GDH film plans draw cheers,| the stars not so much

GDH 559, the studio amalgam that burst onto the showbiz scene late last year after the breakup of the GTH shingle, has finally announced its road map to greatness, entailing both movies and TV series, naturally. There are two films in the works, slated to hit theatres before the end of the year. 

The first, shot in both Thailand and Japan, has stuck to previously announced plans and retained its working title, “Fanday”. Director Banjong Pisanthanakun hasn’t said much about it, apart from naming the stars – Chantawit “Ter” Thanasewee and Nittha Jirayangyuen – and a release date of September 1.

The second project was to be the first solo-feature effort by Parkpoom Wongpoom, Banjong’s co-director on the GTH hit horrors “Shutter” and “Alone”, but that’s on the back burner for now.

Instead, GDH 559 will release another of those ubiquitous omnibus films, an as-yet-untitled three-part romance with segments by different directors.

Studio co-founder Jira Malikool has already completed the opening segment, also starring Ter Chantawit. Part two is in the capable hands of Nithiwat Tharatorn, who had a hit with “The Teachers’ Diary” two years ago and is this time directing another GTH stalwart, “Freelance” and “I Fine Thank You Love You” leading man Sunny Suwanmethanon. 

Closing out the triptych is a segment co-directed by Chayanop Boonprakob of “May Who?” fame and Kriangkrai Vachiratamporn from the teen TV series “Hormones”. Kriangkrai’s only other feature was “Phaun Mai Kao” (“Old Pals”), made for Sahamongkol in 2012. 

What’s generating the most interest about the finale is the fact that it stars newcomer Napat Siangsomboon, the son of actress Pimpaka Siangsomboon. Having a new face to gawk at is an immense relief for many fans who have been complaining on Pantip.com that they’re bored to tears seeing Ter and/or Sunny in seemingly every picture being made these days.

The fan consensus seems to be that, as much as they love the movies of GDH 559’s predecessor GTH, there must surely be more than those two actors available. No one’s blaming Ter and Sunny for gobbling up every role around – it’s just a matter of, hey, how about giving some rookies a chance?

To be fair to Ter, he didn’t appear in any GTH movies for years following “ATM Er Rak Error” in 2012. He does, however, show up on TV all the time – in series produced by GTH as well as other companies. As for Sunny, well, yeah, he’s all over the place. 

The fans aren’t grousing without coming up with suggestions of their own. Several have said we should be seeing new faces soon in GDH 559 films and shows because there’s a fresh crop ready to harvest. 

Thiti Mahayotaruk from “Hormones” had the lead in “May Who?”, the final GTH film, and GDH 559 is giving him and his former co-stars regular work on the small screen. Once they start looking more like actual adults, count on Sunny and Ter being relegated to the game shows.

The last word in the discussion belongs to the realists in the crowd, who point out that, despite all the complaining, GDH 559 movies are always going to be guaranteed hits at the box office.