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MOVIES Out for laughsTeng and Nong call the comedy shots
It's been 20 years since veteran comedians Pongsak Pongsuwan and Chusak Iamsuk - better known to their legions of fans as Teng Terdterng and Nong Chachacha - first got together to make people laugh. Despite their extremely humble beginnings, Teng, 41, and Nong, 34, now enjoy huge success and stardom. In addition to their hilarious stints on various TV shows, the country's top comedians recently branched out into the film business as directors and performers with their new movie, Teng Nong Kon Ma Ha Hia. Student Weekly talked to the two hilarious buddies at a press conference in advance of their movie's May 28 premier. The comedians talked about their not-so-glamourous childhoods and their newest big-screen effort. >> Student Weekly: What were your childhoods like? << Teng: My childhood was tough. I was a samlor driver, a noodle vendor, a dishwasher and a likae performer. Even though none of those was a fancy career, they were legal and didn't hurt anybody. When people thought my noodles were delicious or laughed at my likae performances, I was happy and forgot about the money. << Nong: I did lots of things - I was a garland vendor, a look tung dancer, a cabaret dancer and a lot more. When I wasn't happy with a job, I'd change and do something else. Being a comedian is what I love. I have what I have today because of this profession. >> Student Weekly: Your lives today are a lot different from in the past. How do you feel about your success? << Nong: I'm not successful yet. Maybe just to a certain level. We'll see how far I can go. << Teng: I have success now thanks to a lot of people. I have to thank everyone who gave me a chance: my mother, my father and my teachers. And I thank myself for walking this road. >> Student Weekly: You guys have been together for 20 years, but this was the first time you worked together as directors. What was it like? << Teng: It was tiring. It would have been easier if we'd just acted. When we directed the movie, we had to be there for every shot. But when we were working, all the weariness went away. I was happy seeing my ideas become real. Now I'm nervous about whether or not audiences will like our movie. What comedians want most is to make people laugh. << Nong: Getting just 10 laughs would be OK, but they'd have to be 10 long laughs - not chuckles. I was so excited on the first day of shooting the movie. Our call was for 6 am, but I arrived at 4 am and took a nap at a petrol station near the set. [Laughs.] >> Student Weekly: You guys didn't go to film school, so how did you prepare to direct the movie? << Nong: We didn't prepare things that much. It's our movie. We knew the whole story and knew every scene. So when it came to work, we knew what we had to do. >> Student Weekly: Do you have any work principles you hold onto? << Nong: No seniority system. It's not just a work principle - it's a life principle. It's not like I have to listen to him because I'm younger. We respect each other and share our ideas. Teng says I act like I'm his dad. Sometimes I even give him slaps on the head. We can't help teasing each other. << Teng: When the three of us - Mum [from the Sam Cha Gang], Nong and I - get together, there are always laughs. If any one of us looks serious, the others will tease him until we have a laugh. >> Student Weekly: The members of the Sam Cha Gang are very close. So what about Mum? Have you three ever considered making a movie together? << Teng: I'd love to, but I don't think it's possible. Mum is very, very busy. >> Student Weekly: What inspires you to come up with your gags? << Teng: They're based on my life experience and the experiences of others. I'm observant. I like to listen to what people say. If it catches my ear, I'll memorise it to use it on stage. And I'm lucky that I know likae. I'm lucky that I was a samlor driver and a noodle vendor. There are many things from that part of my life that I can come up with jokes about. >> Student Weekly: To be a comedian, you have to keep your jokes fresh week in and week out. Do you ever worry about running dry? << Teng: Comedians have a saying: No gags, no money and no future. We can't come up with nothing. We have to take care of our brains.
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