Tsunami, The Aftermath
Interview with Santa Pestonji, Thai production executive
Santa Pestonji is the Thai production executive on Tsunami, The Aftermath. Born and raised in Thailand, he is a veteran filmmaker who has been in the business since 1962. He is the fixer on the ground dealing with all the local issues in Thailand.
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The production executive, who lost good friends himself in the catastrophic tidal wave, thinks that it is entirely positive that Kudos, the 大象传媒 and HBO Films are making Tsunami, The Aftermath. "My first response when I heard about the project was 鈥榳hy so late?'.
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"But I'm really glad it's being done now. People have very short memories and it is important to remind them what happened during and after the tsunami. Also, there are so many stories that need to be told about this disaster."
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Santa recalls that at first the producers considered shooting the drama in another country. "They thought about Indonesia, Malaysia or Sri Lanka, but decided on here because it's much more authentic to make a film about the Thai tsunami in Thailand. Also, our infrastructure is really good."
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He says that in the main his compatriots are delighted that the filmmakers opted for Thailand. "Nobody has said, 'please don't come here, it's insensitive to make it here'. Maybe some people in the UK think it's too soon to be producing a drama about the tsunami, but I think that's a cultural difference.
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"Before we filmed in Khao Lak, an area that was devastated by the tsunami, I went around asking people, 鈥榓re you upset that this film is being made about your tragedy?'
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"They replied, 鈥榥o, we think it's important that there is a record of what happened. Also, we are part of making that history, and we're being paid for it!' I encountered no objections whatsoever."
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He says that now the country is better equipped should another tsunami hit the Thai coast. "The authorities have put in an early warning system, which I think will help. And children are taught at school exactly what they should do if another tsunami strikes. We're far better prepared."
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Santa, who has worked on films as varied as The Beach and The Killing Fields, concludes that in the wake of the disaster the locals were keen to get their life back on track as quickly as possible. "What I saw in Phuket in the aftermath of the tsunami was amazing," he marvels.
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"There was this incredible rebuilding effort. The resort of Patong was wiped out then, but now it's completely back to normal. It has to be because the tourist business waits for nobody. What happened is really tragic, but you have to move on. Life has to go on."
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