Friendly film

Baifern hits the road

By Suwitcha Chaiyong
Photos by Varuth Hirunyatheb

Pimchanok Lueisadpaibul (Baifern) became an international teen idol after playing the ugly duckling-turned popular girl in the blockbuster Sing Lek Lek Tee Riak Wa Rak (First Love). Now the 19-year-old actress is back in the comedy road movie, Rak Talon on the Beach (Love Summer).

In Love Summer, Baifern plays Khai Mook, who hitch-hikes to Phuket with Jack (Bom Thana), George (Than Thanwa) and an American named Bob (Jonathan Samsan). Along the way, they also meet up with a Japanese actress named Yui (Yui Tatsumi), who has escaped her busy life in Tokyo.

Student Weekly recently met up with Baifern to talk about her experience making Love Summer, due to hit cinemas on October 6.

Student Weekly: Can you tell us about your character, Khai Mook?

Baifern: Her father owns a training camp for boxers, and she thinks that he must be disappointed that he had a daughter instead of a son. She wants to make her father proud. When the boxing camp has financial problems, she runs away from home to participate in a beauty pageant in Phuket to earn money for her dad.

Student Weekly: What do you think about her decision to run away from home?

Baifern: She should think more about her parent's feelings and tell them where she's going. Running away could cause problems because her parents might have to report her missing to the police.

Student Weekly: Did you enjoy working on Love Summer?

Baifern: It was fun because the other actors were around the same age as me, and we filmed in many beautiful places. I had a chance to do some sightseeing.

Student Weekly: If you had a foreign friend visiting, like in the movie, where would you like to take them?

Baifern: Promthep Cape in Phuket. The natural scenery there is very beautiful and it has a relaxing atmosphere.

Student Weekly: What was it like working with the two foreign actors?

Baifern: American actor Jonathan can communicate in Thai and even Issan language, so he had no problem talking to us. Yui had an interpreter to help out, but she was very friendly and playful. We also used body language to communicate. But some of the film crew liked to teach Yui bad Thai words!

Student Weekly: Is it true that the actors treated Yui especially nicely?

Baifern: Yes. At first, the actors were really nice to me, but when Yui arrived, they ignored me and took care of Yui instead! I thought it was funny, but I pretended to complain and the actors liked to tease me about it.

Student Weekly: Can you tell us about the accident that occurred on the set?

Baifern: There was a motorcycle racing scene. I was just the passenger, but I was scared. During the third time filming the scene, I heard a loud bang. One of the motorcycles had crashed hit an actress on the leg. After that, the director decided to stop filming the scene.

Student Weekly: Do you have a favourite scene in the film?

Baifern: When we filmed at Koh Khai in Phuket, I was really excited to see so many fish in the crystal clear sea. I gave them food and they swam around me. I felt really happy.

Student Weekly: How do you manage your studies and work at the same time?

Baifern: It's difficult. I have a busy schedule at school. I try not to skip classes too often. It'll be hard to catch up with my studies, but if I can manage my time and work hard, I should be able to do it.

Student Weekly: Why should moviegoers check out Love Summer?

Baifern: Everybody can relate to the story because it's about friendship. I like the quote used in the advertising that says we don't need a lot of friends; we just need a true friend. This movie's is about true friendship. And there's lots of beautiful scenery in the film, too.