Nattawut ‘Baz’ Poonpiriya, the director of 2017 pan-Asian hit “Bad Genius” has joined forces with Thailand’s leading film studio GDH559 to launch new production company BASK. GDH, a subsidiary of the GMM group, is currently riding another wave of regional success with comedy-drama “How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies” breaking box office records in Southeast Asian countries including Singapore, Vietnam and The Philippines. Earlier this week, the company unveiled a powerful production and releasing slate covering the next year.
The new venture will co-develop, co-finance and co-produce projects with U.S.-based studios and producers such as Anita Gou from Kindred Spirit (“The Farewell”), and Justin Lin (“Fast & Furious” franchise). It will also be involved in international collaborations, film festivals, online platforms and interactive media.
Co-headed by GDH producer, Vanridee Pongsittisak, BASK says it will work alongside top U.S.-based producers to offer a fresh perspective on Thai and Asian culture for global audiences. Poonpiriya described the strategy: “My goal is to be the international voice that speaks louder. “With a louder and authentic voice, it means that I can speak for more people and to more people," commented.
Meanwhile, Pongsittisak stated that the goal is to give space to voices that were overlooked: “Not only will we bring a variety of genres and narratives we aim to explore to the world, but we are also committed to empowering voices that have been overlooked but are deeply passionate. We want to offer them a platform to share their personal yet universally resonant stories on screen," highlighted.
Following the success of “Bad Genius,” a thriller about the machinations of exam cheating, Poonpiriya went on to direct “One for the Road,” a road trip drama shot in Thailand and New York produced by Wong Kar-wai and which won the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award at the Sundance Film Festival in 2022. The same year, Poonpiriya directed two episodes of the Netflix series “Thai Cave Rescue.” He has also been attached to Stars Collective, the talent incubator program backed by China and Los Angeles-based financier Starlight Media.
