Hashima horror

Mike makes a spooky movie

By Suwitcha Chaiyong
Photos by Varuth Hirunyatheb

The new horror film Hashima Project is a ghost story with a difference. Set in the creepy abandoned city on Hashima Island, or Ghost Island near Nagasaki in Japan, Hashima Project is about five young people who travel to the island to film a reality TV show called Ghost Land.

Starring in the film is former Golf-Mike pop idol Pirat Nittipaisalkul (Mike), who plays a photographer named Nick. The 23-year-old singer and actor was recently named most popular actor at the Mekkala Awards for his role in the drama Likit Fah Chata Din (Destiny). He was also praised by critics and viewers alike for his lead role in the high-rating soap opera, Rak Boon (Wish Box).

Student Weekly recently met up with Mike at the M39 office to ask him about starring in his first ghost movie.

Student Weekly: Is it true that you once gave the finger to a ghost that you saw?

Mike: Yes. It was a day when I felt really fatigued. When I was about to fall sleep, I saw a woman in white dress at the end of my bed. A back-up dancer once advised me to stick my middle finger up if I ever saw a ghost, so I tried it. But the woman just walked toward me and tried to put my hand down. It was really spooky. I’ll never do that again!

Student Weekly: Why did you decide to participate in Hashima Project?

Mike: When I first met the film’s director and producer, we really hit it off. They’re nice guys, so I felt comfortable working with them. I once swore that I’d never be in a horror movie because I’m afraid of ghost. But I decided to do it when I found out that we’d be filming on the Thousand Sunny Ship at the Huis Ten Bosch theme park in Japan. Thousand Sunny Ship is the pirate ship in my favourite comic, One Piece.

Student Weekly: How did you feel when you arrived at Hashima Island?

Mike: I had goose bumps. It was like being in a fantasy world. It looked as if there’d been a war because there were a lot of ruined buildings.

Student Weekly: What was it like actually working on the island?

Mike: It was fine. I expected difficulties because there was no electricity, water or restrooms there. But with Japanese technology, everything was fine. We didn’t spend any nights on the island, but I think it would be scary at night. It was a really desolate place even during the day.

Student Weekly: Did you enjoy seeing the Thousand Sunny Ship?

Mike: I felt great seeing the ship. I dressed up in a pirate costume with short pants and sandals, and I was wandering around the ship for a couple hours until somebody asked why I didn’t feel the cold. I looked around and saw that everybody was dressed in coats, and I suddenly realised that it was only about 15 degrees Celsius.

Student Weekly: Considering that this was your first movie, did you have any trouble with the dramatic scenes?

Mike: I’d worked on many dramatic scenes for TV dramas before. But unlike TV dramas, film actors have to do the same scene several times so that it can be filmed from different angles. You have to be aware of continuity. For the dramatic scenes, I had to concentrate before filming so that I could try to express emotions with my eyes.

Student Weekly: How do you feel about filming the TV drama Full House in Korea?

Mike: I like Korea and Korean cuisine a lot. My favourite place is a beef restaurant near a hotel where I stayed. The food was delicious and I ate there almost every night.

Student Weekly: Why should movie fans check out Hashima Project?

Mike: It’s about a group of bold young people who want to challenge superstitious beliefs, so they go to one of the world’s creepiest places. Not many people have had an opportunity to visit Hashima Island, so it’s an interesting movie to see.

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