Entertainment employee

Tao gets busy

By Suwitcha Chaiyong
Photos by Varuth Hirunyatheb

Two years ago, the Academy Fantasia star Sattaphong Phianphor (Tao) had a big breakthrough when he played a playboy who became a new employee in the blockbuster movie, Manood Ngoen Duean (Employee). His natural performance earned rave reviews and several nominations for prestigious awards at the Surasawadee Awards, Suphanahong Thong Kam Awards and Bangkok Critics Assembly Awards.

Apart from acting, Tao has also been busy with his music. Last year, the 23-year-old star was in the stage production, Thoe Thao Nan Suntaraporn the Musical, which required him to sing look krung style songs. More recently, Tao was the leading actor in the romantic comedy TV series, Koo Prab Sa Lab Rang (Body Swap).

Student Weekly recently met up with Tao at the Academy Fantasia office. The singer was laid-back while telling us about his acting and singing experiences, and about his new single, “Gon Wan Sood Thay Ja Ma Tueng (Before the Last Day Will Come).”

Student Weekly: What was it like performing at the Kod Lor [So Handsome] concert last year with AF singers Kacha and Frame?

Tao: I was thrilled! I’d had a few gigs with Kacha, but I’d never had a big concert with both Kacha and Frame.

There were some technical problems at the concert when the piano didn’t work. It took almost an hour to fix, so we had a talk show to entertain our fans. We were worried the crowd would get bored and leave, but they stuck with us for five hours. The audience was really lovely.

Student Weekly: How did you feel about singing Suntaraporn’s old songs in Thoe Thao Nan Suntaraporn the Musical?

Tao: I’d never heard Suntaraporn’s songs before that. I grew up with modern pop and country music. The first time I listened to Suntaraporn’s songs, I thought they were beautiful and well written. I really liked them, but they were difficult to sing because there’s lot of melisma in the melodies. I tried to sing the melodies sweetly and beautifully.

Student Weekly: How did you feel about being nominated for several awards for your role in Employee?

Tao: I didn’t expect any nominations because it was my first movie. I’m similar to the character I played because I’m also a country boy who came to work in Bangkok. Being nominated made me feel that I was noticed. Lots of people remembered me from that film. Some people even call me by the name of the character! I was fortunate to be in Employee.

Student Weekly: Was it difficult acting in the TV series Body Swap?

Tao: Yes. In the series, my character Soo Keed switches bodies with a girl named Tiam Fah, played by Pat Napapa. It was hard to act like a girl, so I spent a lot of time with Pat to observe her feminine personality. The director told me not to overact, because if I did I would seem like a katoey rather than a girl. If I was unsure what to do in a particular scene, I’d ask Pat to show me how she would react to the situation.

Student Weekly: Is it true that your latest single, “Before the Last Day Will Come,” was written about your real life experience?

Tao: Yes. I told the producer several stories, but he was most interested in that one. The song was inspired by something that happened about six years ago, when my girlfriend suddenly broke up with me without warning. I tried everything to make that relationship last, but it didn’t work out.

Student Weekly: Was making your latest music video easier after all your acting experience?

Tao: No. The video didn’t require me to learn much dialogue, but I had to do a lot of different facial expressions, which wasn’t easy. I received the script on the day we shot the video, so I had to figure out quickly what kind of emotions the director wanted. The actress was very good, so that helped everything to go smoothly.

Student Weekly: How did you improve your singing skills?

Tao: I had singing lessons and practised a lot. Singing is similar to exercise. You have to keep working on it to maintain your abilities.

Student Weekly: Do you have any special message for your fans?

Tao: “Before the Last Day Will Come” is about not knowing when a relationship will end. We should do our best every day for the person we love. Don’t ever ignore them!

comments powered by Disqus