Scent of a spirit

Ploychompoo solves a cold case

By Sukrit Khaepimpan and Suwitcha Chaiyong
Photos by Varuth Hirunyatheb and courtesy of M39

The upcoming romantic horror movie Roon Pee (Senior Student) has excited a lot of movie buffs because it was directed by Wisit Sasanatieng, who also made Tears of the Black Tiger and The Unseeable. Also, the movie’s main character is pretty pop idol Jannine Parawie Weigel (Ploychompoo).

In Senior Student, Ploychompoo plays Mon, a new student at a boarding school which used to be a palace owned by Princess Phannawadee. Mon has a special gift which is to detect the scent of spirits. A male spirit who she calls Roon Pee, or Senior Student, asks her to help investigate an old murder.

Fifty years ago, Princess Phannawadee was murdered at her palace. A gardener was accused but kept telling everybody that he was innocent until he was executed. Mon and the senior student team up to find the truth. Viewers can see if they solve the mystery when the film opens on December 3.

Student Weekly and other press met up with 51-year-old Wisit and 15-year-old Ploychompoo at a press conference to talk about the movie and Wisit’s new novel, Senior Student.

Question: Wisit, why did you turn the movie script into a novel?

Wisit: I’ve wanted to be a writer my whole life. This is a rare opportunity so I gave it a try.

Question: What are differences between writing a movie script and a novel?

Wisit: Writing a novel is much more difficult. A movie script guides us on how to film a movie. Its script doesn’t have to describe details. Words in a novel are important as they can make readers laugh and cry. My wife is a writer, and she helped to criticise my work so I could fix it.

Question: Why did you call the character Senior Student?

Wisit: He’s a mystery character who’s anonymous. I have to find a name for him, but not a normal human name because he isn’t normal. I don’t even know what his real name is.

Question: How did you get idea about being able to smell spirits?

Wisit: This idea is rare in ghost movies. I was thinking about the perfumes made by flowers. Though flowers die, we still can smell their odours. Perfumes are like the spirits of flowers.

Question: Why did you cast Ploychompoo as the main character?

Wisit: I wanted to have a new actress, so people believe she is the character. We had about 100 people audition and chose her.

Question: Ploychompoo, did you feel pressure working on your debut movie?

Ploychompoo: I was very excited and under pressure since I haven’t worked on a movie before. I did a lot of research about the character. Mon lost her parents because of a car accident when she was very young. I learned how people who lost their family like her felt.

Question: Is Mon similar to you?

Ploychompoo: Like me, Mon is a bit boyish and not too sweet. She’s straightforward and I like her frankness but I’m not like that.

Question: What was it like to work together?

Ploychompoo: At first, I thought Wisit would be tough, but he’s easy-going.

Wisit: We were fortunate to have Ploychompoo. She never caused any trouble and did whatever we told her to do. She’s determined, well-prepared and loves to perform.

Question: Ploychompoo, why should people read the novel?

Ploychompoo: The novel has a lot of details about the characters which I didn’t know. I hope everybody reads the book as well as sees the movie.

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