Tony Jaa is currently : in Thailand, shooting and directing Ong-Bak 2
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It will take at least one year for the filming of “Ong Bak 2” which got a production budget of around 150 million baht from Sahamongkol Film. The movie is expected to be released at the end of 2007 at the earliest.
(...) Unassuming, plain-spoken and almost painfully humble, in the space of just two movies, the Thai phenom named Panom Yeerum has kneed, punched and elbowed his way into the screen-fight spotlight, generating accolades from the likes of "Rush Hour" director Bruce Rattner (whose obvious man-crush has reduced him to gushing phrases like "I want him! I love him!") and rapper The RZA ("He's as fast as Bruce Lee, with the agility of Jackie Chan ... he's a sensation").
Panom Yeerum is, of course, better known to the West as Tony Jaa, star of the low-budget Muay Thai lollapalooza "Ong Bak: The Thai Warrior." And with the much-heralded release of his follow-up "The Protector" on Sept. 8, Jaa's name is poised to become a household word.
New York & early film updates
Posted by Sawatdee, 30/08/2006
Macexperience.com has the complete New York Demo as well as an exclusive interview with Tony Jaa (Inside Martial Arts Episode #7).
Flickr.com has tons of pictures of the The Museum of the Moving Image demo and the Q & A.
The early Tony Jaa's films list has been updated with the following information : Plook Mun Kuen Ma Kah 4 and Nuk Kah Win Yarn Hode are actually the same film and include a long fight between Tony Jaa and his master Panna Rittikrai. The film can already be bought at Ethaicd.com and will be available on the Spirited Killer DVD due for release on Sept 19. Some screencaptures are available in the gallery, thanks to ThailandFight.
An interview at sfgate.com : Jaa will direct and star in Ong-Bak 2, the filming begins in October in Thailand. "I have dreams, of course," Jaa said. "I'd love to work with Steven Spielberg or Jessica Alba or Tom Cruise. But I have to work hard -- I spend every day training and have little time for anything else." But Jaa has classic tastes. When asked who is his favorite American movie star, he didn't hesitate: "I like Charlie Chaplin." It makes sense. Like the Little Tramp, Jaa had humble beginnings, and he has a grace and style on-screen that would have made Chaplin proud."
Tony Jaa to appear at the Wat Gym in NY | San Francisco appearance | The Protector posters
Posted by Sawatdee, 19/08/2006
After his visit at the Museum of the Moving Image on Sunday, Tony Jaa will be appearing at the Wat Gym on Tuesday, Aug. 22 at 6 pm to sign posters and hopefully give a live Muay Thai boxing performance:
Tony made a recent San Francisco appearance at the World Team USA training facility on Wednesday, August 16th. David was there and had the chance to meet Tony Jaa who did an amazing 15 minutes demonstration with an autograph signing that followed. Here is a picture of David's beautiful family with Tony Jaa and a short video of the demonstration. An another video of this event is available at abc7news.com.
"Rush Hour 3," "Indy 4", "Ong Bak 2" Tidbits | Tony Jaa looking for his actress in "ONG BAK 2" | Prachya dreams of its Top 10 in the US Box Office Posted by Sawatdee, 17/08/2006
"Tony Jaa Says No to "Rush Hour 3," "Yes! Yes!" to Indy 4, and Reveals "Ong Bak 2" Tidbits"
Rottentomatoes
Indiana Jones 4
Tony Jaa listed Steven Spielberg as one of his favorite directors, so it wasn't too surprising to learn that the Indiana Jones movies are among his favorites as well. In a spectacular chase sequence from "Ong Bak," there's a message on a wall that reads: "Hi Spielberg, let['s] do it together." A disappointed Jaa revealed that he has yet to hear from Spielberg (who can blame him, the message is a bit ambiguous). Asked if he would be interested in taking a role in the upcoming fourth installment of the Indiana Jones franchise, he enthusiastically answered, "Yes! Yes! Very interested!" before the question was even finished.
Rush Hour 3
Tony Jaa grew up watching Jackie Chan films and named him as one of his major influences. Brett Ratner had mentioned recently in interviews that he would love to have Tony Jaa in "Rush Hour 3." Ratner had actually called and discussed this with Jaa's manager and agent a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, due to scheduling conflicts, they had to turn it down. Jaa will be extremely busy starring in and directing (his first project as helmer) the sequel to "Ong Bak" around the same time. He said he would love to work with Ratner in future projects, though.
Ong Bak 2
He was not allowed to say too much (especially with his manager there), but he did have a few tidbits to share. It will be a period piece and will showcase Muay Thai unlike anything that's been done before. It will also feature lots of ancient Thai weapons.
Stay tuned for the full interview and a video of his Muay Thai demonstration in the coming weeks. In the mean time, head over to the photo gallery for pics of Jaa's demo (Those pictures were uploaded in our gallery as well).
Sahamongkol Film International is inviting Thai ladies to star with Tony Jaa in Ong Bak 2. They are looking for a Thai lady age 18-22 with talent in the field of Thai music and Thai dance (height approx 165-170cm).
If interested, get an application from sahamongkol film international office, movie theater, university (at the activities center) or download the application from sahamongkolfilm.com.
Thep sent in this news from Matichon.co.th : "Prachya Pinkaew said that “The Protector” will open in more than 1,000 theaters for the opening week of the film. The amount of the theaters is more than Ong-Bak’s 300 last year, and it’d be the highest record of Thai film in US theaters. And in the Box Office, Prachya hopes that The Protector would make its way straight to the Top 10, higher than the #17 of Ong-Bak.
The Protector would receive some new arrangement in the US version, for example some Asian tradition scenes were cut off because they were considered not familiar to American eyes. The new arragement was done by The Weinstein Co., and Prachya has seen the new version. Moreover, the scores of the film were rearranged by the singer RZA, and presented by Quentin Tarantino, the Kill Bill director."
Summuray of the Tony Jaa's upcoming DVDs
Posted by Sawatdee, 15/08/2006
19 September : Spirited Killer DVD (USA) Languages : English, Taiwanese, Chinese One of the Tony Jaa's early film + DVD Features: Master of Action: Panna Rittikrai (Interview and profile)
Best of Panna action fight scenes
Thailand Dangerous: The 'other' action cinema of the east
Tony Jaa interview
Tony Jaa martial arts demo
Tony Jaa: Thailand's Favorite Son
Muay Thai Boran: Ong Bak's deadly fighting art
10 October : Spirited Warrior: Platinum Edition DVD (UK)
Spirited Warrior is the UK version of Spirited Killer
Languages : Thai, English One of the Tony Jaa's early film + DVD Features:
Tony Jaa takes New York
Man of Action: Panna Rittikrai
Bangkok Box Office
Interview with John Ladalski
Interview with Nate Harrison
Spirited Warrior trailer
Rarescope promo
Panna's posters
Tony Jaa in person with THE PROTECTOR at Museum of the Moving Image in New York (August 20)
Posted by Sawatdee, 10/08/2006
The Protector
With Tony Jaa in person
Sunday, August 20
At 1:30 p.m. Martial arts demonstration in the Museum's rear courtyard (Free)
At 2:00 p.m. Film screening in the Riklis Theater (Regular admission applies)
Museum of the Moving Image (www.movingimage.us)
35 Avenue at 36 Street, Astoria, New York 11106
Tony Jaa, the Thai martial arts superstar, will make a special appearance at the Museum of the Moving Image on Sunday, August 20, 2006. Jaa will demonstrate his extraordinary martial arts skills in a live exhibition before a preview screening of his new film The Protector. Following the screening, he will appear on stage for a Q& A with the audience.
The demonstration at 1:30 p.m. will take place in the Museum's rear courtyard and is free to the public. Tickets for the screening at 2:00 p.m. are available for purchase in advance by calling the Museum at 718-784-4520 or online at www.movingimage.us (beginning Monday, August 14).
Jaa's appearance and the preview screening are presented courtesy of The Weinstein Company. The Protector opens in theaters on September 8.
The Protector has been moved to September 8th, 2006 Tony Jaa's comix
Posted by Sawatdee, 09/08/2006
An information I received today from someone working on The Protector's release in the US : "The Protector has been moved to September 8th, 2006". Right now I don't have any other informations about Tony Jaa's upcoming tour in the US but I'll keep you updated if there is anything new. Patience!
Maxi, a member of the website, is creating a comix book about Tony Jaa that he's sharing with us at tonyjaa.org ! You can already see the first pages and his work will be updated on a regular basis.
Tony Jaa to be in the USA on 14 August Metro magazine
Posted by Sawatdee, 04/08/2006
Good news for all the american fans! Tony Jaa and his team will be in the US from 14 to 23 August to promote "The Protector". They will start their tour in Los Angeles, travelling to a few cities before being in New York for the last days. Check out your local cinemas for more informations and to support The Protector on big screens! The Protector is due for release in the USA on 25 August 2006.
Scans of Metro magazine have been added to the gallery, thanks to David.
Dvdrama has a complete review of the upcoming french Tom Yum Goong DVD. You can see a lot of screencaptures of the DVD, particularly some screencaptures of an original interview.
You can win some Tony Jaa goodies on totalfilm.com. The contest is open to every countries and will end on 17 August 2006. Good luck!
Various updates
Posted by Sawatdee, 03/08/2006
Thep sent in this news : Positioning Magazine considers Tony Jaa as the most influential Thai person in the world.
Various pictures have been uploaded in the gallery.
The UK Ong-Bak soundtrack release has been postponed until october.
ThailandFight has been updated with informations about Muay Boran, Muay Koshasan, and some comparison with Tom Yum Goong (Thai language).
(January 16, 2007)
