Is this the end for director Parm Rangsri?
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With three films released this year and another possibly on the way, director Parm Rangsri is probably second only to Poj Anon when it comes to being the Thai film industry's most prolific director.
One of his flicks, the family drama “Fah Gam To”, somehow got into this year’s Busan International Film Festival, even though the movie’s Thai release was greeted with shrugs.
As with most of Parm’s films, “Fah Gam To”, about a washed-up singer trying to make a comeback, was quickly in and out of cinemas without earning much at the box office.
Among industry observers, it’s a constant source of wonder how Parm can afford to make movie after movie while other directors are barely able to scrape up cash to make just one.
Now cracks are emerging in Parm’s dealings, with allegations of sexual harrassment and failure to pay his bills.
The sex scandal arose this week with widespread media reports that accuse Parm of luring five female university students to a motel, ostensibly to be cast in one of his many movies. Instead, it’s alleged, he attempted to have sex with the aspiring starlets.
The would-be actresses told police they first met the director at a restaurant and discussed the film, which would have many erotic scenes.
The steamy casting session then adjorned to a pub, where the director, a cameraman and an actor by the name of Vitit Lat persuaded the women to see their “editing work” at a resort.
But then the resort turned out to be a motel, and when the director asked the ladies to remove their clothes, they became fearful. This was no ordinary casting call. One of the women managed to get a message out on the Line app, and her boyfriend came to the rescue.
They told police that the director and the actor bailed out through the window and tried to drive away, but the boyfriend somehow stopped them.
Parm, the director of such films as “Pawn Shop”, “The End” and “Daddy’s Menu”, has denied any wrongdoing. He says the incident is someone’s attempt to blackmail him or dirty his reputation.
However, his reputation has already been soiled, and with this latest scandal, more dirt is being piled on.
On Facebook this week, a public-relations freelancer and the editor of a film magazine each came forward to say Parm owes them money for promotional work and advertising.
And a visual effects artist says he’s still waiting to be paid for services rendered. He said other film professionals had warned him not work for Parm, but when he refused, the director burst into tears. It became unbearable, so the FX guy took pity.
And now he’s the one in need of sympathy for being manipulated.
