Staci Layne Wilson / Horror.com: How did this idea come about?
Mark Duffield: The idea for GHOST OF MAE NAK came about when I first traveled to Thailand to work as a cinematographer on the British feature film BUTTERFLY MAN (Later I was awarded Best Cinematographer at 2003 Slamdunk Film Festival Park City for my photography). While in Bangkok, I became fascinated with Thai legends and Ghost stories. I heard about an actual shrine at Wat Mahabut in the Prakahnong area that is devoted to a famous female ghost legend called MAE NAK (Mother Nak). The Mae Nak shrine is visited by hundreds of Thai people everyday who ask for blessing and guidance. I became more fascinated with the Mae Nak legend and her tragic love story.
I also discovered that there had been many films about her over the last 50 years. I watched the definitive Mae Nak period film called NANG NAK directed by Nonzi Nimiburt. This film concluded with the ‘evil’ spirit of Mae Nak being held captive in a piece of bone cut from her forehead by an Exorcist Monk, and the bone was lost in time. It was here that I was inspired to write my script and continue the Mae Nak story. In Thailand Mae Nak is a legend and there are many stories about her. Thai people believe the legend to be true and the Exorcist Monk who exorcised her did exist. The legend is as famous to Thailand as Dracula or Jack The Ripper is to the West.
Q: There is so much Asian horror out there, and almost every one is about a ghost. Can you talk about how your movie stands apart, and why genre fans should see it?
MD: I believe GHOST OF MAE NAK offers a completely new type of horror film to what usually comes out of Asia. I have directed Ghost Of Mae Nak like a European horror film. By this I mean its characters, pacing and atmosphere are influenced more from European cinema. I wrote the story as a dark contemporary fairytale with a strong love story at its heart but it also has some memorable moments of gory horror that I sure the fans will be talking about after the film. And of course they will learn about a true ghost legend.
Q: What made you decide to direct your first film in Thailand?
MD: Ghost of Mae Nak first started with a spec script that I wrote in London. Because of my contacts with production and distribution companies in Thailand, I felt it was possible to approach them with the project for funding. I knew I had written a ‘commercial‘ horror movie and I felt the concept was new for the Asian and International markets. My instinct was right and the script was funded with a distribution deal within a very short timeframe. Although this was an independent film, the speed in which things happened was like a Studio picture.
As a British director making a horror movie in Thailand I faced many challenges. The most obvious one is the language. I don’t speak Thai even though I had written a Thai based horror story. But I had my script expertly translated from English into Thai that helped the Thai cast and crew clearly understand my story. I did have translators and it was fun trying to convey what I wanted to say as a director. Bangkok film crews are highly skilled, so the film making process was no different to making a movie in the West and the language of filmmaking is universal. However we did have to make an offering at the actual Mae Nak shrine. The day before filming the entire Ghost of Mae Nak cast and crew went to the shrine to ask Mae Nak for her permission to make a film about her. I felt she gave us her blessing as the filming went very smooth and it was a joy to direct.
Q: How did you find your leads? I thought the characters of Mak, Nak, and Mae were very, very well-played.
MD: Thank you for your positive comment on the characters. I wanted to find lead actors who were the characters. A Thai casting agents and myself auditioned many new actors. We would look for new up-and-coming actors and luckily we were able to secure “C” SIWAT CHOTCHAICHARIN to play Mak and “Tangmo” PATARATIDA PACHARAWIRAPONG to play Nak. They had worked in Thai television dramas so this was their first feature film. During the filming, they were both awarded ‘Best New Talent for Television’ which was a bonus for the GHOST. This brought a lot of attention to the film, which was great. What I really like about them is that I believe in their relationship and they look like they belong together; an important casting note for directors.
Q: I imagine, shooting under such unusual circumstances, you must have plenty of stories.
MD: Yes. We were filming in the Tobacco Hospital Studios, which is a large old hospital in the centre of Bangkok where several locations were based. I arrived early one morning to check an exterior set piece based at the backlot of the building and block out the action. I was about to leave when I saw something staring at me with deep black eyes. I froze, my blood froze, the hairs stood up on the back of my neck. I was staring at a very large black snake that was living under the building. We observed each other and it hissed and stuck its forked tongue out at me. Then it quietly went back into its home. Although it was a scary moment it was also beautiful to see (I love all animals no matter what). However because it was the last day of filming there I decided not to say anything to cast or crew and hope that the snake would not want to be an Extra that day.
I guess the biggest “unexplained” event that took place during the filming was that it was a wonderful trouble-free shoot. Filmmaking can be a bit like walking a tightrope, and things often go wrong during it, but I felt as though Mae Nak wanted us to make this film.
Q: Being a first-time feature director, did you have any trepidation about also handling the cinematography? Would you do it again, the same way?
MD: Being a first time director and handling the cinematography was exciting. Cinematography is a passion and I had shot eight features films before this. I think visually so it was a joy to light my own film. Because this was a big production on a low budget with its many locations and sets, I was able to work very fast and concentrate on lighting just the areas I knew I would film. However I did have a camera operator Ryan Goddard a Canadian based in Bangkok who was excellent at handling the 35mm camera, which can be physically demanding.
It would be fun to do again but ideally it would be nice to have more time and budget like the Hollywood movies do. I would have no problem working with a cinematographer on my next film if that is the case, I’d support them 100% as I know what they have to go through to achieve results.
Q: Who are some of your influences as a director? And what movies influenced the look and feel of Ghost of Mae Nak?
MD: Director’s who are my main influences would be Ridley Scott, David Koepp, John Carpenter, M.Night Shyamalan, David Cronenberg, Alfred Hitchcock, Guillermo del Toro. These are just a few whom I admire and have inspired me as a filmmaker. They all have a distinctive voice and have made some memorable, even classic genre movies.
When I was researching and writing the script for GHOST OF MAE NAK, I studied films like STIR OF ECHOES, THE CHANGELING, SIGNS, THE EYE, THE HAUNTING (1964), POLTERGEIST and of course FINAL DESTINATION. I was interested in these films not only because they are great ghost stories or dark thrillers but also they are well written and have strong characters. I hope some part of them rubbed on to GHOST OF MAE NAK.
Q: What has been the fan-feedback on the movie?
MD: The film was released all over Thailand and went to number 3 in the Thai box-office. There was a big media attended Premiere in Bangkok. The distribution company actually built a Mae Nak shrine outside the cinema on the sidewalk. They had an official Buddhist consecration ceremony with Monks and the cast attending that was headline news on Thai TV. This was to pay respects to Mae Nak and bring good luck to the film. People took the shrine very seriously and would even pray in front of it. The Thai reaction was very good. I was concerned at first especially directing a film in a language I don’t speak and watching it with the Thai audience. But after the premiere screening I was congratulated my many Thai Industry professionals and the moviegoers on my achievement. The film was shown in cinemas in Singapore, Malaysia and Korea and had sold well Internationally.
It has been selected for several international festivals like Egypt, India, Bermuda, England and San Francisco where it was screened at the excellent ANOTHER HOLE IN THE HEAD Festival last July. It was recently shown in London at the FRIGHTFEST Festival to large genre based audience. And is has been selected for the San Diego Asian Film Festival in October. Critically the film has reviewed well in Variety, Film Threat, UnderlandOnline and MoviesOnline. The reaction has been very good and the feedback I get is people enjoy the characters dark journey with the Mae Nak legend and the gory moments, especially the “shocking” gory sheet-glass splitting moment that everyone talks about after the film. If you’ve seen it you’ll know what I mean.
Q: What are some of best horror movies you have seen recently? Any Asian classics you can suggest to the genre completist?
MD: Recently some of the best horror films I have enjoyed have been, PAN’S LABYRINTH, THE EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE, AN AMERICAN HAUNTING, THE DESCENT, WOLF CREEK and HOSTEL. The new Korean film THE HOST is excellent. Some of the Asian horror classics I have on my lists are NANG NAK, THE EYE, THE SHUTTER, THE RING, JU-ON, DARK WATER and PREMONITION.
Q: What's coming next for you?
MD: I am writing an exciting new horror script set in the US in English language. I do have several other spec horror scripts I have written and also rewriting or fine-tuning. This is something I always do with my scripts until they get made. I do have a new Thai/Asian horror script but with Western characters and English language, it’s a great idea. I am keen to develop my passion for horror/fantasy films, however I’m afraid I don’t want to reveal anything about my scripts as yet, but I will keep you posted.
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Postscript:
I would like to thank Staci Wilson and Horror.com for showing interest in the GHOST OF MAE NAK and myself as writer and director. I would like to thank the fans of GHOST OF MAE NAK. I appreciate your support. And for those who have not seen it, then I hope you will give the GHOST a chance and allow your self to be taken on a ghostly thrill in Bangkok Thailand and discover a true Thai legend. GHOST OF MAE NAK will be released on DVD by the Tartan USA Asian Extreme label on 10th October with director’s commentary, my one-hour video diary and several other extras. I hope those who have seen it will want to learn more about the making, and those who have not seen it will discover a new horror legend of the GHOST OF MAE NAK.
With thanks,
Mark Duffield
Writer and Director GHOST OF MAE NAK.
