More tales of success
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'State of the Nation' begins a new season tomorrow on Thais who made it big
The second season of television’s “Wara Prathet Thai” (“State of the Nation”) begins tomorrow on the Nation Channel, presenting profiles of 60 more successful Thais.
Individuals selected on the basis of their success overseas, in environmental work, in executive careers, in 3G technology and in terms of creativity and ideas will be interviewed in various locations. Music and additional footage is woven in to present their story in a unique way.
Among the 10 “World-class Successes”, viewers will meet Saravoot Yoovidhya, whose late father Chaleo founded the Krathing Dang (Red Bull) energy-drink empire. Internationally acclaimed painter Thawan Duchanee will be included, along with Cannes Film Festival champion Apichatphong Weerasethakul.
Supachai Panichapakdi, secretary-general of the UN Conference on Trade and Development and former director-general of the World Trade Organisation, will be profiled. So will Somchai Songwattana, art director, clothing designer and the colourful entrepreneur behind top fashion house Fly Now.
Achievements like theirs in different categories will be presented every Saturday and Sunday at 8pm.
“I captured their gestures during the interviews and edited in footage and music that matched what they said,” says director Thanadchai Kanjunhom of Apostrophe Films (Bangkok), the production firm handling the project.
“I do this to make the interviews more interesting, but that doesn’t mean the original content is overshadowed. The focus is on their success, and there’s nothing boring about these interviews.”
Thanadchai co-founded Apostophe in Singapore and opened the sister company in Thailand a year ago. They primarily do corporate films and TV commercials, so they recruited Nation editors to provide guidance on the interviews so they could extract the right elements of success.
“It was a new experience for me and my team,” Thanadchai says. “And talking with such great people certainly broadened my worldview.”
Thanadchai points out, though, that he didn’t want to dig too deep with the interviews, like a professional journalist would, preferring instead to keep things casual and simple.
Among the other subjects are ecology-minded Singha Intrachooto, who turns trash into beautiful furniture, and outstanding executives of firms like Banpu, Toyota and CP All.
Natee Sukonrat explains how to get ahead with 3G technology, and several physicians share their knowledge about uniquely Thai medication.
Thanadchai began taping the interviews last November and was constantly surprised by how much he learned while talking with such versatile people.
“Learning about their success has taught me about myself,” he says. “Some people might seem arrogant, egotistical and overconfident, but after talking to them, I saw how they’d proved themselves to be the real thing, without a doubt, and that’s why they’re respected around the world.”
Thanadchai did indeed keep things simple for the interviews, using a basic set-up with natural lighting and relaxed banter. He managed to capture the subject’s character and then, with his interesting editing style, turned each presentation into a documentary with high production values.
How it’s done
“State of the Nation” Season 2 starts tomorrow at 8pm and airs every Saturday and Sunday on the National Channel.
Each episode will feature two interviews, beginning tomorrow with artist Thawan Duchanee and Saravoot Yoovidhya of Red Bull.
Watch a trailer for the show at www.NationMultimedia.com
