How is Antapal different from a film like 2499?
2499 was a gritty “rock n’ roll” depiction of late-1950s gangster life, but Antapal looks more at the changing face of gangster culture as it tried to adapt to a rapidly changing society around the same time.

Why did you focus on this particular period in the movie?
That period was remarkable for everything: fashion, ideas, politics. It was a time of great change and energy, not just in Thailand, but all over the world. Elvis and rock n’ roll are universal.

How did you come to cast Noi (Krisada Sukosol) as a gangster?
I really wanted to strip away the classic image of the gangster, and Noi seemed made for the part. I wanted to show that gangsters don’t always have to act aggressively, but can be calm and collected before catching you off-guard. A polite gangster is one you can’t mess with because he is a ticking bomb—the next thing you know you’re at the hospital!

What was the hardest part of directing this movie?
Striking a balance between truth and fiction. In terms of production this meant ensuring a consistency of settings and props as we were shooting a period movie in a vastly different world. It was quite tough but also a great challenge to find the right places to shoot and we had to get pretty innovative at times.

What impact has winning the Best Director gong at the Suphanahong Awards 2010 had on your career?
I’m not one to let any recognition be a burden on my work. I won’t let anything take the fun out of directing a movie. Still, winning awards is a huge boost, even if it’s not my real aim. I just want to do my best as a story teller, so that audiences get the chance to watch a great movie.

What do think of the local film industry?
Making movies is certainly easier today because of advances in technology, so we have more up-and-coming filmmakers—but quantity is not the same as quality. So many movies rely on special effects but lack real substance. I daresay there are only really two styles that young Thai filmmakers try to emulate: Quentin [Tarantino] and Joey [Apichatpong Weerasethakul]. Both are stylistically impressive if you have a good theme, but we should be looking to forge our own identities.

What’s planned for your next film?
I want to do something about faith. I think nowadays people lack faith in themselves, their spirituality and their country. I want to produce a movie that has the power to nourish people’s spirits and ignite them to do something worthwhile. Proudpisut Sang-ou-thai