It takes a brave producer to make a biopic of a sports personality or famous athlete in any country and even more so in Thailand where such documentaries are usually of little interest to the filmgoing public.

But Sa-nga Chatchairungruang is willing to take the risk, pointing out that the life of Ariya Jutanugarn, the only Thai professional golfer of either gender to earn the World No 1 ranking, was interesting even before she shot into the public eye.

“Pro May Atchariya Tong Sang” (“Pro May”), which is scheduled for release on August 15, is, he says, a story in determination.

“She started training when she was five and her path to success has been like a roller coaster ride. Sometimes she was successful but on many others she failed to even make the cut. But she just kept fighting back and eventually became the first Thai golf player to reach the very top,” says Sanga, who not only had to work long and hard to convince Ariya to approve the deal but also battle his friends who were determined to make give up the project.

Hataya Wongkrajang, left, returns to the screen after 25 years to play Ariya’s mother Naruemon, right.

“It is a story about family and how the father Somboon worked to realise his goals. When he started, other golfers laughed at his dream of building his two young daughters so they would eventually be in the world top 10,” he adds.

Somboon, who ran the pro shop at a golf course, even went so far as to arrange the education of Ariya, aka May, and her elder sister Moriya or Mo to accommodate their pursuit of golfing. They would finish their classes by noon then practice for five to six hours every day, with no time for shopping or hanging out. The whole world of the sisters revolved around the family and golf. And as their careers developed, the expenses grew, forcing Somboon had to sell their house and cars to fund their way to tournaments.

“Everyone thought that he was mad. But he achieved it finally,” says Sa-nga.

“Pro May” spares few details in telling the story of Jutanugarn family and their sometimes-tortuous road to the top. Thaneth Warakulnukroh plays Somboon, Atchareeya Potipipitanakorn star as Moriya while Ariya is portrayed by Kritsiri “Kristie” Suksawat. Hataya Wongkrajang plays the girls’ mother Naruemon.

Ariya was at first reluctant to have her story told, saying she was as yet too young to be portrayed in a biopic. She was also heavily focused on her professional career and didn’t want the distraction. “But when we told her that we wanted to tell her story to inspire young people, she said yes,” Sa-nga explains.

Producer Sa-nga Chatchairungruang

None of the cast had ever played golf so the first hurdle was getting them to learn.

“Fortunately, even though the story is about the most successful golfer in this country, golf is only the background to the story. The focus is on the family and showing how they achieved an impossible dream,” Sa-nga says, adding that when Ariya agreed to he project, she made it clear that she didn’t care how much her story was fictionalised as long as it inspired kids never to give up on their dream.

“When I was young, I always thought no one understood me. But after watching the trailer, I realise that everyone involved in the film understands exactly what I was going through,” says the young golfer.

Tanawat Aiemjinda, who has years of experience in making TV commercials, says he accepted the project for his directorial debut after reading the story.

“When I first heard about the project, I thought it was about another May – the badminton player Ratchanok Intanon who also reached the No 1 spot. The only thing I knew about golf was the name Tiger Woods,” he laughs.

But he admits he was shocked at the intensity of the story. “I think audiences will be divided over what the father did to his young daughters,” Tanawat says.

“You have to ask yourself if it’s right to push your kids that hard. And if you don’t, would they have the chance of making it to the top?”

In the early stages of the film, both Sa-nga and Tanawat thought seriously about downplaying Somboon’s strict rules for fear it would ruin his reputation. Ariya, however, insisted that there be no compromise, pointing out that it was her father’s actions that turned her and her sister into the successes they are today.

Mum Naruemon agreed, saying that she believes that there is no right or wrong in the way the parents treated their kids.

“It’s true that he was tough with the girls but that’s the way it was. From what I’ve seen in the trailer, I think they’ve done good job of portraying our lives,” she says.

Somboon and Naruemon have since divorced. He has moved back to Thailand and has a new family while the siblings live with their mother in Florida.

“Golf and tennis are the sports that can make you rich if you reach the top. The Jutanugarn family was not rich at the start but their success in golf has made their life much better,” says Sa-nga.

The director adds that seeing how they reached success should inspire both children and parents.

“Their father saw what could happen and made plans to ensure it did. It’s up to the viewer to judge whether it was luck or destiny but there can be no argument that their success came from what they did everyday for 18 years,” says the director.

Casting the film was a challenge and Tanawat says he chose his actresses based on their personalities rather than their appearance. Mo is the planner and organiser and May is carefree. “When I talked with the two actresses, I found they shared the same traits as Mo and I,” says Ariya.

The biggest surprise, she adds, came when she saw Thaneth who looks very much like her father Somboon.

“The first time I saw the photograph the film crew sent to me, I wondered what my dad was doing there. They look so similar!”

Kristie, Atchareeya and Thaneth all worked hard both on and off the golf course to get their characters right. Atchareeya remembers crying during the casting, so inspired was she by Ariya’s life. “She is such a great fighter and her story really inspired me to be in this project,” says the actress.

“Somboon is the person between their success. Everyone says he is crazy. I’m kind of crazy too so I tried hard to portray how hard he pushed his children to accomplish his dream,” says Thaneth. While Hataya adds that she was interested in how mum Naruemon sometimes disagreed with what Somboon was doing to the kids. “The character is challenging and that’s why I decided to return to acting for the first time in 25 years,” she says.

“One of the benefits of being an actor is that it opens our minds to the way another person thinks. It’s interesting to learn about an ordinary man who vows to turn his young daughters into the world’s top golfers and stands up to the pressures that come from being laughed at. The way he trained his daughters was tense and uncompromising. But their lives are an inspiration not only for children but also for parents to learn how to raise their kids to achieve success. I don’t want to portray only that dimension of the father because I believe that he has a sentimental side as well,” says the actor.

“Atchariya Tong Sang” will be in cinemas on August 15 though Ariya won’t be attending – she’ll be playing at a tournament in Scotland at the time.

The producer came under fire recently when the Thai Media Fund announced the movie had received Bt16 million. Sa-nga has been quick to defend himself, explaining that the money was given to cover the costs of a special campaign and not for production.

“Ariya’s story is a good inspiration to kids and so we want to reach out as much as we can. We can’t do nothing as movie tickets are too expensive for many kids. We will use these funds for a campaign with schools across the country to bring students to see the movie. And we are also working with Major Cineplex on special ticket prices,” he says.

Most people assumed that was the last film in the franchise.

But every ending is a new beginning. A new sequel is being released on June 20, and there are four good reasons why Disney Pixar’s “Toy Story 4” is a must-see.

A broader view

“Toy Story 4” sees Woody and the rest of the toys in an all-new adventure in the big world, which makes it more exciting than before.

Woody’s priority is to make sure Bonnie makes it through her kindergarten years smoothly. But when Bonnie introduces a new toy called Forky she makes out of a spork (spoon-fork), a road trip begins and reunites Woody with Bo Peep, an old friend who shows him how big the world can be for a toy.

This sequel alternates the points of view among different toy characters much more than in previous instalments. The story was so emotional that Tim Allen, who voices Buzz Lightyear, said he couldn’t even get through the last scene.

Animation 4.0

All three previous instalments were widely acclaimed and massive at the box office. On their opening weekends, the 1995 original earned more than US$900,000, “2” in 1999 $1.1 million and “3” in 2010 $1.3 million.

“Toy Story 4” is expected to have a flying start with an estimated $1.5 million take on its debut weekend, in the same league as “Coco”, “Inside Out” and “Incredibles 2”.

New faces

The new film brings back Sheriff Woody and Space Ranger Buzz Lightyear and also welcomes new toys that add loads of fun.

Forky suffers an existential crisis about being a toy and escapes from Bonnie’s room, which sets off a road adventure as the other toys try and help him.

Along the way they are introduced to carnival prize toys Ducky and Bunny, charismatic but secretly damaged Canadian stuntman toy Duke Caboom, and vintage doll Gabby Gabby who puts every effort toward being adopted by an owner.

Amazing voices

Tom Hanks again provides the voice for Woody, with Sorapong Chatree doing the job in the Thai soundtrack. Buzz is voiced by Tim Allen in English and Santisuk Promsiri in Thai.

The sequel also welcomes Keanu Reeves, voicing Duke Caboom, while Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele lend vocal fun to Ducky and Bunny.

Tickets are already on sale via the Major Cineplex and SF Cinema mobile apps and come with a gift brooch from the film.

Find out more at http://Disney.asia/t/1dQD7G.

“There’s just so much love for Korean content in this region, especially in Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Netflix started adding Korean titles three years ago and we’ve seen how that has attracted new audiences who are discovering the Netflix viewing experience for their k-drama viewing,” said Kim Min-young, Director of Content, Korea, Netflix.

“Fan favourites like “Korean Odyssey” and “Something in the Rain” are all part of our growing library and today, we are pleased to be working with Korean talent and creators on the second season of original titles like “Kingdom” and “My First First Love”.

Netflix’s new original Korean content continues to ramp up with hits like “Abyss”, “Arthdal Chronicles” and “One Spring Night” – all of which are exclusively available to Netflix members in Thailand with new episodes coming every week.

Fans of veteran actor Lee Jung-jae are thrilled with his two new projects, the political drama “Chief of Staff” and the mystery thriller movie “Svaha: The Sixth Finger”. Two episodes of the former are now available and new episodes come weekly right after airing in Korea.

Upcoming series include the remake of American hit “Designated Survivor”.

In the Korean version, which carries the title “Designated Survivor: 60 Days”, veteran actor Ji Jin-hee portrays as politician Park Mu-jin (in the original version played by Kiefer Sutherland), who ascends from the position of Minister of Environment to President, as an explosion at the National Assembly kills everyone in the Cabinet who is ahead of him in terms of the presidential succession. Park is the acting president for 60 days, and during this period, he tries to uncover the truth behind the attack.

The first episode launches on July 1 with new episodes coming weekly.

On July 26, the second season of the romance “My First First Love” is being released, then on August 22, it’s time for the long awaited romance, the Netflix original series “Love Alarm Season 1”. The series stars the talented young actress Kim So-hyun as a girl who finds a new love by using the app which is designed to send an “alarm” when someone who has romantic feelings for you comes within a 10-metre radius.

The last thrilling K-drama in this season is an action-packed espionage drama series “Vagabond”, starring Lee Seung-gi and Bae Suzy.

It tells the story of a stuntman Cha Dal-geon (Lee) who gets involved in a tragic plane crash and ends up discovering a national corruption scandal in the process. Bae Suzy plays Go Hae-ri – the secret ops agent.

“Vagabond” sets to release on Netflix in September.

The film is based on a story by celebrated Russian-Kyrgyz writer Chingiz Aitmatov, whose 90th anniversary was celebrated around the world in 2018, including in New York and Berlin. His books have been translated into several international languages. There have also been more than 50 film adaptations of his novels.

This movie was made to commemorate his 90th anniversary, and was a unique co-production between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, with filming taking place in both countries.

In 1978, the story was made into a Turkish movie, and was voted “One of the 10 Best Films of Turkey.”

The simple love story portrays city truck driver Ilyas who falls in love with Asal, a woman in a red scarf during a trip to a village. Despite already being in a relationship with a woman in the city, he marries her and has a child. But an unexpected problem makes him lose his job and leads him to a night out in the bar, and into the arms of his ex-girlfriend. Asal is distraught when she hears of this and leaves him. She then meets a kind man, who takes it upon himself to look after her and her son. A road-accident leads Ilyas to meet the new man. He begs her to return to him, and she is caught in a very tough dilemma.

Director Sarvar Karmar and lead-actor Adis Rajabov are well-known names in the Uzbek film industry and will be on hand for a Q & A session after the screening. Actress Madina Talibek is a top actress in the Kyrgyzstan cinema.

The July Film of RCB Film Club’s 2019 Movie Series, is supported by the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan, who will host a reception.

Uzbek Consul General Aziz Aliev will introduce the film.

Reserve a seat by email clubmovie2019@gmail.com and also let the organisers know if you would like to avail yourselves of the RCB boat services.

The curtains opened to reveal Pakorn “Boy” Chatborirak, Teeradetch “Alek” Metawarayut, Naphat “Nine” Siangsomboon, and Pimchanok “Baifern” Luevisadpaibul, representing four MIB agents in black suits, and acting out a fight scene to protect the Earth from the scum of the universe.

Dujdao Promobol, fourth left, marketing executive director of Sony Pictures, Rachot Dhiraputra, centre, managing director of Sony Pictures Entertainment Thailand, and Vichai Kuntahwatchai, fourth right, marketing director of Major Cineplex pose with the celebrities.

“I think that Chris Hemsworth is greatly suited to this sequel of ‘MIB’,” said Boy Pakorn when asked about the movie by Premmanat “Peck” Suwannanon.

Nine Naphat, Baifern Pimchanok, Boy Pakorn and Alek Teeradetch represented the characters of “MIB: International.”

“Some filmgoers might be under the impression that Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson have replaced Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones but that’s not the case. They are a new team of MIB at another country, England,” said Alek Teeradetch.

“I like both Chris and Tessa, who have been a couple since ‘Super Hero’,” said Nine Naphat.

The four celebs were attired in black suits from Paul Smith’s special collection, “A Suit to Travel In” which uses a high-twist worsted wool yarn to create a quick recovery, crease-resistant cloth, producing a versatile and highly practical piece of tailoring.

The Men in Black have expanded to cover the globe, but so have the villains of the universe. To keep us safe, decorated Agent H (Chris) and determined rookie M (Tessa) join forces – an unlikely pairing that just might work. When aliens that can take the form of any human arrive on Earth, H and M embark on a globetrotting adventure to save the agency – and ultimately the world – from their mischievous plans.

Da Endorphine performed Fergie’s “London Bridge” during the gala premiere.

Rocker Thanida Tumvimol, aka Da Endorphine, provided the musical entertainment at the gala premiere, singing the soundtrack, American singer and rapper Fergie’s “London Bridge”.

From Jonathan Entwistle, creator/director of “The End of the F***ing World” and the producers of “Stranger Things”, the series is based on the Charles Forsman graphic novel. “I Am Not Okay With This” is an irreverent origin story, following a teenage girl navigating the trials and tribulations of high school, all while dealing with the complexities of her family, her budding sexuality, and mysterious superpowers just beginning to awaken from deep within her.

Lillis will play Sydney an awkward and smart teen with a dry, witty, sardonic sense of humour. Like many teenagers, she hates high school, doesn’t get along with her mum, and her best friend has a boyfriend she abhors. Though she views herself as painfully average, she is far from it, as she discovers she has telekinetic powers that may prove to be problematic.

Also appearing in the series are Wyatt Oleff who plays Stanley Barber, Sydney’s neighbour and an uncool geek, and Sofia Bryant as Dina, Sydney’s effervescent, happy, pretty, loud and funny, badass best friend. Unfortunately, Dina has a boyfriend  a super jock who Sydney hates  and Sydney worries he’s going to take her away.

Aidan Wojtak-Hissong and Richard Ellis will play recurring parts as Sydney’s brother Liam (Wojtak-Hissong) and Dina’s boyfriend (Brad Lewis).

Production now has begun in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and the series will be released next year.

With eight of the cast from the membership of idol group BNK48, two of them in the leading roles, movie-goers could be forgiven for thinking that Kongdej Jaturanrasmee’s latest film “Thee Trong Nan Me Chan Rue Plao” (“Where We Belong”) is a BNK48 movie about the friendships between adolescent girls.

Hardcore fans of the director, however, will know that Kongdej’s inimitable signature will be on the story and that it will be well worth watching no matter what the genre.

Coming to cinemas next Thursday, “Where We Belong” is centred on Sue (Jennis Oprasert) who is spending her last week in her hometown of Chantaburi before leaving for Finland. She’s won a scholarship to study there and accepted it without telling her father. The two argued over her decision and haven’t talked since.

Sue, who has never been aboard before, packs her luggage with the help of her friend Belle (Praewa “Music” Suthamphong) and makes a list of things she has to do before leaving. These include returning the comic books she borrowed a long time ago to going to Bangkok with her mother to organise her finances as well as apologising to her friend Mew.

“Thee Trong Nan Me Chan Rue Plao” (“Where We Belong”) tells the story of Sue (Jennis Oprasert) who is going to study abroad and has one week left to clear things up before leaving her hometown.

Sue is mature enough to realise that no matter whether she gets through all the things on her checklist or not, she has to let go of her former life. The small town, so familiar to her, will change – all except the memories Sue and Belle share. So what will Sue leave behind and what will she take with her?

The director laughs when asked whether his style will be outshone by the fame of these young idols. And a brief watch of the trailer immediately puts such worries to rest.

“Thee Trong Nan Me Chan Rue Plao” (“Where We Belong”) tells the story of Sue (Jennis Oprasert) who is going to study abroad and has one week left to clear things up before leaving her hometown.

“It’s like the other movies I’ve made lately. This is not a complicated plot but it portrays everyday life. In this film, Sue is not choosing to study overseas because she wants to find a better place to live. She simply no longer fits at home,” says the director.

This, he adds, is common among the young generation no matter the country in which they live. “When the whole world is in front of them on a smartphone, it’s tough, far more so than it was when I was their age. They always feel they are not good enough because they see on the social networks that other people of their age seem to be doing a lot better. That makes them disappointed in themselves. Being a teenager is more of a burden now that it was in the past,” he says.

Like his previous films, the idea grew from his innermost thoughts on the subject and when the BNK48 office contacted him about making a movie, the vague plot became a reality.

BNK48 members in “Where We Belong”.

“I haven’t felt I fitted in anywhere for years except when I go home. It’s not a bad thing – just a feeling I have,” he says. And, as the father of teenage twin daughters, such thoughts have become more pressing.

“They are 14 now and at the age of transition. They have many questions about everything. I’m with them everyday and I can clearly see that that their generation really reflects that sense of not belonging,”

Sue accepted the scholarship without telling anyone – even her father (played by the veteran actor Khajornsak Ratananisai) – which has put a severe strain on their relationship.

“Their teenage anxiety became my fuel for writing this story. And with them growing up, I am interested in their relationships with their girlfriends. It’s like that for Sue and Belle: they have their favourite friends, they are confused about the small things and can’t necessarily find the answers. In this film, the question is not about Sue searching for a place where she belongs but, on the contrary, seeing why she can no longer live here. A thread that runs through the story is the question of how much we own our lives in Thai society – for instance, why girls have to wear their hair short to comply with school rules,” he says.

The project was born when Jirat Bawornwatana, chief executive and executive producer of the BNK48 office, asked Kongdej to make a movie starring members of BNK48.

Jirat, who worked with EGV multiplex and Rose Video Company, approached Kongdej after watching and loving his film “Snap”.

“He told me that the budget wasn’t that high, he wanted to see BNK girls in my film and he wouldn’t interfere in the filmmaking, so the conditions were perfect for me,” he laughs.

Kongdej is known as a multitasker. He wrote the screenplays for the remake of South Korean film “The Letter”, the action blockbuster “Tom Yum Goong” (“The Protector”) and “Me … Myself”.

He also worked with local studios, codirecting “Sayew” (2003) with former school friend Kiat Songsanan, 2005’s “Cherm” (“Midnight My Love”) and 2008’s “Kod” (“Handle Me with Care”) (2008) before switching to independent films with his producer Soros Sukhum. His 2011 film “Tae Peang Phoo Deaw”(“P047”) premiered in the Orizzonti at Venice International Film Festival and his follow up, 2013’s “Tang Wong” was shown at the Berlin International Film Festival 2013 and won Best Picture and Best Director at the Thailand National Film Association Awards,

In 2014, he was asked by cable provider TrueVisions to chronicle the lives of the young novices portrayed in a TV series. Kongdej made it in his own way and the film, titled “So Be It”, went on to premiere at The Berlin International Film Festival 2015 in the Generation K-plus section. “Snap” (2015) was another festival favourite, selected for the main competition of that year’s Tokyo International Film Festival.

Director Kongdej Jaturanrasmee directs Jennis on the set.

“All I knew about BNK48 prior to starting the project was that they were a popular girl group. Now I know everything about the BNK universe,” he laughs.

“Even though they are idols and I was contacted to make the film by their boss, I looked at them as actresses and cast them based on their fit to the characters.”

The script won the CJ Entertainment award of $10,000 at the Busan International Fillm Festival’s Asian Project Market last year, which comes with a first-look option for production, investment, sales and distribution.

The director adds that the collaboration with BNK48 has resulted in plenty of feedback from their fan club,

“When the promotional materials was released, they responded with surprised. I enjoy reading their comments and can’t wait to see what they will think of the movie. For my fans, I believe that they won’t be disappointed because I am pretty sure that it is still my movie style they like,” he says.

The series is based on Nobuhiro Motohashi’s non-fiction book Zenra Kantoku (“The Naked Director”) and will chronicle Muranishi’s unusual and dramatic life filled with big ambitions as well as spectacular setbacks in his attempt to turn Japan’s porn industry on its head.

Playing the title role will be maverick actor Takayuki Yamada, a veteran of Japanese films and TV shows such as “Train Man” (2005), “Crows Zero” (2007), “Ushijima the Loan Shark” (2010), and “Lessons of the Evil” (2012).

Masaharu Take, director of the acclaimed “100 Yen Love” (2016), will serve as director.

“When Netflix approached me about telling the story of Toru Muranishi, his entourage, and the 1980’s, I was drawn to this provocative, daring project. I was reminded of some of the most stimulating, embarrassing, enjoyable, and misguided days of my life,” said the director.

“Together with some of the foremost cast and crew in Japan today we hope to create an ode to the provocative trailblazers of this industry and tell the shocking tale of their unlikely rise to fame. It’s a rousing story we’re proud to tell, all set amongst a meticulous portrait of one of the most frenzied eras in the country’s history.”

“We are confident that this complex portrait of Toru Muranishi’s wild, larger-than-life pursuit of freedom and success is something that will resonate not only in Japan, but with audiences across the world. This series will capture a unique and fascinating era in Japanese history, while exploring themes about sex, society and the individual that are more relevant than ever,” added John Derderian, Director of Content Acquisition at Netflix.

Set within the same timeline as the 2015 blockbuster film, “Jurassic World”, the Netflix original series is inspired by the multi-billion-dollar franchise from Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment.

“Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous” follows a group of six teenagers chosen for a once-in-a-lifetime experience at a new adventure camp on the opposite side of Isla Nublar. But when dinosaurs wreak havoc across the island, the campers are stranded. Unable to reach the outside world, they’ll need to go from strangers to friends to family if they’re going to survive.

“Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous” builds on a successful five-year relationship between DreamWorks Animation and Netflix that has seen 18 original series debut on the service, including the “Tales of Arcadia” trilogy from Guillermo del Toro, “She-Ra and the Princesses of Power”, “Spirit Riding Free”, and “The Boss Baby: Back in Business”.

Following NBC Universal’s acquisition of the studio, DreamWorks Animation and Netflix expanded their relationship to include first looks at animated series based on Universal Pictures properties as well as original and acquired IP. DreamWorks Animation has a number of series slated to debut on Netflix this year including “Archibald’s Next Big Thing” from executive producer Tony Hale and the highly anticipated “Fast & Furious” animated series.

 HBO is airing the movie “Share”, fresh from Cannes Film Festival’s “Special Screening: First Film” section, on July 28 at 9am and 9pm, the same times it’s being seen in the United States.

Based on Pippa Bianco’s Cannes-winning short of the same title, the feature stars Rhianne Barreto as 16-year-old Mandy, who discovers a disturbing video from a night she doesn’t remember.

She struggles to figure out what happened and how to navigate the escalating fallout.

“Share” also stars Charlie Plummer, Poorna Jagannathan, JC MacKenzie, Nicholas Galitzine, Lovie Simone and Danny Mastrogiorgio.

Bianco received the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award and Rhianne Barreto a Special Jury Award at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.

The picture also closed the New Directors/New Films Festival in New York City.