Asian Film Academy (AFA)

Projectionist ASIA
Oct 12, 2008
4 min read

Updated: Oct 7

Photo Credit: Asian Film Academy, Busan International Film Festival 2008

* More info about Busan International Film Festival: www.biff.kr

* More info about AFA http://afa.biff.kr/kor/

The first day we met everyone was smiling to death

'finally we meet for real'.

The second day AFA put us on location scouting,

the whole week after we've been bitching more than 3 times a day especially after meals.

What we said the most is 'shit man, this is crazy!'

In the second week we were excited for the shoot. I started drinking alone downstair next to the minimart. That's where & when I met & talked with Abinash sentimentally for the first time.

Then we went shooting for 3 days like nut.

Mr. Park & Ms. Cho were on the film set, and that's when everyone were working harder a little.

Numbers of photos we took during the moment we're together are much more than the film we shot, and also means a lot more to us.

On the wrap scene, Thomas was directing and Abinash was a Cinematographer. It was cold outside. All girls stood in front of monitor while Thomas was seeking for the right framing. .

Abinash was smiling,

Lighting master spent a lot of time in front of small monitor.

Sid was working really hard on where to put the dolly.

Katsura just keep asking everyone if she could say something.

My little camera kept rolling.

Wang was really professional.

Maisa kept smoking.

Atefeh kept doing her stuffs.

Chunni kept calculating how long the traffic lights take.

Then it was the wrap.

Lighting master started packing. everyone started doing the same.

'A few days left' we realized.

Everyone wanted to get wasted after shoot.

Sid said to me 'I miss the freedom'.

Then the story of 610 began. We had 'midnight master class' with Arthor Wong. Hou Hsiao Hsien arrived, the man who is beyond everything, beyond all expectations. We went shooting with Hou Hsiao Hsien.

Only 2 days left.

The screening, the crazy Q & A time. The 2 hours on the cruise party. We found the real dancer there. I tried to finish the red wine they provided for us. Someone asked the cruise staff for "take away garlic shrimps' back to 610". We were in the middle of the ocean. The dark ocean. Under the huge bridge. We shout. We screamed. We rap. We realized so little time left.

The closing night, they put us on the red carpet shit. the moment was crazy. We started writing all contacts. We knew exactly what's going to happen. We know what we're going to loose. We knew well what kind of hearts we got. The night was cold, we were hungry. I sneak out to find Korean Odeng. It smells so crazy, but at least it might kill the pain from everyone's starvation. We were in 610, we tried to play the game, but it didn't work out well. I pretended to sleep and everyone thought I did for real. My camera was still rolling. The Lighting master was there as well, but he didn't bring any lights. Everyone was there trying to memorize the most out of we could.

The weird morning started.

We were not in a rush. The real silence started.

With some reasons, they drop us to the beach, then the temple. The silence was in the air. The end slowly began. Our hearts were strong like a stone, but in the end we realize how weak they are. We became a kid. We forgot all the reason of being there, but we didn't want to leave. that's all we know.

The schedule was announced by Jay. We lined up in front of the lobby. Each started leaving. I tried to hide away. I went to amusement park called 'me world', I laugh a lot seeing the whole city underneath my sight. But it wasn't right without everyone. Jay called me to rush. The last hug with Ms. Cho was there in front of the lobby. The black car approached the airport. everyone was gone. except abinash. he was the last one in the hotel. I forget how to smile again. I always have a problem in communicating with people since I was young. I lost my skills, explaining people how I feel or even who I am.

Iʼm not good in telling stories, but that is the only thing I can do to remind me that Iʼm still there.

A lot of people have been convincing and trying to stop me from being in the past, but failed.

I always fail to live in the present. Only the past I could rely on. Those days are always reliable. No matter how there were, when I look back, they make me happy and guide me how to move on.

I believe ﬁlm making is crazy, itʼs not fun, but so true. I think people who live to make ﬁlm are a bit crazy, but they are so true.

In the dark room, everything turns to be real no matter it is or not. Watching the right ﬁlm totally erases my sadness from being a person. I have two characters, and I believe everything is the same. Film has only one character, but we donʼt have to look at it the same.

Patavee Viranuvat

Pusan International Film Festival 2008