Spooky stories

Stars get scared in a haunted jungle

By Suwitcha Chaiyong and Sukrit Khaepimpan
Photos by Varuth Hirunyatheb

The director Chookiat Sakveerakul has made some great films across a variety of genres. His current horror TV series airing on GMM 25, Kwan Pawa (Dead Time Stories), is a thrilling adventure about a group of five young scriptwriters. To come up with new ideas for a TV show, the group travels to the mysterious Hangman Jungle, where rumours say a lot of people hung themselves. The writers stay in a strange hotel next to the jungle. At night, they take turns to tell ghost stories. Scarily, the next day the stories come true.

Student Weekly met up with the 25-year-old award-winning actress Apinya Sakuljaroensuk (Saiparn) who plays Mim, and the 21-year-old rising star Kittisak Patomburana (Jack), who plays Pong. The actors told us about working together and how they feel about spooky locations.

Student Weekly: What was it like working together for the first time?

Saiparn: When we all first met, I felt awkward because I was the oldest in the group. Jack usually spoke quickly and couldn’t make his dialogue clear.

Jack: I admire Saiparn because she’s so energetic and disciplined. At first I thought she had a big ego, but she’s actually laid-back and cool.

Student Weekly: Are you similar to your character?

Saiparn: Yes, because Mim is feminine and often feels scared and worried about her safety. But the turning point is when she becomes a zombie. I have to show the conflict between her body and mind. As a zombie, Mim wants to eat human flesh, but her mind knows that it’s wrong.

Jack: No, because Pong’s chicken. He wants to protect everybody, but he doesn't dare speak his mind. He usually beats around the bush or gives up because he doesn't want to fight with his friends. Actually, he is similar to me!

Student Weekly: What was the most memorable part of shooting?

Jack: The hotel in Ratchaburi was the best. It’s supposed to be one of the top five haunted hotels in Asia. It has a beautiful golf course, but the hotel building looked suspicious and scary.

Saiparn: When our special effects team put make-up on the extras who played zombies, a maid yelled at our crew that many ghosts were already there, so why did we create more?

Student Weekly: How is Dead Time Stories different from other horror series?

Saiparn: It brings up interesting issues. Each character hides what they fear or their bad experiences in the past. Also, there are stories about aliens. We aren’t the only living creatures in the universe.

Jack: The director explained that most Thai people believe in ghosts. If a table floats in the air, many Thais would believe there is a ghost. If somebody tries to explain the situation with science, Thais will doubt it.

Student Weekly: What was the most difficult scene?

Saiparn: A scene with a dead dog was the most difficult because I’m a dog lover. When I saw its legs hanging from a sack, my knees gave out and I cried. I couldn’t act in that scene.

Student Weekly: What impressed you the most?

Jack: I was impressed by the stuntman, Chai. I’d always wanted to know what a stuntman does and Chai was so cool. He knew how to fight with his body or a weapon.

Student Weekly: Saiparn, how did you feel when the movie you directed, Postcard, was awarded the best picture at the China ASEAN Short Film Contest?

Saiparn: This movie project was created from my determination and it was great for the movie to reach this point. The process of making a movie isn’t easy. I’m an amateur.

Student Weekly: Jack, have you ever played guitar at a concert?

Jack: Never. I just learned how to play guitar because I have a lot of free time. I used to play trombone in a marching band. If I have a chance, I’d like to create a single that mixes jazz and hip-hop.

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