Som Tum Movie Launched

First off the Som Tum movie preview was shown just over 2 weeks ago now to cast, crew and media. Phil and myself we were not informed of the preview and had to ask about it, even then the wrong datye was given and we almost missed it.

Even then I never recieved an invitation so I just showed up and asked for my ticket, typical disorganisation was blamed on this. No worries, you just have to have your head screwed on a lot more here if you want to be professional.

So we get there and look around for the free food - I joked to Phil that they probably only have Som Tum - so off I go looking... Damn! They did do it. Only Som Tum to eat and you have to make it yourself.

Som Tum, for those who don't know is a 'salad' made with green, unripe fruit and shit loads of chilli, fermented fish, a few dried prawns (shrimp), some peanuts and lime all crushed together in a mortar and pestle then eaten.... carefully if you are a foreigner. It is HOT.

Indians think their curries are hot, Mexicans think their Taco sauce is hot but nothing compares to this. Thais eat all their food really hot and this is one of the hottest foods available here. In fact the only food hotter that I have seen (and tried) can cause a miscarriage if eaten in the first 3 months of a pregnancy!!! (True)

Phil At The Som Tum Movie Preview

OK, the food was not to special - I can get it for 20 baht out my front door - so where are the free drinks, there have to be free drinks, it is the bait to lure in the media ;)

How many TV cameras? 

So on a 2nd reccy mission I find the 'beer tent', well more like a Singha Umbrella and a large ice chest and a couple of obliging blokes handing out free cold ones. So I pumped a few of these down quickly and grabbed some popcorn to allay the hunger for now, and to get me started on a big night that always occurs after I sink a few beers. 

Watching the movie, I think Phil and I missed most of it as we were more interested in seeing which of our takes they chose for final editing and how it was edited and if we looked good or not. Both of us were thinking more about our future careers and the ability to use this footage in our showreels.

Happily we were shown right at the beginning of hte movie and made our appearances throughout the movie leading up to the final fight.

In all I was told I am onscreen 20 minutes of the film, which makes it a pretty major part.... nice.

20 minutes of film from 20 days I was on set shooting the movie, that makes it 1 minute of movie = 1 day of filming.

All in all Philand I are happy with our performances, and happy with the footage we can use, also we were happy with the screen time we recieved. 

Som Tum At The Box Office

So we liked it, how did the public react when it hit cinemas around Thailand just days later?

Well, put it this way...

"Chocolate", the last martial arts movie Baa Ram Ewe released made $950,000* in its first weekend, this was a huge success locally.

"Som Tum" had tonnes more publicity and it made $163,000* in it's first weekend. 

* figures from www.boxofficemojo.com 

Hmmm, I do not know why or what but it seems the Thai public did not want to see the movie in cinema, well not that week anyway. But it was sandwiched between some big US films so that might have contributed.

What Next For Som Tum?

Next is the DVD release, the copy version was mysteriously held back from its usual release. Copy versions are usually available on the street just days after a film first shows.

It is now almost 3 weeks on and I have not seen any copies. I asked 3 different sellers on the street today, 1 did not have it, the other said sold out and the last said the copy was no good so she didn't have it. Which could mean it is not out yet.

Then will be the official DVD release, which is what I am waiting for to get some good quality speaking role footage. Hopefully this will be available at the 7/11 downstairs and save me trekking all over Bangkok trying to find a copy.

Then will be the country towns travelling cinema making their rounds. 

Then it will be the International release, probably a lot later.  This is the one that Baa Ram Ewe is banking on, they hope to sell it to the overseas markets and make big profits there.

Judging the total cost of hte movie to be in the vicinity of $2-3 million that leaves a lot of making up to do. 

But I still think a lot of Thai people will see the movie, just wait until it comes out on VCD or copy DVD, with the rising food prices here I think a lot of the working class people will be saving their money that little bit harder.

As a side note walking down the street after training at the gym today I was stopped by a girl, physically stopped, she spread her arms wide and with big eyes said "You're in Som Tum, I saw you in Som Tum, you fight Nathan"

So I stopped and chatted and she got a few photos with me, and I got a big hug and we both went our ways happy.

I proceeded on to a newly discovered (by me) Thai restraurant (actually they are Thai/Chinese) where they did not know who I was but did try to charge me double for a meal because I am white. Then after I started arguing in Thai and asking exactly what had changed since last week when I ate the same meal and paid the "Thai price". Then my bill was reduced, still not the same price as locals but enough to have me pay it without questioning them anymore. And an unsaid agreement that I would not eat there anymore... racist pigs.

Another Up and Down day in the "Land Of Smiles" 

* UPDATE: the official site does not mention Phil or I as cast and has no photos of us either yet we are the bad guys who drive the main plot through out the movie. Seems like someone did not like us, for what reason, real or imagined, I cannot guess.

No worries though search for Som Tum Movie and Som Tam Movie (alternate spellings even in the movie itself) brings me up first and second in Google search, which is what I am more interested in anyway.