By: Bayani San Diego Jr. Philippine Daily Inquirer <\/p>\n
DIRECTOR Adolfo Alix Jr. (left) worked nonstop in Palawan, recalls Ananda Everingham. PHOTO COURTESY OF PHOENIX FEATURES <\/p>\n
Although he is best known for the Thai horror hit Shutter, which was remade as a Hollywood flick, Laotian-Australian actor Ananda Everingham has balanced his commercial work with involvement in art-house projects. <\/p>\n
Visitors to Bangkok invariably encounter Everingham, whose face is on billboards and posters all over the city. <\/p>\n
Time was when Thai cinema, powered by young indie visionaries, was among the most dynamic in the world, he recalled in an exclusive interview with the Inquirer. <\/p>\n
Then it stagnated, he said. Government instability didnt help. Now, we are struggling. <\/p>\n
To help revitalize the industry, he makes use of his celebrity by championing significant projects. I am in a unique position. I was never under contract with a studio, so its been easier for me to pursue and create my own projects, he noted. <\/p>\n
He formed his own company, Halo, which has gone into film and TV production. As a producer, I started out a bit too idealistic, he admitted. Ive since realized that, to continue making the movies I want, I should make the company sustainable. My commercial work supports my more abstract, indie films. <\/p>\n
In Thailand, he has three projects in the can: Fatherland, a political-action-drama about religious strife; Concrete Clouds, an art film set amidst the 1997 Asian economic crisis; and Shambala, a road movie about two brothers in Tibet. <\/p>\n
He coproduced Shambala which, he explained, is Tibetan for nirvana. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Read more here: <\/p>\n
Laotian star heads PH indie film cast<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By: Bayani San Diego Jr. Philippine Daily Inquirer DIRECTOR Adolfo Alix Jr Continue reading