As a young child, I loved watching Thai films, even though many saw this as unfashionable. I would always read the end credits and imagine what I would have done differently if I had made the movie.

I was really intrigued by the film Mueng Nai Mok when it was released in 1978. Most movie posters back then just focused on the actors’ faces but this one had a black background with one line of text followed by “Directed by Permpon Cheiarun.” I had no idea what directing was but from then on I dreamt of seeing my name written up like that.

My parents had no idea what communication arts was when I was admitted to Chulalongkorn. When they heard I had got in to study motion pictures, my mom rubbed my back and said, “Don’t worry, you can try again next year.” She feared I would graduate and become a poor journalist like one of her friends.

I was given the chance to make Thailand’s first ever music video for Pun Paiboonkiet’s “Fun Tee Lud Loy” over 20 years ago. I had no idea what a music video was. I tried to buy some examples from a market but there weren’t any. I eventually just made it based on my imagination and it turned out to be really successful.

My next job was as a commercial director, which I did for more than 10 years. My most well-known ad is for Thai Chu Rod (a brand of MSG).

I was drawn back to films when my assistant director (Yongyut Thongkongtun) began the movie project, Iron Ladies (2000). I asked to join as art director. This eventually led me to turn my back on advertising and become the director I had always dreamed of being.

To make it as a film director I decided I would have to be a professional like a doctor or an engineer. I wanted to disprove the common belief at the time that a director couldn’t earn good money. I worked on another three successful movies, Mekhong Full Moon Party (2002), Iron Ladies II (2003) and My Girl: Fan Chan (2003), before establishing GTH seven years ago.

Making films is hard but making people love your films is harder. Making a film that you love and getting people to feel the same way is the hardest.

I’ve never felt as much pain as when no-one liked my movie. I was totally distraught when Mahalai Mueng-rae (2005) flopped at the box office. We spent B70 million on it, but only made B10 million.

I decided to make up the lost money by creating new movies. And I am so proud that I succeeded.

Only you alone can face your problems. You might take advice from others, but in the end you must be the one who fixes things.

I love talking to young, aspiring directors. They are so keen to learn and show their creativity. I always tell them to make their next film as if it were their last.
There are no overnight success stories in movie making. It takes time to understand your audience, then at least six months for the production process. Things take time.

Human life can be broken down into seven-year cycles. You’re a child living with your family for the first seven years, then your hormones start kicking in and you hang out with your friends more at 14. At 21 you start working, at 28 it’s time for serious relationships and at 35 you look at settling down. And 42 is when you become a real parent. Because of this, I decided to celebrate GTH’s seventh year anniversary.

I don’t believe in a seven-year itch for lovers. Everyone is constantly changing. If you accept this fact, then you can understand and prepare to forgive the one you love. Then you can grow old together.

Reading interviews is really fascinating. I believe that no one is the same. Reading interviews is like reading of a life that I’m never going to lead.

I’ve dressed the same way for the past 10 years: white t-shirt and khaki trousers. Browsing for clothes was the thing I hated most in life until one day I settled on this outfit. It’s suited to any activity.

Dedicating yourself to a new task is like renewing your life. I feel this way every time I start a new movie.

My next dream is to direct an educational movie. I’m always saying to my colleagues that we need to make a movie that can help rural people improve their lives as they have fewer opportunities.

A director has no right to judge things. If we try to act like we’re leaders, we’ll just come across as dictators in the entertainment field.

Directing is a difficult profession. We spend our whole life thinking of what we want to say. But it’s not always as glamorous as winning awards. 

How did you become a band?
Mick: Toon and I got together about five years ago, but our drummer at the time had to leave to take care of his business. We went through many replacements until we met Ju through a friend of a friend in 2009. The three of us then recorded our debut album on Mind the Gap, distributed by Sony Music. But a few years later the label went out of business.
Toon: It’s funny looking back at how quickly our first album was recorded because we hadn’t really played much together at that stage.

What sort of reaction did you get from your early songs being in English?
Mick: It has varied. Especially when performing out of town, sometimes we have those moments where the audience is just shocked, but it’s up to us to ensure they have a good time.
Ju: Thailand is a country where not that many people communicate in English, so some love it, but many like to hear songs in Thai, too.
Toon: Personally, I think it’s one of the reasons why we only have a limited number of listeners. And that’s why our next single [scheduled for release next month] will be in Thai–we’d like to reach a bigger audience.

Tell us about your songwriting process.
Mick: Our songs generally start off on an acoustic guitar, just trying to find a rhythm. Then we add lyrics. We pull out all the songs from our first album to play live on occasion.

What’s been your best gig?
Toon: That would have to be the Baybeats Festival in Singapore, which featured a line-up of mostly indie bands.
Mick: In places like Singapore and Malaysia, the audience for indie bands is much wider. There’s a lot more support for live music and events. People are just a lot more receptive. The Baybeats Festival is similar to the FAT Festival, just a bit smaller.

Do you consider yourselves an indie band?
Mick: If you listen to us, you’ll notice we’re not really alternative. If anything, we’re pop-rock, but our songs have deeper meanings that we’d like to convey. A small group of fans realize this; that we’re not some mass-oriented band. Most of our fans are male, because I guess we’re basically a rock band.

Do you have any advice for aspiring musicians?
Mick: Practice and listen to music a lot, and you will get better.
Ju: I recommend that they enjoy the journey, not just look at the destination. Life is sure to be a disappointment if you’re only focused on being famous. Music can be enjoyable in so many other ways.
Toon: Just have fun. I’d like to see the domestic scene filled with all sorts of music. Just be natural, you don’t need to follow the trends.

How did you become a candy seller?
I used to sell Thai desserts like thong yod and thong yib (egg yolk coated in syrup), then I started selling tinned snacks. Eventually, I decided to sell decorative candy, which I’ve done for about 15 years. I also have about 10 acres of farmland, so it’s not my only business.

Why do you do it?
I have a responsibility to take care of my two children, one of whom is a second-year uni student majoring in accounting, while the other is a second-year vocational student. My wife and I sell these finely-crafted candies, so that our family can live comfortably.

How do you make the candy?
First, I heat the glucose syrup in a pan, before adding more sugar for sweetness. Then I add various food colorings and pour the mixture into a pot separated into three sections. I shape the candy using my hands.

What is your typical day like?
I live in Soi Taksin 33, and I set off to start selling from 2:30pm through to the late evening. The first thing I do each morning is heat the glucose syrup and sugar for an hour in bulk, then for another half an hour on a smaller scale. I don’t have a regular stall site, though there are a couple of schools I often visit. I am used to taking the bus with all my kit. I generally don’t visit the same spot for two or three weeks.

Who are your customers?
Mostly kids. Whenever I set up in front of a school, the kids come straight up to me wondering what I’m doing. They find it so amusing and it really puts a smile on their faces. Their favorite model is one of a monkey fishing which comes in two pieces.

Do you have to practice your craft?
I usually practice new models for a couple of weeks before getting the hang of it. I have about 17 varieties right now, including a monkey, chicken, grasshopper, butterfly, heart and dragon. More and more kids began requesting Angry Birds candy, so I practiced that—my specialty is the triangular-shaped one. I like crafting the horse, it’s so beautiful. But the easiest is the monkey.

What’s your income?
It depends on the weather, really. My candy costs B10 for a small size, but this can rise to B20-B30 depending on the design. If it doesn’t rain, I can sell 100 items in one day. But with the higher living expenses nowadays, this could mean a profit of only B500.

Why do you like being a candy vendor?
With my old jobs, I belonged to my employers. This I can do off my own back. I know that if I work hard I will get a just reward, and if I slack off then I’m the one to suffer.

How is your company different from other deal sites?
The soaring costs of acquiring customers have created the need for more deals and many people’s inboxes are getting flooded yet the quality of these deals isn’t great. On UrbanJourney, you won’t see more than one offer a day. We make sure we feature stuff we’ve tried and loved, with our experiences documented on our blog.

Why did you choose Singapore as a launch pad?
I moved here from New York City two years ago because I wanted to explore the tech scene in Asia. Also, the initial business model was a combination of online content, discounts and lots of food, so Singapore was a no-brainer.

How would you describe UrbanJourney if it was a friend?
He always knows the new places to eat at, as well as the hidden gems and cool activities. He keeps up with what’s going on and you never have to worry about not having fun when you’re out with him.

What makes you happy?
Happiness is having the freedom to create the life I want—to be able to dream up crazy ideas and businesses, and spend my days trying to make them come true.

Any tips on becoming a successful entrepreneur?
You need dedication, thick skin and little interest in sleep or the weekends because you have to constantly be thinking outside the box.

What do you think of the local startup scene?
The energy here is tremendous. There are many people who take it upon themselves to push Singapore to the forefront, especially when it comes to tech. With the buzz comes a lot of competition, all enclosed in a small place. This is great because it drives creativity.

The most embarrassing thing I’ve ever done…
Nix: That’d probably be my haircut in the early ‘90s.
Gierth: Yeah!

I have a secret fetish for…
N: Laksa.
G: Me too!

I like it hard when…
N: I wanna rock.
G: We play on a gig.

If I were an animal, I’d be…
N: A dog.
G: A whale—I like the ocean.

My biggest pet peeve is…
N: Spitting in public.
G: Getting totally drunk in public.

Sexy is…
N: A state of mind.
G: Eye contact and a beautiful smile.

The biggest challenge in spinning mixes is…
N: To get drinks.
G: When you urgently need to go to the toilet.

Stoneface & Terminal spins at the Volume Euphonic Night with Kyau & Albert, July 20 at Avalon.
 

Why did you choose folk music?
Every student here learns local folk in school and I was no different. We would perform them every year during National Day and Racial Harmony Day. I have fond memories of dressing up in ethnic costumes and singing along to these tunes.

Which HeritageFest events are you looking forward to?
I want to check out the exhibitions centred on the theme of “traditional toys” at Tiong Bahru Plaza. It’ll be nostalgic to see five stones and hopscotch, the games we used to play as children.

How would you describe your music?
I’ve been told my music has the ability to cheer people up so I guess anyone who likes “happy” music. I hope audiences will leave feeling sentimental and in high spirits.

Who are your biggest influences?
I would say singer-songwriters like Sara Bareilles, Sarah McLachlan, Corrinne May, Adele and Broadway musicals.

Has it been intimidating performing in front of a large audience?
No, I feel like it is a privilege. I still do get a bit nervous before each show but I usually get over it once I sing the opening lines. Taking deep breaths helps, as well as having a great band behind me.

Hiong performs at the HeritageFest 2012 on July 22 and 28, 1:50pm.

I established KnowThySelf because of my desire to truly understand myself and to help others do the same so that they can learn how to make themselves happy.

I ‘psycho-educate’ my clients so they become their own counselors. Each one of us is the expert of our own life.

When I was young, I liked to sing in foreign languages which I did not understand. I still do in the shower.

Seeing the transformation of another being is the best part of my job.

I come from a ‘victim mentality’ culture with victim-like core beliefs deeply ingrained in me. It has been a challenging and evolving journey to liberate myself, change my way of thinking and thereafter, my behavior.

The beginning was when I decided to walk out of my marriage with a few ‘toys,’ a three-year-old child, and an empty piggy bank.

The second phase occured when I was at a personal growth and development course, and to my horror, I realized I still hoped someone would rescue me and lift the load off my shoulders.

Sometimes, it’s good to be alone. I enjoy exploring alone—theatre, movies, dance, exhibitions and anything to do with the arts.

I believe kindness is the most important trait in a man.

Ghandi’s compassion, freedom, integrity and acceptance inspire me.

My most embarrassing moment was when my water bag burst at the entrance of Regent Hotel. I had to waddle over to the ladies’ room while dripping from my waterbag.

Deciding to stop playing victim and to take charge of my life was the best decision I ever made—deciding to leave my marriage and taking my child along with me.

I don’t really worry about anything, but I fear war and hatred.

My eyes are my best feature.

Ten years from now I’ll probably be sitting on the branch of a tree and laughing away with my grandchild.

I don’t think about success as I constantly strive to be the best that I can be.

My most common phrase is, “This too shall pass.”

Life is a journey and the joy is in the travelling. I am a work-in-progress and always will be.

How long have you worked as a chopping block vendor?
I’ve done this job for around 20 years, on and off, as periodically I head back to work on the farm in my hometown of Roi Et. Before this I used to be a laborer and construction worker.

Where do you source your products?
I buy them all in Bangmod district, but they’re all manufactured in Isaan, mostly Roi Et. The chopping blocks are made from tamarind wood, which most people probably don’t realize is really strong and durable.

What should you look for in a good chopping block?
With a tamarind wood chopping block, the odd small surface crack is normal and if you see a black or brown mark in the center you know you have found a strong piece of wood. If you regularly clean your chopping block it will last forever.

What’s a typical day for you?
As I live in Charoen Krung, at about 5am I generally begin walking from Wangburapa to Khlong Toei, passing through the Yaowarat area. I usually have around 10 chopping blocks in my cart and unless I sell them all then my day ends at about 10pm. It’s a lot harder to sell my products these days compared to, say, 10 years ago. With all the economic and political uncertainty, people just aren’t willing to spend any more.

What do you like most about your job?
It’s not complicated. And sometimes big-hearted people are happy to pay me a little over the going rate for my chopping blocks. For example, I’ll quote them B200 but they’ll give me B300 as they see the great effort I must go to every day. Despite the fact every family needs a chopping block, my occupation is a lot less competitive than that of other vendors.

Can you see yourself in another line of work?
I am happy to carry on like this till I can’t take it anymore. I don’t have a wife so I’m happy to help out my younger sister and her children back in my hometown. I also look after my nephew who lives in Bangkok with me. He works as a gas station attendant and studies in non-formal education.

What do you think of the young generation’s work ethic?
When I was in grade 7, I was able to transplant rice seedlings and feed the buffalos to help my parents, unlike this new generation who are already smoking in grade 10. I suppose there are too many poor role models around on TV and in movies. Some kids may have a high IQ but they lack patience, are stubborn and naive. They need to listen to their teachers and parents more.

I’ve wanted to be a singer since I was a little kid. I loved watching artists on the television, imagining myself being there one day.

While my friends played football after school, my brother [singer Jirayuth “Joe” Wattanasin] and I would hop in a tuk-tuk and go to a music studio for a jam session.

I was that crazy fifth-grader who wanted a drum set for my birthday. As the younger brother of a member of the popular band Nuvo, music has always been a big part of my life. I always wanted to follow in my brother’s footsteps.

I thank God for giving me this talent. I know how to entertain people and have tons of hit songs. I am a passionate performer and my fans accept me for that.

Don’t fake or create an ideal image to be in this industry. There was a period where celebrities were not allowed to have relationships and your career ended when you started a family. But I have survived this long because I am always true to my fans and open about what I’m doing.

My children are perfect. They’re beautiful, well-mannered, and overall just good people.

It’s not difficult to imagine my kids being involved in the media industry when they grow up. After all, they have a singer father and an actress mother [Kejmanee “Pin” Pichaironnarongsongkhram]. But I want them to get the education and have the freedom to decide who they want to be.

Bad friends can lead you down the wrong path so make sure your kids hang out with good people.

Every celebrity has different strategies to promote their work. Now I have almost 300,000 followers on Twitter. Many Thai people like to make their private emotions public to raise curiosity. When I tweet, I make sure the timing is right.

I have learned different marketing techniques through spending time with my dad [Charoen Wattanasin], a long-time marketeer, over the years. He didn’t teach me directly but I have gained lots of insight from his work.

I feel my knowledge limits my career options. Education is so important in today’s society. I wish I was a better student. I could imagine myself being a doctor or a businessman investing in real estate.

Stick to what you are most capable of doing. Many people in entertainment try to start their own businesses because they are worried that their career as a singer or an actor might come to a sudden end. And in many cases, they fail.

Learn what you love to the max. I know everything about the entertainment business so sometimes I can close a B20 million deal without help from anyone else.

Life gets difficult when you feel there is no way out. I became very depressed right before marrying my wife. There were some complications in our relationship, and neither of us knew how to solve them.

I believe my wife and I are soul mates. Destiny and love finally brought us back together.

My children helped me to take care of their mother after she was nearly paralyzed [in a horse-riding accident two years ago]. We assured her that we would always be there for her.

Making it through this tough time made me realize just how strong a family we are.

Live life to the fullest, and don’t wait until tomorrow as you never know what the future may hold. My wife’s accident taught me to live for the moment, instead of waiting until it could be too late.

I want to have my own television channel focused on preparing for natural disasters. I think Thai people lack knowledge of how to act in these situations, whether it is a flood or a tsunami. I’d like the government to really see the importance of this issue.

I come from a family of athletes. My dad was a badminton champion while my sister was on the national swimming team.

I found myself a place in sport through jet skiing. It’s not a big sport but I reached the level of world champion and I’m really proud of that, though sometimes I wish I could be more like Tiger Woods or Roger Federer. They are just plain cool.

I consider myself a successful person so far as my family and I can lead comfortable lives. Now I just want to see my children figure themselves out and become successful and valuable assets to society.

Where did you get the inspiration for P-047?
One of my assistants told me the story of losing the key to his apartment. When he called a locksmith, it turned out to be an old lady who arrived with her son. She showed him how to break the lock to get into his apartment. It was such a simple story but one that evoked both excitement and fear in me. The idea that there are people who can break into our houses at any moment inspired me to write the script, which won the Thai Khem Kang Award two years ago.

You’ve worked for big film studios before. Why go independent?
I feel as though I was lucky to have been given the chance, and the budget, to write and direct some projects that I really believed in. If films like Sayew (2003), Cherm and Kod were written nowadays, none of the big studios would be interested—especially Kod, the last film I wrote and directed, which wasn’t very successful commercially. So, I reached a point where I was finding it difficult to define myself—am I commercially-minded or indie? Some of the films I only wrote the script for [like The Letter (2004) and Happy Birthday (2008)] did much better at the box office than my own projects, so I decided P-047 should be produced independently. It’s not an easy film to promote, so I thought it wouldn’t be fair to put any commercial pressures on it. This doesn’t mean that I won’t go back and work for a big studio again. It just felt right for this project.

Have you changed the way you get messages across in your films since your debut, Sayew?
I think it’s just changed with the passing of time. I haven’t made any conscious decisions to change the focus of my films. I simply use each of my films to portray my thoughts and interaction with the world at that specific time in my life.
 

What’s been the hardest thing about doing an independent film?
The filming wasn’t really problematic. But I believe the biggest challenge for indie film makers at present is finding avenues of distribution. P-047 actually premiered at the Venice Film Festival back in September last year and screened at over 20 festivals abroad before coming to Thailand. We have to accept that cinemas are businesses, so it’s only natural that they’ll choose to screen films that will guarantee bigger audiences. But that has a flow-on effect in that people just aren’t aware of all the independent films out there.

You’ve been called the “King of Romance.” How does this film fit with that label?
I’m actually not too happy with that title. I don’t think I’m that romantic! Look at my films, they’re not sweet at all. I view romance as just another aspect of life to be experienced. I guess it’s based on some of the scripts I’ve been hired to write, but even then they weren’t simply tear-jerkers—I focus not only on the relationships between people but also between oneself and one’s thoughts. In Kod, my perspective is that everyone needs love because no one wants to be alone. But P-047 is definitely more about self-identity. If you’re expecting a love story, you’ll be sorely disappointed.

Your stories often touch on the subject of homosexuality. Why do think a film like Insect in the Back Yard gets banned while Hor Teaw Tak has already chalked up four installments?
Firstly, I think there’s no problem with homosexuality in this country, nor is there with portraying homosexuality on film. The reason that Insect in the Back Yard caused such an uproar was down to the storytelling approach. But I don’t think we can apply the same standards to everything. I hate it when films are banned, but there’s a silver lining if it encourages people to fight for what they believe is right.

You’ve also just collaborated with DJ Suharit on his latest single “Love Lies Bleeding.” What are the chances of your band 4 Tao Ter returning to the scene?
The single was completely Suharit’s project and I didn’t know anything about it until he asked me to join. 4 Tao Ter never really split up. But all the members, including me, are busy right now with our jobs, so there are no plans for a new album or anything. Even getting together to perform at the Sonic Attack festival is challenging. But one day, if we all feel passionate about it, we’ll give it another go.

What kind of films do you see yourself making 20 years from now?
My films are always dealing with life’s problems, so I hope that in 20 years’ time they’ll be problems suited to my advanced stage of life! I’m jealous of filmmakers like Woody Allen who put out films nearly every year and their personality really shines through. His films are so sophisticated because he has been through so many things in life. I hope that when I’m at his age, I can produce a film that shows I’m not just getting older but I’m also getting wiser.

See P-047 review