Yaya honoured for role as best supporting watermelon

Now there’s another new watermelon hybrid and, in keeping with “the Jintara”, it’s been named “the Yaya” after one of the stars of today, Urassaya “Yaya” Sperbund.

And it still doesn’t have anything to do with the actresses’ political views (as in “red on the inside”).

“Yes, I heard about it from my mum – I’d really love to taste it!” Yaya tells Thai Rath Online. She’s delighted with the honour, pointing out that it’s not everyone who gets a fruit named after them. Asked if she planned to charge a fee for the use of her nickname, she says certainly not. 

Easy for her to say, of course, after signing contracts to be the presenter of no fewer than 16 different products just this year alone. The deals make her one of the highest-paid people in Thai showbiz, even if she denies being all that wealthy. 

Anyway, this isn’t the first time Yaya’s name has been borrowed. A zoo earlier this year decided to name its two new-born rhinos Yaya and Nadech, after her and frequent co-star Nadech Kugimiya. “I don’t get serious about that sort of thing – I thought it was cute!” says Yaya (the actress, not the baby rhino). 

Maybe someone should name a fruit after Nadech, it’s suggested. “Perhaps a mango?” she laughs.

 

Widen those horizons

This has been so great year so far for film buffs in terms of variety. We’ve had independent distributors importing some riveting selections, such as the Oscar-winning documentary “Citizenfour” about American bean-spiller Edward Snowden and the acclaimed gay-life film “The Way He Looks”. 

Now there’s more on the way. Attitude magazine has unveiled plans for the first Bangkok Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, indeed a first for the country. It’s set for June 5 to 14 at the Esplanade Ratchada, with 14 movies of the gay-and-lesbian genre. 

The opener will be “How to Win at Checkers (Every Time)”, a Thai film by South Korean director Josh Kim that stars Thailand’s Toni Rakkaen. The drama premiered at the Berlin Film International Festival in February, as did the Bangkok event’s closing title, the Thai feature “The Blue Hour”. Local movie buffs have been enthusiastic about both of the announced choices.

Meanwhile amateur moviemakers have been submitting short films for a separate competition that’s part of the festival. The best of the bunch will be screened between features and the winner will be announced on the final day.