Por and Mean make magic
By Suwitcha Chaiyong
Photos by Varuth Hirunyatheb
Did you know
Mean’s hobby is reading cooking magazines.
New TV station True4U tried to boost their ratings recently by launching a new dramatic series about black magic called Mon Jetta Pood (Astral Projection).
The series stars Academy Fantasia 7 winner Unnop Thongborisut (Por), 21. Por plays Wongmueang, who is cursed to hunt other people’s astral bodies during full moons.
The series also stars 22-year-old actress Sarunthorn Klaiudom (Mean), known for her work in the film Yes or No 2 and in the high-rating TV comedy, Guan Kan Thong Kab Gang Por Pla Lai (Old Maid and Playboy). Mean plays a pretty photographer named Pinnaree, who is also Wongmueang’s girlfriend. Pinnaree finds out about Wongmueang’s curse and tries to help him.
Student Weekly recently met up with Por and Mean at the True4U office. The friendly young stars told us all about their recent acting experiences.
Student Weekly: Do you believe in black magic in real life?
Por: I believe there is black magic. There are many things in the world that we haven’t discovered. When I was young and lived in the countryside, I saw an old lady suddenly turn into somebody else. Her voice changed and she wasn’t sane any more.
Mean: I’ve never experienced anything like that, but I do believe in black magic. There are many stories that science can’t explain.
Student Weekly: How do you feel about playing leading characters for the first time?
Por: I was initially excited but also stressed. I’d never played a dramatic character before, but I believed that I could do it. I consulted an acting coach and she suggested that I read the script carefully and tried to think about how the character would react to certain situations. I learned a lot from working on this series.
Mean: This is the most dramatic and intense role I’ve ever played. I usually play bright characters, but in this series, our characters have to get through a lot of difficulties. It would be very stressful if our real lives were like that!
Student Weekly: What was the atmosphere like on the set, since there were a lot of singers from Academy Fantasia in the series?
Mean: Everybody was serious during the filming, but after filming they all sang and danced!
Student Weekly: How do you feel about working with each other?
Por: Mean is an experienced actress. She’s great at expressing emotions, so I can react to that. She can make me believe that the situations are real.
Mean: Por is an excellent actor, but he might have lacked confidence about his acting at first. Por is a cheerful person, and he can also play a calm character very well.
Student Weekly: Is it true that one of you had to do a lot of acting takes during the series?
Por: I did. It was because the series is about the supernatural. There were scenes where actors who played astral bodies suddenly appeared or disappeared, so sometimes I didn’t know which way to turn to see them!
Student Weekly: Have you felt particularly impressed with any of the veteran actors you’ve worked with in the series?
Por: Noom Santisuk’s acting was brilliant and believable. He made me nervous that I might do something wrong and waste time. He can get into character immediately, but he’s a funny guy. I was also impressed with actress Boom Panadda. She gave me good advice about acting.
Mean: I also impressed with Noom Santisuk and Boom Panada, as well as Jeab Paweena. I was nervous about working with them, but they helped me to feel relaxed.
Student Weekly: Por, how was your recent campus tour?
Por: The students had great fun and did whatever we asked them to do at the gigs. Visiting schools really encouraged me.
Student Weekly: What are your expectations for Astral Projection?
Mean: I don’t expect much. As a new channel, True4You offers another choice for viewers. Every actor in the series is determined to do their best. I’d like everybody to check it out. The series is full of thoughtful ideas.
Por: Even though True4You is a new channel, actors who have worked with more established channels did their best for this series. If you watch it with an open mind, you won’t be disappointed.
Vocabulary
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boost (v): to make something increase or become more successful, etc.
black magic (n): type of magic that is believed to use evil power to do harmful things
astral projection (n): an interpretation of out-of-body experience that assumes the existence of an astral body separate from the physical body
cursed (adj): suffering under the power of a magic spell
astral body (n): a spirit body believed by some people to exist separate from the physical body and capable of travelling outside it
sane (adj): having a healthy mind and not mentally ill
consult (v): to go to somebody for information or advice
bright (adj): cheerful and lively
the supernatural (adj): events, forces or powers that cannot be explained by the laws of science and that seem to involve gods or magic
established (adj): well known and respected
