Forget Santa Monica, Sydney or Soho, Bangkok has become one of our favourite creative cities in the world and there we met new director Jan Mantanakorn who talked to us about her fledging career as a film maker.
Where did you train to become a director?
After graduating from Faculty of Architecture and Planning I began focusing on photography and then cinematography of my own ideas and began editing them myself. Two years ago Magnum Ice-cream Thailand began a big launch campaign and I was there to help them on every VDO they needed, doing end to end from the beginning to the final cutting. Finally, by the end of last year, they gave me the big chance to direct my first TVC for them and I produced it under my production team. We worked directly with the marketing team to get to the goal.
Did you always know that you wanted to make films?
Actually when I was working on the ideas for photography, most of the time I had a story, scenes, movement and also the music in my head more than just a stills shot. I’ve always been fascinated by SHOWstudio’s work so I shot a fashion film for my portfolio for a Bangkok label. I edited it and mixed the vdo with some 3D animation which I learnt from Architectural School and that’s when I realized I wanted to make films.
Describe your childhood please?
My mom and dad are in the navy, and I think I inherited the desire to direct and discipline from them since I was very young. I’ve been surrounded by gay friends who are very talented and who are tuned to both feminine and male senses which I think is an advantage to understanding human behavior.
Is it difficult breaking into the directing world in Bangkok, especially being a female?
Well, to me it’s been three years trying hard on DSLR filmmaking but I’ve only really started with a proper filmmaking job last year. It’s not easy for young talents here to get the big work. I think I’m lucky to have met real marketing people who understand the changes in global media and they allowed me to make a film with their trust. I don’t think it’s too big a struggle being a female working in this industry, in fact it can be advantageous being a female among many male directors.
https://vimeo.com/59842389Would you like to work abroad?
Absolutely yes! I’d love to explore new places and work with people who are into the same things, especially in the different countries and contexts which make film reflecting the local surroundings and cultures. I love the senses of architectural space and landscape, it would be nice to try working in different places and get inspired.
How does the music video system work in Thailand?
Most of them look really the same, since they can shoot movies with DSLR camera. The picture and story are not very different. It’s now like a DSLR trend. They cannot spend a lot of money on the production. The budget is too low for music video production here, except GMM Grammy and RS Promotion which are the mainstream one.
Most of the best ones in Bangkok are made by independent production teams or young talents who work from passion and for their portfolios. I haven’t done a lot of music videos though, only as a cinematographer and editor.
Do you shoot personal films as well or are you focussing on commercials?
Now I would say I’m focusing on directing a new way of commercial film and want to keep learning by doing the real projects. My personal film would be a fashion film for some designers or students when I have time. I would love to make a short film too.
