EXCLUSIVE: Powerhouse Thai producer Vanridee Pongsittisak has unveiled more details about BASK Production House — a new collaboration formed between Bangkok-based studio GDH and Bad Genius director Baz Poonpiriya, which was unveiled earlier this month.
Poonpiriya is set to direct BASK’s first two projects, which have Fast & Furious films director Justin Lin and Anita Gou from Kindred Spirit (The Farewell) onboard as producers.
Lin’s project already has a completed screenplay and is in the process of securing investment, while Gou’s project is currently in the script development stage.
“Baz had been developing a project but due to a scheduling conflict, I couldn’t help produce the film,” said Pongsittisak in an exclusive interview with Deadline. “Baz then reached out to Justin Lin for the project, because Baz admires his talent and vision. After reading the screenplay, Justin found it to be a great fit for him as well.”
The partnership on this project kicked off last year. Details of the plot remain under wraps.
For the other project, Gou made the initial approach to Poonpiriya to sign on as director. Gou and Vanridee will be producing the project together, under BASK.
Having worked as a producer and script doctor for more than 15 years and with over 30 titles under her belt, Pongsittisak has been credited as a creative driving force behind GDH’s top works.
Pongsittisak was one of the producers behind the record-breaking box office hit How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies. The film topped the domestic box office and also became the most successful Thai film of all time in Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia.
She also produced The Paradise of Thorns, which will have its upcoming international premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Pongsittisak said that BASK will focus on producing films. “After Covid, with theaters closing and the market becoming very weak, I really want to help bring the vibrancy of cinemas back,” she added.
On distribution plans for films under BASK, Pongsittisak said that this will depend on each project. “If the projects are started by us, with GDH investing in the film, they will theoretically be released in Thailand before distribution in other countries,” she added. “For other projects, like English-language films, we may aim to launch at a film festival or premiere in other countries first before coming back to Thailand. It all depends on the project, our production partners, studios and financiers.”
GDH is the subsidiary of the Thai entertainment conglomerate GMM Grammy, and was previously known as GTH. It has said that BASK will work alongside U.S.-based producers to “offer a fresh perspective on Thai and Asian culture for global audiences.”
“We want to produce international-scale projects that are globally resonant, as well as help to bring Thai filmmakers to the global stage,” said Pongsittisak. “We know that Thai filmmakers’ filmmaking skills are mostly on par with international filmmakers, but often lack the platform, resources, or funding needed to gain visibility.”
She also reflected on the gender disparities within the domestic film industry. “In Thailand, we have a lot of female line producers, editors and scriptwriters, but the proportion of female directors and producers is very low,” Pongsittisak said. “It’s one of the reasons why I really want to push and create this platform for young filmmakers to have the platform to like amplify their voices.”