Ahead of BUC’s first Free Open Air Screening at the Noise Market on Nov 21 – 22, we speak to organizer Dhyan Ho about the project and the exciting developments to come
AS co-owner of JAM, a hip café and bar on Charoen Rat Soi 1 which regularly hosts film screenings, art exhibitions and eclectic live music nights, Malaysia born, Australia raised expat Dhyan Ho is well-known for his efforts to give Bangkok-based creatives a rare opportunity to showcase their work in the city. Now, together with two friends, he’s going one step further by launching Bangkok Underground Cinema (BUC), a platform which, all going to plan, will eventually give aspiring filmmakers the chance to screen their efforts in quirky, decrepit theatres around Bangkok, while bringing musicians and lighting artists along for the ride. |
BUC will officially launch on Nov 21 – 22 with a screening of short films at the Noise Market, a celebration of art and music at Museum Siam (www.facebook.com/noisemarketfest). Ahead of the event, a conversation.
Where did the idea for Bangkok Underground Cinema come from?
I feel film is one of the most accessible and powerful mediums, however it’s most commonly used to sell just junk or ideas we don’t need. So instead of complaining about it, I thought why not celebrate cinema that has artistic merit, that makes us think or laugh or remember we are human. BUC embraces what may fall outside of the narrow spectrum of mainstream.
What do you hope to achieve with BUC in the long-term?
Eventually we want to run it in the format of a yearly festival, and become an established platform for filmmakers who may not normally get a chance to screen their work.
Who’s helping you organize BUC?
At the moment I’m working with two good friends – Sam Freeman, who has a background as a filmmaker (we used to organise small parties in the forest in Australia with some other friends), and Tada Hengsapkul, who has a background as a photographer and a penchant for trouble.
What kind of films can we expect to see at the Noise Market this month?
Based on some of the amazing submissions we have received so far, it will be very diverse. And we’ve purposely tried to keep it as open as possible. We’ve also had submissions from all over the world, including Thailand, Burma, Australia, Japan, Sweden, Russia and Chile.
Where did the idea for Bangkok Underground Cinema come from?
I feel film is one of the most accessible and powerful mediums, however it’s most commonly used to sell just junk or ideas we don’t need. So instead of complaining about it, I thought why not celebrate cinema that has artistic merit, that makes us think or laugh or remember we are human. BUC embraces what may fall outside of the narrow spectrum of mainstream.
What do you hope to achieve with BUC in the long-term?
Eventually we want to run it in the format of a yearly festival, and become an established platform for filmmakers who may not normally get a chance to screen their work.
Who’s helping you organize BUC?
At the moment I’m working with two good friends – Sam Freeman, who has a background as a filmmaker (we used to organise small parties in the forest in Australia with some other friends), and Tada Hengsapkul, who has a background as a photographer and a penchant for trouble.
What kind of films can we expect to see at the Noise Market this month?
Based on some of the amazing submissions we have received so far, it will be very diverse. And we’ve purposely tried to keep it as open as possible. We’ve also had submissions from all over the world, including Thailand, Burma, Australia, Japan, Sweden, Russia and Chile.
What can you tell us about the Film Festival you plan to hold in 2016?
The Bangkok Underground Film Festival will most likely take place within a dilapidated cinema in Bangkok, or another non-conventional venue, we haven’t decided yet. The festival will involve not just film, but elements of live cinema, music and lighting, so we are looking for a space that would accommodate all this too. No dates confirmed yet.
Discover anything interesting when scouting the many old, run down cinemas in Bangkok?
I’ve discovered more about Bangkok than I knew before, but the interesting stuff isn’t really fit to print!
If you had to recommend one movie for us to watch right now, what would you pick and why?
I’m really liking a short film by Beam (Theerapat Wongpausarnkit) called ‘HUU.’ It’s a student work he did for his thesis at Silpakorn University that just recently screened at Speedy Grandma. It has a contemporary feel with really cheesy ’80s science fiction elements, with an obvious nod to filmmakers like Cronenberg.
Anything cool happening at JAM Café in November that our readers should know about?
The second day of Delicate Decibel, which is an electronic/experimental music festival, takes place at Jam on November 7, with workshops upstairs and a drum n bass after party with Jiving Tribe later that night. We also have an interactive lighting installation by Japanese designer Go Ueda opening on the November 14. And on November 29, we have Berlin/London based electro pop band Das Fluff performing.
For more info about BUC and the Noise Market see www.bangkokundergroundfilmfestival.com www.facebook.com/noisemarketfest
The Bangkok Underground Film Festival will most likely take place within a dilapidated cinema in Bangkok, or another non-conventional venue, we haven’t decided yet. The festival will involve not just film, but elements of live cinema, music and lighting, so we are looking for a space that would accommodate all this too. No dates confirmed yet.
Discover anything interesting when scouting the many old, run down cinemas in Bangkok?
I’ve discovered more about Bangkok than I knew before, but the interesting stuff isn’t really fit to print!
If you had to recommend one movie for us to watch right now, what would you pick and why?
I’m really liking a short film by Beam (Theerapat Wongpausarnkit) called ‘HUU.’ It’s a student work he did for his thesis at Silpakorn University that just recently screened at Speedy Grandma. It has a contemporary feel with really cheesy ’80s science fiction elements, with an obvious nod to filmmakers like Cronenberg.
Anything cool happening at JAM Café in November that our readers should know about?
The second day of Delicate Decibel, which is an electronic/experimental music festival, takes place at Jam on November 7, with workshops upstairs and a drum n bass after party with Jiving Tribe later that night. We also have an interactive lighting installation by Japanese designer Go Ueda opening on the November 14. And on November 29, we have Berlin/London based electro pop band Das Fluff performing.
For more info about BUC and the Noise Market see www.bangkokundergroundfilmfestival.com www.facebook.com/noisemarketfest