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Actors

Thailand's Creative Economy Drives Soft Power Strategies and International Opportunities

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The Thailand Creative Culture Agency (THACCA) aims to drive the country's creative economy in 14 industries, including film, TV series, festivals, and sports. To achieve this goal, THACCA organized the Splash Soft Power Forum, where international actors and industry experts shared their experiences and insights on the global stage. Two Thai actors, Pirat "Mike" Nitipaisalkul and Nam Laks, were featured as speakers, sharing their journeys to international stardom and the challenges they faced in the process. The forum also highlighted the need for Thailand to develop its infrastructure to support actors on international platforms, including publicists, law firms, and entertainment lawyers.

Key Takeaways:

  • Pirat "Mike" Nitipaisalkul, a Thai actor, rose to fame in China and became the first Thai actor to win the Foreign Artist of the Year Award at the Weibo Fan Festival in 2018.
  • Pirat revealed that he enjoyed working in China more than Thailand because of the country's better structural support, including a more manageable work schedule and a budget that allows actors to focus on their craft.
  • Nam Laks, a Thai actress, became a cast member of the reality TV show Bling Empire: New York, which presents the opulent lifestyle of Asians and Asian-Americans in New York.
  • Chalermchatri Yukol, chairman of the National Soft Power Development Subcommittee, admitted that Thailand's film and TV industry lacks infrastructure to support actors on international platforms, including talent managers and publicists.
  • Chalermchatri stated that it would take time for the industry to change and that regulations and education are needed to support actors' well-being and provide better working conditions.
  • THACCA aims to develop a competitive market, which would lead to lower movie ticket prices and more production companies.

Statistics:

  • Minimum of 12 hours turnaround time between filming sessions.
  • Chalermchatri predicts that it will take 3-5 years for the industry to see a big transition from pushing actors to work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  • Current film schools do not provide the necessary support for actors.

Sources:

  • Thailand Creative Culture Agency (THACCA)
  • National Soft Power Development Subcommittee
  • Pirat "Mike" Nitipaisalkul, actor
  • Nam Laks, actress
  • Chalermchatri Yukol, chairman of the National Soft Power Development Subcommittee

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