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Thailand hasn't escaped the effects of the global economic downturn. And with more Thais opting to stay at home instead of heading to the movies, the country's soap opera industry is getting an unexpected boost. It takes talented actors to make this fight scene look natural and compelling. The stars of this action-style Thai soap opera have rehearsed for hours to make each step appear flawless. But still there are risks.
"It isn't just two people performing together," says actor Worranuch Wongsawan. "You have this. You have weapons. So you have to be careful, because if there is an accident, even if I don't get injured, if I hurt someone else, I would feel very bad. Training is very important. Before I started to act in this soap opera, I had the chance to train in fighting a little bit so I have some basic skills. But it is still a difficult scene for me."
Across Thailand, millions of fans will tune in to watch the latest twist in what is one of the country's most popular soap operas, known as "Rook Kard" or "Brave Man Standing: Checkmate." The fight scenes require absolute concentration from the actors and crew. The stars memorise and go over each step before filming begins. A martial arts director helps to choreograph every last detail. The team sits down to review their work before the director chooses the best take. The male lead, Nattawut Sakidjai, practices handling a wooden weapon. He goes over each move with the fight director to make sure he's got it just right. Once more, the group reviews the footage to make sure everything looks convincing and artful enough to go to air.
"At the start of a fight scene, the actors often have to do a dance from traditional Thai boxing before they start to hit each other," says Wichai Nimsakul, the soap opera's fight director. "But when you're holding a stick, how do you make it look beautiful? We use traditional dance steps when using sticks so the actor looks powerful. Once you start dancing, how do you strike with the weapon and make it look beautiful? We have to think about each posture so it looks beautiful and vicious. The soap opera will have instance when you have vicious and beautiful fighting postures."
Soap operas are big business in Thailand - more than 50 are currently being produced in the country. The best-loved dramas are beamed into living rooms across the country every day before and after the evening news. The industry employs hundreds of people, from actors, acting coaches, extras and directors, to special effects people, camera and lighting crews, to costume designers, hairdressers and make-up artists. The Bangkok Broadcasting and Television Company produces dozens of soaps. Story concepts and business decisions are made at its headquarters in Bangkok. Some of its most successful soaps feature martial arts, love affairs and stories of everyday people defeating their enemies. The themes resonate with millions of Thais. Other soaps are reminiscent of the 1990's US hit series "Beverly Hills 90210" and are adored by many young Thais.
Surang Prempree is managing director of the Bangkok Broadcasting and Television Company. She says the economic slowdown has struck a blow to movie theatres, but soap operas have received an unexpected and welcome boost.
"The current economic downturn is not having a negative effect on the production of Thai soap operas," says Surang. "We must actually increase our investment because people will be staying at home and watching soap operas more often. People don't have to pay additional expenses to watch soaps."
Back on set, Worranuch, the soap's female star, is getting comfortable with her weapons and preparing to film her close-ups. Although today's shoot features plenty of action, the actors' facial expressions and dramatic performances are key to drawing in countless viewers. Yet many Thais view soaps somewhat cynically and claim their storylines are far too predictable and the acting over the top.
"Each melodramatic soap opera needs to have crying, upsets and riches," says Parn Yamapai, the soap opera's director. "It's the same for nearly every story. Melodrama is part of real life for Thai people and people anywhere in the world. We all face difficulties and moments when we have to fight. By fighting, you win, and this is the formula for soap operas."
Most soap opera stars in Thailand never train formally as actors. Instead, most learn their craft on the job. Nattawut Sakidjai is the male hero of this soap. He first studied business in the UK, but couldn't find a job when he came home to Thailand during the 1997 economic crisis. A friend encouraged him to try acting. He did and he has since become a Thai superstar.
"After 10 years in this business, I have started to learn that crying is not the hardest thing, but it is how you make the audience cry," says Nattawut. "That is more difficult. Oh Anuchit, a Thai actor, told me some interesting tips that he learned in his work. He said if you can make the audience cry without tears rolling down your own face, then you are good."
Like most action-style soaps, this episode has its share of low-cost special effects. The crew hoists the female star on a ladder to give viewers the impression she has been blown backward by an invisible force. The stunt coordinator throws a metal weapon, pinning a black scarf to a tree. The effect is intended to make audiences believe the weapon narrowly misses the actor's face, swiping the scarf away in its path. A hairdresser adjusts the female star's hair, helping her prepare her for her final scene. As a model for a major shampoo company, the actor is obliged to fit in several hair commercial-like poses in each shoot. Although the plots and performances are often melodramatic and the effects sometimes unoriginal, the creators of Thai soaps have created a model that keeps countless people tuned in night after night.
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