Yui Jiranan on her character 'Lin' in her first big screen debut with 'OK Baytong

Question: What is your character in this movie?
Yui: I play Lin, a Thai person with Chinese ancestry that runs a business in the Baytong province. My character is a girl who is kind and likes to help other people, she's bright, cheery, and really sincere about love and is willing to change herself for the person she loves.

Question: What is the movie about?
Yui: The P'ek is a person who's never lived his life as a normal peson because he went into monkhood ever since he was 5. Then something happens to him that makes him come out of monkhood to live life as a normal person. Since he's never lived his life outside of the temple before, I come and help him out. I live in the house near him and we got to know each other. Because I'm the one that takes care of his neice for him, he has me as a friend to help him do this do that all of the time. He probably secretly likes me but I already have someone I love, which is P'Num Ataporn Timakorn, who's the leader of a group that does bad stuff, in the movie, he's a Muslim.

Question: You and P'Num uphold different religions?
Yui: P'Num practices the Islam religion, in the movie, If I were to marry him, I'd have to change my religion. My character has to dress like a Muslim too. She has to wear a head scarf according to the Islamic beliefs, and also has to learn and speak the language also.

Question: For your role in this movie, did you have to prepare yourself in anyway?
Yui: Well, I try reading the script, make meanings of it and talk with the director. Mostly, I talked with P'Ouy - Nonzee Nimiboot because he he thought up all the characters and is able to make meaning out of them.

Question: Did P'Ouy contact you to play in this movie?
Yui: Yes, probably because P'Ouy saw me from one of my lakorns and thought that the character would fit this person the most.

Question: Is this your first movie?
Yui: Normally I play in lakorns only, so yes this will be my first movie.

Question: Since you normally play in lakorns, when you came to film a movie, what differences did you see between filming a movie and filming a lakorn?
Yui: It's not at all alike. I didn't have a problem with the camera angles, it's more of an issue concentration of emotions. The thing is that movies only use 1 camera, and doesn't switch between 2-3 cameras like in lakorn, that way it's only 1 take and you're done. For movies, I have to use 1 camera, and it might take a couple of times before the actual scene is done. And I have to remember what I did in the previous scene and how my emotions were there. In the case of emotions and acting will be hard at this point. In the issue of time, filming the movie is naturally going to be slower than filming a lakorn because with movies there has to be detailed and you have to see in clearer, more so than in lakorns just because it's on a bigger screen.

Question: Where was the main filming location?
Yui: For me, it was mostly in Baytong, and a little bit in Penang (a city in Malaysia). For the other people, they'd go to Saraburii and there's also Bangkok.

Question: Sometimes in doing movies, there happens that a scene doesn't end in one day, especially with emotional scenes. Has there been instances where you had to film an unfinished scene during the next couple of days? And how was it like?
Yui: Yes there are some. Like the scenes where I have to show a lot of emotion and cry, when we take, I have to continue with the crying. The most important thing is concentration. I have to make sure that I do it the same way from where we left off. For the crying scenes, I usually try to get some quiet time to concentrate by myself. I think it's much harder to get someone to cry especially when they know it's all acting.

Question: What type of movie is OK Baytong? And does the character you play deal with a lot of drama?
Yui: This movie is a mixture of drama & comedy. But my role doesn't really get to have a lot of fun. There's romantic scenes with the p'ek but not a lot. Probably not even that romantic, there are no love scenes between me and Waan. It's more of like a sad and serious movie, not much happiness.

Question: How would you compare your personality and Lin's personality?
Yui: I'm a person who doesn't really stress over my life. I'm fun, like to chat, and make the people around me be happy. The only thing we're similar on is that we're both bright and cheery people according to the age which is my early 20s. Lin is very serious about love and stresses over life too much.

Question: How is working with P'Ouy Nonzee Nimitbutr?
Yui: I've heard about P'Ouy a lot and have been following many of his works because I like it. I never thought that I would get a chance to work with him. When I finally met him, he was so much nicer than I thought; he would always help teach me and advise me on different things. But it's not just him, all the cast and crew helped out a lot too. Even though I didn't get to film many scenes, it was fun just being there.

Question: How's the working environment on the set?
Yui: This movie didn't feel at all like I was working, I felt like I was traveling instead. We had a lot of fun and didn't stress out too much. P'Ouy never yelled at anyone and we stayed like a big group of friends so it was always fun on the set, nice and happy.

Question: How's working with Waan Puwarit Poompuang?
Yui: With P'Waan, we met before so it wasn't as weird working with him. It's his first time as p'ek in all that's he's starred it before. But because we knew each other already, it made working together easier, we'd always laugh and gossip too.

Question: Since it's both your first times working together, where there any complications?
Yui: There wasn't really anything. Filming the movie is just like filming a lakorn so there wasn't anything.

Question: Tell us about Num Ataporn's character?
Yui: Well he's a muslim and he was one of the suspects for the train bombing that killed P'ek's sister. After P'ek's sister died, Lin's had to take on more responsibility and she became angry at Farook. Farook tries to explain to her that he didn't do it but she won't listen. It's a big argument that almost made them break up, but since Lin loves him a lot, she decided to stay with him.

Question: Do you think difference in cultures is a big challenge for people?
Yui: I think if two people really love each other, then anything shouldn't be an obstacle. You can overcome it, religion or nationality shouldn't keep two people away from each other. If we really love each other then we should be able to change for the person we love.

Question: Assuming that both of you aren't willing to change, what would happen?
Yui: If he's not willing to change, then I have to change to fit into him. But if both sides don't want to change then it should end. There's nothing else you can do. If we're talking about reality, I would have to go to him, but if he can't because of a big reason, then I think there's nothing we can do but to end it.

Question: This movie deals with Southern Thailand, what part of the life there impressed you the most?
Yui: The people in the south are basically like those anywhere else. They're really nice and friendly to me and all the other cast members. Their hospitality made it feel like it was my home too, and when I stay there it's warm and inviting.

Question: Were you afraid of the situations there?
Yui: I used to be (laughs) but once I went there it wasn't as scary as I thought it would be. Before I got there there was a lot of news in the South, but when I got there, things had already settled down, so I think I was lucky.

Question: Were there any complications in the filming of this movie?
Yui: The biggest problem there was was scheduling. At that time I was filming "Kratai Lhong Jun" and it was filming and going on air at the same time. After I finished from that set, I would have to fly to Baytong and film a scene for the movie, then fly back to film "Kratai Lhong Jun" again. I felt bad because I made people wait for me, and the weather didn't help things either. So in the end, they had to change the filming schedule so that it would fit me better, making the time filming longer.

Question: How long did it take to film?
Yui: Approximately over 3 months to film. At first I thought it would only be a month, but there was a problem with scheduling so it was about 2 months or so.

Question: Are you satisfied with the work that you did?
Yui: I like it and i'm satisfied with the product. It's acting, something I love doing already so I was fine and I always put my entire effort into the work I do anyways. If it's good or not, I guess I'll have to let the viewers decide (laughs), because I did my best.

Question: Are hoping for anything out of this movie?
Yui: I can't really predict because it's something in the future, but I do hope a little that the viewers will enjoy it.

Question: Do you think there will be more movies in your future?
Yui:There might be but it all depends on how appropriate it is and if the elders okay it.

Question: What message is the moving trying to send to the viewers?
Yui: It's teaching us about many different things. Stuff like how to live life and the sacrifices we make for love. My character is sending the message about love, and the other characters have different messages as well. Since it's a story about a monk who came out to live a normal life, there will be a lot of think about what obstacles he will face and how he will deal with them.

Question: Have you ever met someone like the P'ek in the movie?
Yui: I never have, but if I did, I wouldn't hesitate to help them out because by doing so you're receiving good karma in return and it's always nice to give a little to others.

Question: This movie also talks about morals?
Yui:The P'ek's character teaches of the dharma directly. When he gets emotions of greed-hate-infatuation he always has words to control his feelings. I feel that if someone is living by virtues, they probably won't do something bad because someone who has virtues has good things in their heart. The movie teaches people to be good citizen, don't be greedy, don't take advantage of people and don't hurt anyone.

Question: Besides teaching about religion, what else is there?
Yui: Probably the uncertainty in life, living with morals and virtues, and the peacefulness of life that follows a person who lives with dharma. It tells people that living according to virtues is the best way.

Question: If you saw that your life was finally calm, would you ever think of becoming a nun?
Yui: I've thought about it because I've always liked it. I've been trying to find time to do it for 7 days, but I don't have a lot of time, maybe even 3 days is good. My mom has done it, and all I do now is just pray at home.

Question: What morals do you hold in your life?
Yui: I try to live my life according to the Buddhist teachings. Try to not be greedy, hateful or misguided; restrain from outbursts, and control my feelings. It's something that I'll still be working on.

Question: Which stars do you look to as a guide?
Yui: For movies, I ask my friends who have done it before to see what's the difference if any is there between movies and lakorns. It's normal for someone who's never played it before to ask is it tiring, and they'll say it's not that hard. It all depends on the set you're working on, I usually as casual and work when it's time to work. I work from 6am-6pm, but some of my friends have to work morning to mornings.

Question: Do you decide your own working schedule?
Yui: Well, if I say one day then it is one day. But usually it ends according to the film's schedule. They have day scenes, which is from 6am-6pm and night scenes which are from 6pm-late night. I'm lucky I don't have to film both morning and late night scenes. Sometimes there are but they're really short scenes, I usually rest a lot. P'Ouy wants the film to come out looking its best.

Question: What was the hardest scene for you in this movie?
Yui: The dramatic scenes werre the most difficult, and having to stress and cry is hard because I have to really get into that mindset and the emotions of that character. I really had to practice.

Question: Before going into a scene is there anyone there to help you get into the emotions?
Yui: No, not at all. I just ask to have some alone time for 2, 3 minute tops. And when the camera and lights are ready, by then the tears come out by themselves.

Question: What are your ways of creating emotions?
Yui: I think about really sad events. In the movie I'll imagine that I'm really that character, and by doing that I'm able to say and feel what the character is feeling. It's like creating your own story to make it sad so that you can get to that particular emotion.

Question: You're a Thai-Chinese person in the movie, is any of that culture played out in your role?
Yui: In terms of being Chinese, there's none of that at all in the movie. For the most part it's showing how the culture is in Baytong, what they do each day, what they eat, where they go, stuff like that.

Question: Can you talk about tourism in Baytong?
Yui: Baytong is a tourism town, but mostly for the tourists from Malaysia. I don't think it would go well with Thai tourists because it's mostly clubs, pubs and karaoke places. If people were going for the nature then I think it's fine because there's hot springs, rock climbing, and exploring caves.

Question: You also had to go film in Malaysia also?
Yui: It was around the time that the hero and heroine were just getting to know each other and becoming romantic. We got to go to the ocean and shopping. In the movie it was when I took Pra Tum and Maria to go see Kasem, Maria's father, who lives in Malaysia.

Question: What did you like about this movie?
Yui: 1. It has be the the issue of experience in playing in a movie because I've only played lakorns before. So that is something I'll take with me.
2. I was impressed by all the cast and crew, P'Ouy and everyone very all very nice to me even though I didn't have much time working with the crew. Yet everytime I meet them they're all so wonderful. It made me happy to be a part of this production, so I want to go film, it feels easy and it's fun also.

Question: If you had a chance, would you do another movie?
Yui: Everything's basically up to how suitable the role is. I also have to see if I like the script or not. If I like the script, then I have a chance to play it.

Question: Is there a type of role that you want to play?
Yui: The role I really want to play is an action one. I want to be someone who goes for it. I've always played the polite and well mannered roles and the crying ones, so I want to change to action, it looks fun.

Question: How happy are you with the work you did on this film?
Yui: I think it's OK for my first movie.

From Sahamongkol Film, translated by Noiki (not a word for word translation)