MUMBAI: Representatives from across the Thai film community appear in a video trailer launched in celebration of World Intellectual Property Day to say ‘Thank You’ to movie fans for choosing to watch movies at the cinema, or at home on legitimate DVDs and TV channels.
Guest of Honour, Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Ponlaboot released the trailer at an event held today at Siam Paragon with the Thai film community in attendance.
Thai Film director Kongkiet Khomsiri, Best Director at the 19th Subanahongsa Thai Film Awards in 2010 for the movie Slice expressed his appreciation to local movie goers in the trailer, along with local actress Apinya Sakuljaroensuk (Saipan) and song writer and music composer, Goldie Stanley. The trailer also features a message from cinema ushers representing all exhibitors, thanking the audience for not camcording, highlighting the problem of illegal recordings coming from cinemas in the country.
In his speech, Minister Alongkorn Ponlaboot said that Thailand is keen to develop a strong creative economy that values intellectual property rights. “Our creative industries generate about 12% of Thailand’s GDP and employs millions of people,” said Alongkorn, “as such the government will to do all it can to protect IP rights in the country. We will also take action against criminals engaged in camcording and movie piracy to ensure that our film community continues to expand, while winning the hearts of more film fans in Thailand and abroad.”
National Federation of Thai Film Associations secretary general Sorajak Kasemsuvan added, “More needs to be done to address movie piracy in Thailand as every Thai film is camcorded in the cinemas on the day of their release, and illegal DVDs appear in the streets immediately for sale. Our government and people should take a tough stance against camcording and movie piracy as the livelihoods of the 300,000 people working in the industry depends on them.”
Motion Picture Association – Asia-Pacific president and managing director Mike Ellis said, “This is the Thai film community’s way of showing genuine appreciation for movie fans who make a choice to watch legitimate content. By making that choice they are supporting their friends, neighbors and fellow citizens in the industry. It’s all about promoting and protecting the film community including filmmakers, production crew and cinema staff. We look forward to contributing to worthwhile initiatives such as this in the future.”
The 500 guests at the event were also treated to a premiere screening of Thor.
