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Ter and Noona are perfect strangers

By Suwitcha Chaiyong

Master horror movie director Banjong Pisanthanakun recently took a break from making scary blockbusters like Shutter, Alone, 4Bia and Phobia2 to focus on romantic comedy. The result is his new movie Kuan Muen Ho (Hello Stranger), due to hits theaters on August 19.

• Did you know •

Noona played Veerin in the stage production Banlangmek The Musical in 2001, 2002 and 2007.

Hello Stranger was inspired by Songklod Banyeekhan's book Song Ngao Nai Kaolee (Two Shadows in Korea), and the film was mostly shot in South Korea.

The film is about a guy and girl who inadvertently meet in Seoul and decide to explore the city together. The two strangers agree to not to tell each other their names or to share any personal information while they're together.

Hormone and Coming Soon star Chantavit Dhanasevi (Ter), 26, from plays the guy in the film, while the girl is played by 18-year-old new actress Nuangthida Sophon (Noona). Student Weekly recently met up with the two stars at the GTH office, where they told us about their experiences working with Banjong and filming in South Korea.

Student Weekly: Have you read the book Two Shadows in Korea?

Noona: No. I'd like to read it, but it's quite hard to find.

Ter: I helped write the script for this movie, so I've read the novel many times. There are lots of interesting things in the book that you discover if you read it more than once. We adapted several scenes from the book for the movie.

Student Weekly: What can fans of the book expect from the film?

Ter: The movie is very different from the novel. The main plot about strangers travelling together is similar, but the main characters in the film are totally different from the book.

Student Weekly: Noona, is it true that you're a big fan of K-pop?

Noona: Yes. People might think that I like it because it's trendy or fashionable. But I love K-pop because I admire the great abilities and determination of the artists.

Student Weekly: Could either of you guys really travel with a stranger like your characters do in the movie?

Noona: It might be possible in the future, but at the moment I'd rather travel with my mom.

Ter: Only if I had a bad break-up with my girlfriend and I happened to meet a girl that I really clicked with.

Student Weekly: Where was your favourite location in Korea?

Ter: I liked the ski resort. I'd never skied before, so I was thrilled to try it for a few hours, even though I kept falling over!

Noona: I liked Namiseom. It's a spectacular island surrounded by a lake. The island was also used as a location for the Korean series, Winter Love Song. The atmosphere there was beautiful.

Student Weekly: What was it like working with Banjong?

Ter: He helped me to focus and concentrate. Whenever I felt blue, sick or exhausted, he always encouraged me to feel enthusiastic.

Noona: Banjong was very nice and kind. He taught me that acting is doing, and that actors have to show their inner feelings. You can't just pretend.

Student Weekly: How do you feel about your romantic scene together?

Ter: I'm OK with it. I didn't feel shy.

Noona: It was the first scene we did together and I felt embarrassed. But Banjong said that it was fine, because we would also feel awkward in real life in that kind of situation.

Student Weekly: Why shouldn't anybody miss Hello Stranger?

Noona: Most of the movie was shot in South Korea. You get to see spectacular scenery in winter, autumn and spring. Viewers will experience tourist attractions as well as places that many people don't know about.

It's also my first film, so moviegoers should check it out!

	inspire (v): to give somebody the idea for something, especially something artistic inadvertently (adv): by accident; without intending to adapt (v): to change a book so that it can be made into a film, television programme, etc. determination (n): the quality that makes you continue trying to do something even when this is difficult click (v): to become friends with somebody as soon as you meet spectacular (adj): very impressive focus (v): to give your attention, effort, etc. to one particular situation or person concentrate (v): to give all your attention to something and not think about anything else blue (v): sad or depressed enthusiastic (adj): feeling a lot of excitement and interest about something awkward (adj): making you feel uncomfortable or embarrassed scenery (n): the natural features of an area, such as mountains, trees, rivers, etc.