For those who are templed out or not up to trekking around wats and museums, location spotting is the latest trend in Thai sightseeing. The movie buff as tourist is the newest phenomenon as Japanese, European, Indian, Hong Kong and USA movies, documentaries and commercials flood out of the country.
What is Thailand’s Attraction for Filmmakers
The most obvious attraction for film makers is Thailand’s topographical variety. From white, sandy beaches in the south of the country where velvety green off-shore islands sit in a turquoise sea broken by massive limestone outcrops, through the paddi fields of the Central Plains, right up to the forests and jungles of the North, the locations are ideal for whatever the studios wants it to stand in for. Malaysia has a somewhat similar topography but there are social and religious restrictions in that country that prohibits a really dynamic film industry from taking off.
Vietnam War Made Thailand the Preferred Location for Films
The Vietnam war made Thailand the preferred location for many film makers when, in the 1980’s, war movies became popular, as many of the directors and actors had actually served in Vietnam and had spent R. & R. time in Thailand.
What Countries does Thailand Stand in For?
Vietnam and Cambodia are two obvious countries. Think of Platoon, Good Morning Vietnam, Casualties of War, Heaven on Earth, and The Killing Fields.But Thailand can also stand in for the unsafe Caribbean. The pirate film, Cutthroat Island, was shot in the southern resort of Krabi, and superspy James Bond, in the person of Roger Moore, hunted The Man with the Golden Gun at Phang Nga Bay, in the marine national park, also in the south. This latter film turned the bay into a major tourist attraction almost overnight and boat rides to the little outcrop known as James Bond Island are a regular day trip from nearby Phuket.
The Deer Hunter Shot in Thailand
At the Jungle Rafts Floatel, deep in the steamy jungle up-country on the River Kwai near the Burmese border, the rafts with their rickety-looking bamboo huts had stood in for the Vietnamese prison cages where Jon Voight was incarcerated in the Academy Award-winning film The Deer Hunter. Re-enacting some of the scenes from that movie is popular with students, who spin empty beer bottles in a crazy re-enactment of the Russian roulette scene in that film as the noise of the cicadas and the screeching of the monkeys shatter the hot, steamy nights.
Good Morning Vietnam and The Killing Fields Shot in Thailand
Way up in the mountain fastness of Mae Hong Son (so remote that until 40 years ago it was only accessible by elephant), Robin Williams filmed Good Morning, Vietnam, while at the opposite end of the country, on the island of Phuket The Killing Fields used some of the old Chinese mansions as settings for the 1970’s embassies of Phnom Penh. In Hua Hin, 80 miles from Bangkok, the Sofitel, once the old colonial-style Railway became the French embassy in the same film.
Is location the only reason for Thailand’s success, or is there more?
The comfort of the million-dollar stars has to be considered. While they may suffer the inconveniences of location shooting during the day, they like their creature comforts at night. No country takes pampering to such lengths as Thailand with its deluxe hotels and spas in just about every major town. Bangkok boasts the worlds favourite hotel, The Oriental, and with the Amanpuri and the Banyan Tree in Phuket, the Dusit Thani Resort Hotel and The Asara in Hua Hin, and the Regent in Chiang Mai and the Dusit Thani in Chiang Rai, the stars are assured of all their creature comforts.
And when the cameras have stopped rolling, Thailand is relaxing and fun, probably more so than any other exotic spot in the world today, the food is fabulous, and the ever-smiling people make everyone feel so welcome.
What is Thailand’s Attraction for Filmmakers
The most obvious attraction for film makers is Thailand’s topographical variety. From white, sandy beaches in the south of the country where velvety green off-shore islands sit in a turquoise sea broken by massive limestone outcrops, through the paddi fields of the Central Plains, right up to the forests and jungles of the North, the locations are ideal for whatever the studios wants it to stand in for. Malaysia has a somewhat similar topography but there are social and religious restrictions in that country that prohibits a really dynamic film industry from taking off.
Vietnam War Made Thailand the Preferred Location for Films
The Vietnam war made Thailand the preferred location for many film makers when, in the 1980’s, war movies became popular, as many of the directors and actors had actually served in Vietnam and had spent R. & R. time in Thailand.
What Countries does Thailand Stand in For?
Vietnam and Cambodia are two obvious countries. Think of Platoon, Good Morning Vietnam, Casualties of War, Heaven on Earth, and The Killing Fields.But Thailand can also stand in for the unsafe Caribbean. The pirate film, Cutthroat Island, was shot in the southern resort of Krabi, and superspy James Bond, in the person of Roger Moore, hunted The Man with the Golden Gun at Phang Nga Bay, in the marine national park, also in the south. This latter film turned the bay into a major tourist attraction almost overnight and boat rides to the little outcrop known as James Bond Island are a regular day trip from nearby Phuket.
The Deer Hunter Shot in Thailand
At the Jungle Rafts Floatel, deep in the steamy jungle up-country on the River Kwai near the Burmese border, the rafts with their rickety-looking bamboo huts had stood in for the Vietnamese prison cages where Jon Voight was incarcerated in the Academy Award-winning film The Deer Hunter. Re-enacting some of the scenes from that movie is popular with students, who spin empty beer bottles in a crazy re-enactment of the Russian roulette scene in that film as the noise of the cicadas and the screeching of the monkeys shatter the hot, steamy nights.
Good Morning Vietnam and The Killing Fields Shot in Thailand
Way up in the mountain fastness of Mae Hong Son (so remote that until 40 years ago it was only accessible by elephant), Robin Williams filmed Good Morning, Vietnam, while at the opposite end of the country, on the island of Phuket The Killing Fields used some of the old Chinese mansions as settings for the 1970’s embassies of Phnom Penh. In Hua Hin, 80 miles from Bangkok, the Sofitel, once the old colonial-style Railway became the French embassy in the same film.
Exotic East Asian Islands In Malaysia, Thailand
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Is location the only reason for Thailand’s success, or is there more?
The comfort of the million-dollar stars has to be considered. While they may suffer the inconveniences of location shooting during the day, they like their creature comforts at night. No country takes pampering to such lengths as Thailand with its deluxe hotels and spas in just about every major town. Bangkok boasts the worlds favourite hotel, The Oriental, and with the Amanpuri and the Banyan Tree in Phuket, the Dusit Thani Resort Hotel and The Asara in Hua Hin, and the Regent in Chiang Mai and the Dusit Thani in Chiang Rai, the stars are assured of all their creature comforts.
And when the cameras have stopped rolling, Thailand is relaxing and fun, probably more so than any other exotic spot in the world today, the food is fabulous, and the ever-smiling people make everyone feel so welcome.