, and has cost Thailand many production dollars due to what can only be construed as “bias”.
The Film Board presently has the mandate to veto all scripts on behalf of the Thai government to make sure the screenplay does not impact upon the “security” of Thailand or the monarchy, which we accept. However, it is hard to fathom where the line should be drawn. Thai productions on the other hand can film what they like as they do not have to be submitted at all.
This is a major problem, especially where a script has such things as drugs, pirates, prostitutes, sex and terrorists. Needless to say, it is hard to see how that does not exist in real life, so I concur with your thoughts about “artistic licence”.
A producer and director should have the right to film their material as it is part of an integral story, provided it does not have an impact upon the Kingdom.
I am all for script censorship laws being revoked. I’m in favour of all movies being shot here with English scripts to be released in English-speaking countries, without local censorship. Therefore, I cannot see why such a prejudiced outlook from the government is used on foreign filmmakers. It appears more than one sided, to say the least.
I would hope the government relaxes the rules as it is costing Thailand millions in lost revenue, jobs and balance of trade deficit reduction.
Ken
- Meanwhile, speculation surrounds Steven Seagal and his entourage’s arrival after the Film Board rejected their first script. Apparently, Menahem Golan has been appointed producer and is bypassing the system as he did with his own film, and appears to be thumbing his nose at the censorship board. Time will tell if protocol will be satisfied or the Film Board will just ignore the insult.
- Even more problems seem to be attached to Steven Seagal with rumours of lack of payment to local contractors from his last visit, physical threats to individuals, and a local expat working with him who has a prior criminal record in Thailand. I wonder if Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra would have been so willing to allow a photo shoot in an English-language newspaper if he knew Seagal had these problems? Especially those “other” problems regarding his purported former CIA associations, and now, mafia connections in the US, as well as law suits against former partner Jules Nasso?
- Recently we saw Kantana announce his intention to build a “Movie Town” as did Matching Studio. I wonder what a search under the name “Movie Town” at the Commercial Department would reveal. Like, who in fact owns it?
Kantana also mentioned a film “university” but chances of success may not be good. And who in Thailand has the experience to teach a film curriculum at university level?
KenYwin@Nationgroup.com
*************************************
????????????????? !!!!!!!!!!!
I couldn't understand what does it means ??