Watch the Vanishing Point trailer (warning: NSFW):
Tell us about the background to this film. It was inspired by a car crash involving your parents, correct?
The start of this film came from the photo of that accident from about 30 years ago. My father was drunk driving when he mistakenly parked a car on a train track. It was hit by the train with my mom in the car too. The newspapers ran the photo the next day, and someone cut it out and hung it on my wall.
What impact did that picture have on you as a child?
I can’t really remember what I was thinking when I was young. The photo never really crossed my mind before I started writing my script. But as I continued writing, it dawned how much that photo has had an impact on me. It made me think about my past and how the events in our lives can have a lasting impact for years to come, which is the core of Vanishing Point’s message.
How did you react to winning at this year’s IFFR?
I didn’t expect the film to do this well. I was definitely happy, though it happened really fast. The award has already helped me become more mature, making me think more about my career. It’s proof that the path I chose is the right one.
How did you get into filmmaking?
I’ve always had a fundamental interest in Film. However, I was used to working by myself as an illustrator, and the prospect of filmmaking didn’t seem like something I wanted to do, as I didn’t want to deal with a lot of people, even while I was a student of graphic art and filmmaking in college. I finally decided to make my own films when after experiencing the surrealist films of Salvador Dali and Luis Bunuel. Their films introduced me to the broader definition of what a film can be, and sparked my interest in the medium as a platform for art.
Who are your favorite directors now?
Terrence Malick, the director of The Tree of Life [2011]. I try to watch all his films. I also enjoy the works of Thai documentary director Urupong Ruksasud, who just recently released a new documentary, The Songs of Rice.
What are you working on next?
I will be producing a film with my friend Phuttiphong Aroonpheng called Departure Day, which focuses on the lives of the Rohingya tribespeople living in Thailand. The film should begin production late 2015 or early 2016. I will also be showcasing my video art pieces at exhibitions in Hong Kong and Taipei, as well as Silpakorn University late February.
See more about Vanishing Point here.
