Today we’d like to introduce you to Parida Tantiwasadakran.
Hi Parida, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Last we spoke two years ago, I had just finished my second film shoot. I talked briefly about wanting to shoot my thesis in Thailand, a film called “Young People, Old People & Nothing in Between.” I’m really happy to tell you that, despite the odds, I got to do just that. In December 2021, I landed in Bangkok. I had worked and lived in Bangkok for three years, but I didn’t know anyone in the film industry. I had two phone numbers with me– a producer’s and a DP’s. I started making calls every day, held meetings, and wrote when I was free.
My producer, to whom I owe a great amount of credit, put a local crew together and we found our actors through an open call/ online audition. We shot in March 2022 for five days. If you can believe it, I was filled with more joy than stress on set, because every day we got to shoot felt like a blessing.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I feel like it takes a tremendous amount of self-reassurance to keep going. You just don’t know what will come from a project until you’ve finished it, most times. You have to put everything in while making peace with possible failure. It’s such a massive psychological challenge.
Even though I’ve had the time of my life these past three years, and so much luck with the people I’ve worked with, the uncertainty is still there. Making films is also costly. It’s kind of comical because I used to write poems. That art cost me almost nothing, but now it’s hard to write a sentence without thinking about cost (how much this scene will cost you vs. cost your story if omitted or altered; cost effectiveness, in a sense).
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
A skill I’ve developed is making the most of what I have, with what’s in front of me. I really believe that you should know how to make a good movie with a little money before making one with a lot of money. I like studying directors’ first features because one can tell that even in their early years, they had a strong and specific vision, profound storytelling ability, and an eye for burgeoning talent. That’s what I aspire to. In terms of uniqueness, I suppose three years working and living in Thailand gives me a wider perspective on things. It makes me dream bigger.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I already appreciate it when people watch my films or come to my screenings. It’s nice to see familiar faces and meet new ones. Sometimes people will even come up to me and talk to me about my film, which is such a treat. Moving forward though, I’d like to get some directorial jobs whether it be music videos, commercials, web content – anything, really. I’m starting freelance now that I’ve graduated, and I’m looking to put all my skills and ideas to use.
Contact Info:
- Website: paridatanti.com
Image Credits
Pichsinee Wongthipphun, Apasiri Pear Kulthanan
