What was the inspiration behind the film?
Back in 2010, I started thinking about making my first full-length film about where I was born [Khon Kaen]. That same year, there was chaos in Bangkok, so I decided to combine my story with the political situation in the background. Then I started writing the plot and seeking international funding.

Is it easier to get funding from abroad than domestically?
I think it’s just a privilege of working with Electric Eel Films because many of the company’s films have received international success. I consulted my producer, Khun Anocha [founder of Electric Eel Films], who has a lot of experience in this and she helped me a lot.

What sort of reception do you expect for this film?
I actually don’t have high expectations. The film premiered at the Rotterdam Film Festival in the Netherlands earlier this year, and the feedback was OK even if it didn’t receive any awards. It was more important to me just to have the chance to screen my film for an international audience. It’s good for the Thai film industry to have films on the world stage. For me, it’s great to know that people outside of Thailand like my work. It gives me a lot of encouragement as a filmmaker. Domestically, I just want to play my part in introducing more Thai people to independent films, so that in the future the independent film scene receives more support.

As a filmmaker, what are your inspirations?
One of my favorite films and one that has had a big influence on my film career is Fight Club (1999) directed by David Fincher. I really like Fincher’s style of storytelling. In my first short film [Phee Hong Nam], I tried to write a film with a similar twist. More recently, working with Electric Eel has helped me to think outside of the box, widen my knowledge of film and come up with new ways to tell stories.

What’s the indie film scene like in Khon Kaen?
In Khon Kaen, as well as Mahasarakham, more and more people are becoming interested in making their own films. Because of improvements in technology it’s easier than ever before to make a film. But what’s still lacking here is distribution. There are only a few places where you can find independent films in Khon Kaen, as the big theatres only screen blockbusters.

What’s next for you?
I’m in the process of writing a new script right now. I’m interested in the lives of Sao Cheer Beer [beer pretties] not in a sexy way, but to show their everyday reality, the side that people don’t know.