Yellow-shirt film goes into the red

Distributed by Sahamongkol Film International, it opened in a wide release on August 25 only to have sparsely attended screenings.

In his note, "Curtain Closed for 'Kon Khon'", Tua expresses his disappointment.

"I had a little dream that if half of the PAD supporters had come to watch my film, the revenue should have exceeded what the studio and I expected. Well, the truth is, it didn't happen," he says.

Ticket sales were so low "everyone is shocked", he notes without revealing the actual figure because he fears it would demoralise his supporters and overjoy his opponents.

"I'm not going to lie. I'm very upset," he says bitterly.

The weepy melodrama is about rival khon troupes staging competing versions of the Ramakien in the 1960s. Sorapong Chatree is the leader of a scrappy little troupe from the countryside, which is constantly upstaged by the big-city dancers, led by an urbane Nirut Sirichanya.

On a positive note, there a handful of folks who have actually seen the movie - Soopsip knows at least one. So if you're one of the lucky few, Tua expressed his thanks.

And he's not angry at the multiplex chains for yanking the flick.

"Honestly, I feel sorry for them with so few viewers."

Tua is grateful for his sponsors - Thai Life Insurance and the Government Housing Bank.

And he takes pride in the fact that the Cultural Ministry saw the value of his work and has arranged for special screenings to around 20 schools.

And for fans still wanting to see it, if they can gather in a group of 100 or more, he can book a theatre for them.

 "I'm dreaming again," he says. "I just thought if our yellow shirts - only half of us - booked the shows, my crisis would pass."

Of course, there's always hope that "Kon Khon" will become a hit on DVD.