| Shot in Thailand | | | | chasing… DiCaprio's Beach on the other |
| Thailand today still remains a popular place to film | | | | hand drew some controversy for another reason. |
| movies. The main reason being that a lot of story | | | | Apparently Fox Studios had decided in their infinite |
| lines involve Thailand and the Thai people-indeed a | | | | wisdom to re-design the beach at Phi Phi to their |
| lot of story lines involve Thailand simply because | | | | own natural Thai image. Environmentalists ran |
| she is one of the few countries in the world that | | | | amok- as indeed they were entitled to-and tried |
| hasn't been spoilt by colonization, globalization-a | | | | to have production suspended. Compensation was |
| country that still holds a certain mystique and | | | | paid, the movie went ahead and restoration of |
| spiritual treasure. Shooting in Thailand started | | | | the area was conducted. It may be interesting to |
| almost a century ago when the first movie called | | | | note that according to the Lonely Planets' guide to |
| Chang was filmed. From then on the likes of | | | | the area, the beach was much improved by |
| Bruce Lee in Big Boss, James Bond (Roger Moore) | | | | effects of the 2004 tsunami. |
| in Man with the Golden Gun to mention a few | | | | Thai Style |
| have graced the Thai shores. | | | | Of course plenty of Thai movies are also being |
| Off-set gossip | | | | shot all over Thailand and some require western |
| Getting "extra" work on some of these movies | | | | extras to help out. If interested, you may want |
| was not so difficult either. Back in the 90s when | | | | to ask some staff at the accommodation you are |
| Michael J.fox and Sean Penn were filming | | | | staying at-they would be able to inform you of |
| Casualties of War, a good friend of mine | | | | which and where the latest movie is being shot. |
| managed to get the job as Michael's stand-in. He | | | | You may want to watch the shooting or even |
| spoke English and was short enough which was all | | | | earn a little extra cash by taking part! Patong |
| that was required. The gossip here was that all | | | | Beach in Phuket has been the scene of many and |
| three spent a lot of time off the set or in the | | | | various movie sets. Accommodation is plentiful in |
| hotel drinking and smoking some of the locally | | | | the area and the natural beauty of its palm |
| brewed vegetation! Watch the movie again | | | | fringed beaches and its hidden coves would add |
| sometime and see if you can spot the highs! For | | | | to the enhancement of any movie. |
| this job food and accommodation was laid on at | | | | Accommodation |
| the Idyllic havens of Patong beach and other | | | | When thinking of accommodation in the Patong |
| regions of Phuket. Rambo III was another story-a | | | | area. Horizon Patong Beach Resort and Spa |
| backpacker in the hotel I stayed in at the time | | | | comes to mind. This idyllic haven nestled near to |
| was refused extra work on this set just because | | | | the beautiful Patong west-beach offers a choice |
| he was taller and better looking than Rambo, not | | | | of 160 rooms, two swimming pools and a fitness |
| too difficult perhaps. Meanwhile Hugh Grant in a | | | | club. Tropical botanical gardens that surround the |
| Bridget Jones sequel was said to have been | | | | hotel offer a taste of paradise and tranquillity. |
| chased back to his hotel by bar girls-this is entirely | | | | Surely a fitting movie set where the guests are |
| untrue. He was the one who did the | | | | the stars and the staff are surely the extras. |