|
Batman on the loose - Christian Bale to come to Chiang Mai
Job going for a Chinese US Marine speaking Thai
Vincent Leutwiler (student trainee)
A new war-action-drama movie is set to begin shooting in
Thailand in August this year. Directed by Werner Herzog, it stars Christian
Bale (best known for his role in the recently released movie ‘Batman
Begins’) and Steve Zahn.
 Extras
auditioning in Chiang Mai
Auditioning for extras has already begun in Chiang Mai
and roles on offer are US Marines, a Chinese pilot, two Thai pilots and
others.
The story line in the British funded movie is about an
American pilot who gets shot down over Laos in the Vietnam War. The movie,
‘Rescue Dawn’, is based on Werner Herzog’s 1997 documentary “Little
Dieter Needs to Fly” which is the true story of German-born Dieter Dengler
who makes his way to America to join the Army and is then shot down over
Laos.
Christian Bale stars as Dieter Dengler and Steve Zahn
plays a worn-down POW, and together they plan to escape.
Christian Bale is well known for several movies including
‘Batman Begins’ and Steven Spielberg’s 1987 ‘Empire of the Sun’.
Entertainment Weekly crowned him as “one of the top eight most powerful
cult figures” of the past decade and also as “one of the most creative
people in entertainment”.
Werner Herzog, a well known German director started traveling the world
on foot when he was 14 and worked night shifts as a welder to make enough
money for his first movie which came out in 1961 when he was 19. Since then
he has produced, written, and directed more than forty films, published more
than a dozen books, and directed as many operas.
NAP and Art, Living
and Lifestyle (ALL) 2005
Taking a nap would have been better
Suchada Thongsawan
Everybody who drove on Nimmanahaeminda Road these last
couple of weeks was greeted by big banners (welcome back to ‘Banner
City’), announcing two different activities between July 15-July 30. Art,
Living and Lifestyle (ALL) 2005 and Nimmanahaeminda Art Promenade (NAP).
They
were having fun, the children who took part in the shoe pottery painting,
which was perhaps the dizzy ‘highlight’ of this mid-year NAP.
However, Chiang Mai residents who know and had been to
the NAP Art promenade activities in previous years, were disappointed when
walking through Soi Nimmanahaeminda 1 last Saturday, if they were expecting
the previous art and design promenade with hundreds of stalls, artists, high
class d้cor items, parades and fashion shows.
This year it was different. Yes, there were some stalls
but only from the shop owners who have shops in the Soi anyway. Yes, they
did display some art, but the glamour, the charm and the flair was missing.
People were seen walking down to the renovated Gong Dee Gallery, stopping at
the inviting wine corner of Amari Rincome Hotel, and walking back out.
The idea was good, and Soi 1 and Soi 4 could have easily combined their
activities, and Soi 1 need not have changed their former concept which was a
lot more fun for everybody concerned and involved, be it visitor or
organizer.
Horse’s unexpected birth
Dad keeping mum
Vincent Leutwiler (student
trainee)
A horse at Ladda Land Riding Club unexpectedly gave birth
to a foal in the middle of the night on July 25.
 Mama
Cindy and her baby 24 hours old and smaller than a full-sized dog.
Nobody knew the horse was pregnant because it had been
recently bought in Pattaya and then brought to Chiang Mai. The owner, who
was out of the country, returned on July 26, completely unaware that her
horse, Cindy, had given birth to a foal.
The horse’s caretaker and stable hands were starting to
suspect Cindy might be pregnant because of a weight gain and her increased
appetite. The veterinarian was called and an appointment was scheduled for
Tuesday morning, but when she arrived, instead of a sick horse, there was a
small foal happily drinking milk from its mother.
At this stage the mother is refusing to name the father, before checking
with her legal representatives.
American Voices’ artists
at Payap University Chapel
To promote art and cultural exchange, the U.S. Consulate
Chiang Mai and the U.S. Embassy Bangkok, in conjunction with Payap
University Chiang Mai, will organize a free concert given by American Voices
artists at Payap University Chapel, on Thursday, August 18 at 7.30 p.m.
 John
Ferguson & Ira Spaulding.
The concert will feature the renowned American Voices’
artists including vocalist Ira Spaulding, and baritone and choral conductor
and pianist, John Ferguson. Both performers had visited and performed in
Chiang Mai last December. This time they will entertain their audience with
such favorites as American Traditional (Aaron Copland), Broadway (Rodgers
and Hammerstein, Mitch Leigh, George Gershwin), and Gershwin’s Excerpts
from the songbook for piano solo, and his Excerpts from Porgy and Bess.
Admission is free. However, tickets will be distributed
on a first come - first serve basis. Bookings can be made by calling the
Music Department of Payap University, tel. (053) 248-037.
Prior to the concert performance, the two artists will also conduct a
series of workshops/master classes for Payap students and invited
professional musicians, and music instructors.
Don’t miss ‘The Musical Concert 3’
Sandy Clark
Many hours of sweat, tears and anticipation have ensued
for the almost 120 participants who want to make musical history in Chiang
Mai with ‘The Musical Concert’, Episode 3.
15 leading singers, 17 dancers, 20 supporting actors, 24
in the chorus line and 42 musicians, plus stage hands and the trainers are
looking forward to evergreens from 12 different Broadway style musicals.
A couple
of young dancers during practice with Ajarn Nakarin Jaiklah ‘Nut’ (with
hat), the choreographer.
Producer Tianchai Sooktiang from the Voice Studio says
that the idea of conducting a musical in Chiang Mai was born in San
Francisco earlier this year after he and Ajarn Nakarin Jaiklah or “Nut”
(his teacher of the ‘Dance and Drama’ section and choreographer) had
experienced the San Francisco Dance Center for Rhythm and Motion and the
City Ballet.
The innovative production will include songs from Les
Miserables, South Pacific, Elton John’s Aida, Sunset Boulevard, Annie,
Jesus Christ Superstar, Cats, Evita, Phantom of the Opera, Joseph, A Chorus
Line and the 70’s revival Abba based musical ‘Mamma Mia’.
The event is on Saturday, August 6 at 7 p.m. at Kad
Theatre, with tickets 700, 500 and 200 baht on sale at the Public Relations
counter, G floor, Central Kad Suan Kaew, Voice Studio and Chiangmai Mail
(Marion). For further information, contact 0 5341 0123, 0 1602 4441.
“An Evening At Home” charity dinner, to benefit women and children
Dr. Ravi Zacharias and world famous vocalist
Usha Uthup attending
The Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi Resort, Chiang Mai, and
RZIM Wellspring International, a United States based establishment which
partners with Asian organizations aiding women and children in at-risk
situations, are hosting a fundraising dinner on Monday, August 8 to benefit
Chiang Mai’s Just Food and Im Jai House, two non-profit
organizations with a history of helping women and children in need.
Just Food is an outreach to women seeking to leave
the sex trafficking industry. Training in all aspects of the restaurant
industry as well as necessary life skills is offered, providing women with
hope for a successful future. This event will provide necessary funds for an
emergency home for the women and a vocational training center. Mark
Crawford, director of Just Food says, “I am very excited for the community
to be involved in helping to give disadvantaged people new opportunities in
life!”
Im Jai House is a home for children orphaned by AIDS
where they are able to be part of a family and given a quality life so they
will become productive members of society.
The hope of the banquet is to raise sufficient funds for
a kitchen and cafeteria for the children and staff. Ladda Tipkunta, director
of Im Jai House says, “I really thank God for all of you who love and care
for needy children…this event will be a first time to raise money in
Thailand to help…”
The formal dinner event will be held at Jum Thong Hall,
Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi Resort on Monday, August 8, 2005 at 7.15 p.m.
and is open to the general public.
The inspirational address will be delivered by
international speaker and author Dr. Ravi Zacharias, founder of Wellspring
International. He has addressed writers of the peace accord in South Africa,
President Fujimori’s cabinet and parliament in Peru, and military officers
at the Lenin Military Academy and the Center for Geopolitical Strategy in
Moscow. Additionally, Dr. Zacharias has spoken twice at the Annual Prayer
Breakfast at the United Nations in New York, which marks the beginning of
the UN session each year, and at the invitation of the President of Nigeria,
he addressed the delegates at the First Annual Prayer Breakfast for African
Leaders, held in Mozambique.
World famous vocalist Usha Uthup and the children of Im
Jai House will provide musical entertainment. Singing in eighteen different
languages, Ms. Uthup has graced audiences of world leaders and presidents,
including Nelson Mandela and Indira Gandhi. Past performances include a
number of concerts to support Mother Teresa’s work and an HIV/AIDS benefit
with actor Richard Gere.
Tickets are Baht 2,100 per person and available through
the Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi Resort, Chiang Mai; please contact the
hotel at 0 5388 8888 ext. 8944 for further information.
|
