A man maligned

He's made 30 films over the last 22 years that have collectively earned more than Bt600 million yet even today director Poj Arnon finds himself at the receiving end of harsh criticism from so-called movie buffs. And despite making a profit on every one of his releases, reviewers often rate his films zero out of a possible score of 10.
Little wonder then that Poj gets so angry. 
“I don’t mind their criticising but it really annoys me. I have to wonder what I did to them that they come down so heavily on my films or even what I post on Instagram,” says the director, who is known for his sharp tongue and strong retorts to those who disagree with him.
However, his latest film, “Kad Krachak Krian” (“Zombie Fighters”), has not done as well as expected but he is nonethelesscontinuing to work hard on the three projects slated for release this year. 
Poj has directed a variety of genres over his long career but in recent years has drifted towards comedy, which filmgoers seem to enjoy and which, he says, makes profits for his investors.
“I make movies for the audience not for myself. And my audience is made up of teenagers who want to watch entertaining and funny movies, not complicated, serious ones,” says the 53-year-old director.
Yet his movies continue to be criticised, both for quality and storytelling. The income, however, tells a very different story. 
For instance his top grossing 2016 film “Luang Pee Jazz 4G” earned more than Bt150 million but was still panned by critics. Poj attended the critics’ awards ceremony and when he went up on stage to pick up the prize for the top-grossing Thai film of the year, thanked the movie for adding more than Bt20 million to his personal bank account. 
Poj releases at least two films every year and that alone should prove that he has a loyal following.
But the lack of popularity with critics means that his offerings are now regarded as cult films.
“I don’t know what it means, I just know that I have my target audience and know what kind of the movie they want to see,” he says.
“For me the term ‘good movie’ is a movie that you and I like and that differs from person to person,” he says.
And despite choosing to focus on comedy, his favourite film is “Ghandi”. He also loves Indian films like “PK” or “3 Idiots”, admiring the way they tell stories through comedy. He doesn’t like “La La Land” but loves the latest Oscar winner “Moonlight”, And also Kim Ki Duk’s film “Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter… and Spring,” “Slumdog Millionaire” and the South Korean hit “The Classic”. 
And he has an idea for a movie called “Charn Chara” – a combination of words that refer to a train platform and the elderly. The plot, he explains, starts with four elderly women waiting for their offspring at the train station and then branches into telling each of their stories. 
“Sadly, though, no investors seem interested in giving me money to do it and I won’t spend my own money to do it either,” he says.
The latter part of that statement is revealing. Most filmmakers are prepared to personally invest to make the film of their dreams but not Poj. 
“My savings are for when I’m in need. I won’t use them to make a film in the style I love,” he says firmly.
But he has made films he loves, among them “Er Rer” (“Beautiful Wonderful Perfect”) in 2005 for Sahamongkol Films, a drama about a young girl and her Down Syndrome friend, and the gay romantic drama Phuean...Ku Rak Mueng Wa (“Bangkok Love Story”) in 2007. The latter was nominated for several Subhanahongsa awards – the Thai equivalent to the Oscars – and won three including best screenplay and best cinematography. The film also won the Grand Award of the Best Movies in International Competition” and the Grand Award in all Categories from the 34th International Independent Film Festival at Brussels, Belgium.
Before going into film, Poj was the editor of a popular teenage magazine. In the late 1980s,“Ther Kab Chan” (literally “You and Me) was the teen bible for fashion and Poj brought in up-and-coming teen stars like Patiparn “Mos” Pataveekarn, Somchai “Tao” Khemklad, Pramote Sangsorn and Uttsada Panichkul to serve as the models.
Born into a poor family, Poj finished his education at Mattayom 6 but soon landed a job with the magazine of which he would eventually become editor. His introduction to the world of film came about from following his young actor-models to the film set and learning by doing. He became such a well-known face that Five Star Entertainment asked him whether he was interested in being a director.
He immediately said yes and continued to learn the job. His first film “Sati Taek Suk Khualoke” in 1995 starring Pramote and Uttsada was a success, picking up Bt48 million at the box office at a time when movie tickets cost less than Bt100.
Over the last decade, he’s created a series of franchise films that attract a certain audience.
“Hor Taew Taek” was introduced in 2009 and has five successful episodes in the bag. The sixth is due out this year. The film is centred on three gay characters variously played by Charoenporn “Kotee Aramboy” Ornlamai, Jaturong Onnom, Yingsak Chonglertjessadawong and Ekachai Srivichai.
“The sixth film will involve more women,” he says. 
Another popular franchise is the “Mor 6/5” series, which targets teens. 
Through his 22 years of filmmaking career, Poj can only remember one occasion when he was handed a screenplay and told to shoot the film. The movie in question was 2000’s “Go Six Gohok Plinplon Kalon Torlae” (“Go Six”). “And you know what, it was a disaster,” he says. 
“Everyone says that a good story starts with a good screenplay. I disagree. If that were true, why did my movie “Bangkok Love story” win the Subhanahongsa for best screenplay but fail to pick up best picture too?
“Let’s say a screenplay is written by a certain writer. It will have dialogue for different characters that are played by different actors. Each of them has a different speaking style so putting lines in their mouths just doesn’t work,” he says.
That’s not to say he improvises the story on the set all the time. “I have a story in my head and I know what I will shoot on a given day”. Prior to the shoot, he will tell his crew to prepare what he has in mind and then work with the actors on the set to give the scenes a fresher and more natural feeling. 
“It’s not a matter of what’s right or wrong, it’s just my style and it suits me that’s all,” he says.
Poj adds that he had hoped to release “Tudtoo Koo Chart”, a project inspired by the solo performance of “Chailai Pai Rob” by Wannasak Sirilar, but reshuffles forced him to replace it with “Zombie Fighters”.
“Tudtoo” is a long-time project that’s set in a village of Yasotharawadee kingdom, which is at war with a neighbouring kingdom named Malamang. As the village is on the route the Malamang troops will pass on their way to fight the battle, a group of villagers, some of them gay, are pressed into service as spies. The cast includes Sorraphong Chatree and Noppol Gomarachun.