ASEAN Economic Community Integration and its Potential Effects

The ASEAN Economic Community aims to increase regional competitiveness by reducing the cost of cross-border trade, thereby increasing the flow of both people and goods through the 11 (10 full time) member states. It achieves this with simplified visa processes, equitable economic development, low import duties and the development of a single market. All of these things are positive contributors to a growing number of regional travellers for both business and leisure purposes, and greater integration between companies who operate internationally.

As the effects of ASEAN integration will impact a broad spectrum of companies in Thailand, it is important that organisations are ready to not only cope but also capitalise on the growth effects of the impending liberalisation brought about by full ASEAN Economic Community integration.

 

Which countries are part of ASEAN?

Currently, ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) consists of 10 full members:

Indonesia

Malaysia

Philippines

Singapore

Thailand

Brunei

Myanmar

Cambodia

Laos

Vietnam

East Timor (bid stage)

“ASEAN plus 3” includes South Korea, China and Japan, who have pledged support to certain rules concerning the reduction in cross-border legislation and cost reduction, but who are not full members of the ASEAN community.

 

There are both opportunities and threats in the emerging single market and production base framework. For my company, what are the potential benefits and dangers?

In terms of benefits, the AEC effectively means an integrated total consumer base of over 600 million potential customers. This is the most exiting facet of economic integration. Reduction in the cost of moving people and goods across borders will bring a real opening-up of the regional market particularly in terms of hospitality and the MICE sector, where more people in Asia will be encouraged to discover a wider variety of business and leisure destinations at a lower cost. This will result in huge growth in the tourism, hospitality and international business sectors. The lower cost bases will also encourage healthy competition, raising the bar universally on a variety of industries in Asia. It has the potential to increase the appeal of this area for both international business and leisure visitors. Overall, ASEAN Economic Integration is seen as being a highly exciting prospect and many organisations welcome it warmly.

In terms of threats, the ASEAN Economic Community will bring increasing levels of high quality overseas competition to market, so firms with an advanced market position have to ensure that their operations support the maintenance of their position as regional leaders in this regard. For this reason, industries in Thailand need to offer a unilaterally high standard of service, a more sophisticated product offering and the ability to fulfil the demands of international and regional business and leisure customers, without losing the uniquely charming Thai approach to business, leisure and tourism in Thailand.

 

Independent National Identity under ASEAN

Two cornerstones of the ASEAN Community since its inception in 1967 have been national existence and national identity. This is significant in sectors involving inbound travel or inbound business to Thailand because a core part of the appeal of travel to various countries is to enjoy a local experience which is in-keeping with a national identity. In the case of Thailand, this means world famous hospitality, culturally significant sites and attractions, low cost of doing business, a liberalised economy, a pro-business government (regardless of political differences and shifts in leadership) and a fundamentally sound economy which is capable of sustained growth. ASEAN will remove barriers in terms of cultural integration, but it’s important that Thailand is able to retain its intrinsic “Thai-ness” for both business and leisure travellers to the country.

 

For Thailand, what are the country’s strengths and weaknesses in the 11-country ASEAN grouping, generally?

Strengths

A famously service-minded culture

A strong reputation of being able to take care of international and regional visitors

A visitor experience that is exotic, welcoming, relaxing and fun.

Great value with excellent return on investment

An already liberalised trade economy

A pro-business government

Continued investment in infrastructure projects

Unique blend of traditional and modern elements that have become synonymous with the country

A quintessentially Thai experience which guests to the country expect and enjoy

 

Weaknesses

Poor reputation for hygiene, cleanliness, health and safety,

Lack of knowledge and quality of training of staff in certain sectors

Prices have become subject to recent inflationary pressures

A lack of a baseline standard across many professional industries

Unstable and unpredictable political environment

Widespread corruption at ministerial, devolved regional and independent policing tiers

Saturated retail and leisure markets

Increasingly sophisticated demands of customers

 

What measures should industries be taking universally in preparation for AEC?

All organisations at various levels have to join together to improve and leverage the standard of their industry in Thailand to maintain the country’s market position and cultural integrity. New innovative developments in terms of products and services should help to evolve the industry as Thailand remains a forward-looking environment for business. Development of facilities and infrastructure (again, with a universal standard) will support future growth. Thailand is able to leverage its international reputation for service regardless of the sector being considered. The country will need to maintain a strong government that is pro-business and pro-investment in order to support this objective. Centralised business operations (in Thailand or overseas) and control of licensing and franchising will help to evolve an international standard domestically, which positions the country to be most effective post-integration. The country needs to implement effective monitoring of hygiene, sanitation, cleanliness and the development of personnel across a variety of public facing sectors.

Whilst it is impossible for a single organisation to fully spearhead these widespread initiatives, companies should be looking at their own internal operations, structure, procedures and strategic planning and resources to be ready to exploit opportunities for growth, and mitigate any country-level perception threats.

 

Trade and Export

Thailand’s baseline growth has been enigmatic over the last fifteen years; economic crashes in Asia and Europe, political coups, widespread corruption, floods, issues with the Red Shirt political movement, turmoil in the far South of the country and recent bomb threats in the capital, yet still the economy grows. This is potentially the result of Thailand’s efforts towards becoming a more diversified economy, as it moves away from being simply a tourism hot-spot and exporter of rice. Thailand currently enjoys a strong global reputation in finance, manufacturing, produce & commodities, technology, healthcare, education, automobile manufacturing and software development – an excellent GDP mix that has managed to overcome myriad issues in the last two decades. This mix should mean that Thailand will not only prosper after integration, but be able to drive regional growth as both a thought leader and model for improving baseline revenue generation amidst its peers. However, several countries within the region are also enjoying strong growth levels, and from a lower base cost of production; ASEAN economic integration will provide a platform for the accelerated growth of competitors, which may or may not prove to be detrimental to Thailand’s own designs on a thrust towards sustained expansion.

 

Labour Market

One of the key benefits that integration has afforded to people within the EU is the unprecedented level of mobility it gives to those of working age. The common market has resulted in a highly reactive workforce which has little hesitation in relocating to find (or improve) their working life. It also raises issues in terms of uncapped immigration, as France, Germany and the UK have discovered to be detrimental in a number of ways. Inbound flow of skills and a readily-employed labour force is great for a growing GDP contribution, but teething troubles in the system’s checks and balances results in hundreds of thousands of people moving between borders, obviously having a considerable impact on citizens of a sovereign state. Once signed up, it is impossible for a member country to limit the number of immigrants from other member states, creating demands on housing, healthcare and policing resources. It also opens up a potential easy channel for “Brain Drain,” where the most educated members of society leave to pursue opportunities in regional competitor labour markets.

 

Travel, Tourism & Hospitality

An industry which is likely to see huge benefits (and challenges) after integration, the travel and tourism sector is on the front line of key changes through integration. It is easy to assume that with travel restrictions being reduced that inbound traveller numbers to Thailand will increase, but the sector needs to be aware that this increases the mobility of traditional domestic “staycation” markets. One effect of EU integration was a huge reduction in the cost of overseas holidays, which meant that it was often cheaper for holidaymakers to go for cheap overseas packages rather than taking holidays in other parts of their own country. This has an effect on the economy’s revenue-generating abilities at large. In terms of inbound numbers, there could be a profound effect on hospitality demand, but with Thailand already oversupplied with hotels, condos and resorts, the effect is yet to be fully understood. Most within the industry see ASEAN as a key game-changer for the next decade; although a need for increasing levels of competitiveness are necessary for Thailand to remain a regionally attractive destination over other exotic and new-to-market destinations like Laos and the Philippines. Thailand’s reputation for untrustworthy vendors, capitalising taxi and tuk tuk drivers, high visitor attraction costs for foreigners compared to Thais and other security concerns leave the sector exposed to “new neighbours” in many respects, and illustrative of a focused, industry-wide approach being conducive to domestic competitiveness.

 

Logistics

An early adopter of infrastructure-driven strategy for the benefit of capitalising on integrated cross-border activity, the logistics industry understands full well what integration will mean for this sector; reduced transportation costs, simplified documentation, improved integrated scanning and reading technology, cost sharing, hub sharing and expedited delivery times are all exciting benefits of integration. Areas including Laos and Myanmar remain a challenge, but the breaking down of (perceived and administrative) borders should help cross-border trade hugely. There is also the added benefit that extends beyond the logistic sector; that is, reduced costs mean higher volumes for importers and exporters, and in theory, a much larger volume of chargeable haulage for integrated logistics providers.

 

Education

Reduction in legislative barriers to students wishing to study in other countries within the community will likely have a similar affect to that seen within the EU. Effectively, a student may choose where to study, with a single pool of education (conceptually) open to all. There are limitations, of course. For example, a student from Laos may wish to study at a top ranked university in Singapore, although the cost may be prohibitive. The positive effect lies in the fact that after integration, all education centres may be judged from a common baseline; the hope is that this will give schools in countries where education is substandard more impetus to improve to at least meet a regional average. There is also the possibility that a liberalised South-east Asia will be capable of attracting a greater number of high-calibre students from Europe and America.

 

Food & Beverage

Asia has for many years enjoyed something of an integrated single market in terms of F&B import and export. A quick walk around a mall in Thailand will reveal huge cross-over in the restaurant market with Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese food popular with many Thais. Thailand also enjoys a strong export market, with a low cost base being a positive contributor towards healthy levels of outbound canned and bottled goods trades. Integration may possibly mean that more cross-over products becoming available in all member countries, with Laos and Myanmar representing potential growth markets for exporters. Weak infrastructure has been a barrier to this flow so far, but reduction in legislative difficulties and duties should help promote two-way trade in this sector, and the opening up of a vast regional single market.

 

SWOT Capitalisation Case Study – The Retail Market

The Mall Group, a successful Thai-owned developer and manager of shopping malls, wants to enhance the skills of its employees and prepare all of its business units for the formation of the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015. It opened an Academy earlier this year at The Mall Ngam Wong Wan to train 1,000 managers on creativity and a wider business perspective with the ASEAN single market in mind.

“The Academy will provide knowledge to our mid-level executives , covering areas including general business, the ASEAN retail market, good preparation in response to market integration and dealing with the threat of growing competition from the AEC,” said Chairman Maytaprechakul, Senior Chief Marketing Officer.

The AEC is supposed to allow a wider flow of products, investments and skilled workers within the region, so when tourists visit any ASEAN country, they will expect to see similar products when they go shopping. The Mall has negotiated with brand owners of fashion products in other ASEAN countries to carry these items.

“Some fashion items available in Japan will have to be here as well. That’s why our people have to understand the trends and know the regional market,” he said. Staff language skills are also important to the firm. Therefore, a number of English-speaking sales staff will be available at Siam Paragon, Emporium and other branches of The Mall.

The company is excited about the AEC’s potential as there is huge purchasing power across the region, and Thailand is one of the most popular tourist destinations.

Thinking Very Visually

Jodie McGuiness is a freelance visual artist living in Leicestershire, UK. Her work has been the subject of a solo gallery exhibition in the city. Click here to read the full interview with Jodie McGuiness Visual Artist.

 

What made you decide to choose to get into this sort of career?

I started my design journey as a presentations/DTP (desk top publishing) operator for several of the top five blue chip companies in London. Although the pay was extremely good, I was not getting enough freedom to express my own creativity, so I started doing shift work as a freelance graphic designer. This allowed me to go back to college and study Graphic Design and Illustration in more depth, and push my own creativity.

After I completed the course, I went on to study Interior Design at Greenwich College, and then on to an interior design degree at London Metropolitan University. After a year, I realised I wanted to work for myself as a visual artist, and needed to find a course that combined design skills with business management skills, hence graduating 2009 from DMU with Design Management & Innovation degree.

Do you have a standard day or a standard type of `exercise’?

I tend to start my day by looking for inspiration and keeping up with art and design trends on the web. I have many great sites and artists bookmarked. It is also important to stay connected with like-minded people; I cannot stress enough how important it is to see what’s going on out there, see what other people are doing, what you like and what you don’t like and always question, “why”? This is one of the key ways to ensure your own work has originality, and subconsciously it helps to create your own unique style.

I tend then to check emails and get any of the business things done next, so I can have the rest of my day free to switch over to the creative side, although I do tend to be more creative late at night and in the early hours of the morning; I find my music combined with the tranquillity of this time of day helps me to become totally absorbed in what I’m doing with no distractions at all.

If I am working on a design project for a client, that is a completely different process. I listen to what the client wants, but more importantly, you have to become skilled in picking up what they are not saying. Half the time, clients naturally go for their own personal visual preferences, i.e. what colours they like, whether they like modern or traditional design and so on. As a designer, your job is to research what’s already been done, and most importantly, research the target audience of whom the design is aimed at. You have to have confidence in the route your design takes, and have great communication skills in order to sell it to your clients effectively.

What is the most common type of problem/call-out/enquiry you must attend to?

I would say the most common type of problem is clients wanting a ‘little logo’ design. A logo is the only visual identity customers have to relate to a company. A logo design is never a ‘little’ job – it takes a lot of research, analysis and time to effectively communicate a company’s brand values all in one design. My advice is to educate your client to understand the importance of their logo. My second tip would be to ensure your fee reflects the time, effort and research you carry out on such a project. There is huge difference between a good designer and a bad one, and this always reveals itself in the finished design.

What do you like most about the job?

Being able to constantly switch between designer mode and artist mode. Although both creative, as a designer I work to a brief given by the client, but as an artist I have complete freedom to push my own creativity with no boundaries. It comes more from my heart and soul, and so far, people seem to like and appreciate my art.

What do you like least about the job?

The inconsistency can be a bit scary at times. Sometimes I have a few projects on the go, but at other times it could be quiet for a month or two. But I use this time as an opportunity to devote solely to my artwork, and networking for new customers and contacts. I have been fortunate enough sto be able to juggle finances until the next project comes along. If security, consistency and stability are top priorities for you, than maybe this is not the best route for you to take.

What are the key responsibilities?

Being a freelance designer means you are also you own marketing manager, accountant, sales person and administrator; you are solely responsible for your own success. Most creative people (myself included) wish they had someone to do all these jobs for them, so even more time could be ‘creative’ time. Good art and design can never be completed in a hurry or with little thought. Personally, procrastination is part of my creative thought process.

What about academic requirements? Any formal demands, eg- A Levels?

Start with foundation courses or access courses in design, photography, illustration, etc. The more creative you can be, the more chance you will have to develop your own creativity with confidence and style. Having said that, I also believe that you do not necessarily have to have formal qualifications to be a great artist; you may just have a natural flair. Put your work out there and see what people think of it. This may help you decide whether you need formal training or not, although it certainly helped me.

What is the starting salary and how does this increase over time with promotion?

If you worked as a junior designer for a SME, then the salary starts at around £15,000 – £17,000. Mid-weight designers range from £22-£25k, whilst senior designers can earn £30-40k. Many senior designers can progress on to become studio managers or art directors, and the salaries dramatically increase. Although the more traditional ‘graphic designer’ route is hugely competitive, it can be very prosperous for those who have drive, flair and ambition. This is specific to those people who want to work for companies full-time; being a self-employed freelancer is a different matter entirely. As a new artist, I have had a 2-week-long, solo exhibition in the UK, and successfully sold some of my artwork, which obviously helps. I would not recommend choosing becoming a freelance artist as a full-time career choice unless you have financial support from family, or have other means of income you can fall back on.

 

What are the most important qualities an applicant must should possess?

The ability to be able to spend a large amount of time working alone, but also to possess good communication skills, as you need to justify your designs and present them to clients. Good negotiation skills for clients and printers alike are also required. Be open to constructive criticism, and enjoy being a problem-solver by coming up with great solutions. You are literally showing people the contents of your mind and imagination, which sometimes makes you feel vulnerable, so be confident with what you produce, and don’t be over-sensitive about other people’s opinions. Above all, you have to have a passion for what you do, as this certainly shows in the work you produce. Good Luck.

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Defining Independent Film Production

Daniel Hughes is a freelance camera operator, and runs his own media production company from his base in Leicestershire. Please click here to read the full interview with Daniel Hughes Documentary/Film maker.

 

 

What made you decide to choose to get into this sort of career?

From an early age, I have been fascinated with ‘how it’s done’ in film and television. I was initially inspired by greats like Steven Spielberg, Tim Burton and Francis Ford Coppola, and blockbusting Hollywood movies such as Jurassic Park and Jaws gave me the ‘wow factor’. I thought, ‘I want to do that!’ Every time I went to the cinema there was an excitement, a feeling of disengagement from the real world. I wanted to be able to be creative (in whatever context) and at the same time earn a living from it!

 

Do you have a standard day or a standard type of project

I tend to plan my professional life on a weekly basis, so I usually know what the week has in store for me. My main bread-and-butter is corporate and commercial projects. However, my passion is independent film. Perhaps the most rewarding of all the local projects are the ones where I am working closely with charities.

 

What is the most common type of project for which you receive enquiries?

This can be very sporadic but my main line of enquiry is a lot of web-based film, wedding videography, charity or community based projects, as well as being commissioned as a camera operator or Director of Photography on freelance broadcast and corporate projects.

 

What do you like most about the job?

It is most rewarding as an artist to see one’s work broadcast, or screened at a film festival, however big or small! One of the main reasons I wanted to become a film director was because film making is a very subtle way of expressing emotion towards a subject, in whatever form. A piece of independent film is a way to create empathy with an audience.

 

What do you like least about the job?

It is often frustrating when I have an independent piece that is ready to shoot but I have difficulty finding a financier; the passion is there, but unfortunately the finances aren’t always!

 

 

What are the key responsibilities?

My role as a film maker is really quite simple, and that is to deliver a finished film that is of an exceptionally high standard. From beginning to end, I strive to nurture a project and collaborate with a team of creative professionals who all play a part in producing the completed piece. Independent roles are mostly outsourced, but as the film maker, it is my responsibility to pull it all together.

 

What about academic requirements? Any formal demands, for example, HND qualification?

I am currently qualified to HND level, but I personally believe that education is only the very first stepping stone. If you study in an environment that is very generic or overly formal, it can sometimes limit artistic development. A course needs mentors that engage with the students, giving them direction and developing their technical and artistic abilities. ‘Media Studies’ has for some time now been seen to be an easy option for youngsters leaving school, but I can honestly say that when I left school, I went into Further Education for all the right reasons!

 

Do you plan on going back to college?

Yes it is my intention to return to education in the next 2 years, hopefully to a film school in London. I hope to further develop my technical portfolio by gaining a better understanding of 35mm film. It takes time to learn this medium, but it represents the high-end of media production.

 

What about salaries in the industry – would you say it’s a well paid profession?

There is often the misapprehension that if you work in television, film or media that you are highly paid! Working in film and television can be ultimately rewarding financially, but there are often dry periods between shoots where there is virtually no work at all.

 

 

How far is it possible to progress within this career?

This is entirely dependent on whichever direction one chooses to go. As a camera operator, the next rung of the production ladder would be Producer or eventually even a film consultant. There are many paths and no proven, fool-proof route. But personally, I like working amongst a busy production team; it’s great when a team gels, and shooting flows so well!

 

If you left this profession, what else would you consider doing?

Film is something that has been a massive part of my life and has in many ways shaped me as a person. I would find it rather difficult to have a totally clean break from film making. Photography is another passion of mine, so I would probably consider taking this direction.

 

What advice do you have for someone who is looking to get into this as a career?

Simply keep at it, work hard, build a good portfolio and get to as many film festivals as possible as they have great networking opportunities. Get your work out there, and if it’s any good it needs to be seen. It is equally important to see film, seek inspiration and find a style or genre you like. The film and television industry has always been very competitive, but I personally believe that with the seemingly endless digital TV channels coming on line, a career in film is becoming easier to reach.

 

http://www.danielghughes.com/

Lie Back and Take Control

Alix Needham is a well-known and fully qualified hypnotherapy practitioner based in London, with a popular practice close to Regents Park. Click here to read the full interview with Alix Needham Hypnotherapist.

 

 

What made you decide or choose to get into this sort of career?

My first career was as a Physical Education teacher, and I had attended numerous courses on improving performance psychologically. This led to an interest in hypnotherapy in order to change pupil’s attitudes and get better results.

 

Do you have a standard day or a standard type of `exercise’?

As my own boss, my days are flexible and designed to suit the needs of myself and my clients. My mornings are usually spent on administrative tasks such as marketing. Afternoons and evenings are usually reserved for hypnotherapy client work.

 

What is the most common type of problem/call-out/enquiry to which you must attend?

The most common problems I try and deal with currently seem to be anxiety in its many forms. I specialise in shyness, blushing, self confidence and public speaking. A lot of people find the last one particularly difficult, especially business people who are trying to fast-track their careers and take on additional responsibilities with their employer. Also, many clients want help with hypnosis for weight loss and giving up smoking. This last one is a particularly well known application of hypnotherapy.

 

 

What do you like most about the job?

Being able to help people who are stuck or in conflict to move forward, and make changes in their life to improve their life quality. I enjoy seeing results in a short period of time. Also, being my own boss and being in control of my own business are two very large positives for me.

 

What do you like least about the job?

Sometimes it can be emotionally draining, in the respect of having to deal with people’s complex, deep-seated emotional problems. This is both the positive and the negative element of the work.

 

What are the key responsibilities?

From a business perspective, making sure I have a regular client base who are happy with my work, and who recommend me to other people. The main tasks are in marketing, advertising, self-promotion, and crucially, liaising with doctors and other health care professionals.

 

What about academic requirements?  Any formal demands, eg- A Levels?

Life experience is very important so that you understand the client’s problems. You do not need A-levels as such, but you need to find a reputable training course, which you can find through the National Council of Hypnotherapy in the first instance.

 

 

What is the starting salary, and how does this increase over time with promotion?

This varies a great deal on experience and length of time in practise. Also, your own marketing skills and how much competition there is in your area are key factors. When you start out, you may need to supplement your income with a part time job until you gain a satisfactory supply of clients.

 

What advice do you have for someone who is looking to get into this as a career?

Before you decide to train as a hypnotherapist, make sure you are very self-motivated. Also, that you are able to work on your own. In many areas, there is a lot of competition, so a good network of influential people would help to get referrals. Also, good marketing and public relations skills are very helpful as you build up your client base.

 

What are the most important qualities an applicant must and should possess?

A good understanding and interest in people. Self-motivation is necessary in order to build your business. Good organisation and communication skills. Empathy, life experience, flexible attitude, and the candidate must be confident and self-assured. Self knowledge and wisdom are all-important.

 

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Brand Xanny

 

Xanny Disjad was on time for our appointment. That sounds like something of an unremarkable opener, but this being Thailand, and this also being a glamour interview, I should tell you that this never happens. It was my first indicator that this bright light of the happening Thai fashion-and-furore arena knows how to do things differently to the rest (to read an entirely different take on a career in modelling, please click here!)

We met up at the Skytrain station in Asok. My haphazard knowledge of this busy expat area of Bangkok began searching frantically for recall of a suitably-imposing five-star hotel lobby.

“We could head for the Grand Millennium”, I suggested. “That should be pretty quiet. Or the Westin Grand Sukhumvit?” This was the best my pollution-addled brain could manage on short notice. It was hot, too. “No, it’s okay,” she replied, “there’s a Macdonalds just here!”

It quickly dawned on me what an incredibly grounded person I was meeting. Subconsciously, your mind recollects the photos and remembers the famous pout, the attitude and the hardcore sexy cool; and so you naturally assume that any kind of appointment will be an exercise in prima-donna pretension. Yet, when I finally got to meet the young star, I was overwhelmed by what a refreshingly simple experience it would turn out to be.

In truth, I was anxious to just go anywhere, as we are attracting quite a crowd by now. This in itself is no mean feat, in an area of the city where even the men dressed as women look incredibly hot.

The Xanny Disjad marque has now gone truly global. The petite and exotic lady from the Southern province has taken Bangkok head-on and lived to tell the story. Such is the success of the Xanny enterprise, her Facebook fan pages now sports some 25,000 members, and this year, her first stateside shooting schedule beckons.

“I came to Bangkok looking to get away from the provincial troubles,” she explains, “and I began searching for modelling work later on. I found the cost of living was more expensive in Bangkok than in the South, plus the pace of everything; I hated it to begin with, but now I adore it.”

 

 

“I’ve always been very independent, but I have a personal manager to help me out now. I used to spend a lot of time at home, but these days I seem to always be going from one meeting to another. The process is very easy; the client likes me and then organises a meet with me directly.”

For those unacquainted with the Disjad brand, Xanny is the family-orientated entrepreneur from Narathiwat Province, and runs her modelling business mainly by herself.

She told me, “Work is so crazy; I need some full-time help this year. But my business is close to my heart, so it’s difficult to hand over the reigns to anyone else. I usually do my own make-up too, because I know exactly what I want, and I know how to give the client a shoot that will work for them. I also need it to be fun, or there is no point.”

“Before the project starts,” she continues, “I will always meet with the hiring agent and the photographer over a few drinks. I need that intimacy to be able to work to the camera properly.”

I offer her some of my Big Mac, noting that she has not ordered. “I’m lucky that I’m not a fast-food person!” she laughs. “I love fish, salad and Thai vegetables. I can handle extra-hot Thai food, so I don’t really watch what I eat in that respect. I can cook many Thai dishes; I used to spend time in the kitchen with my Grandmother when I was six years old, so I learnt from her.”

It does not take long to realise Xanny has an appreciably open outlook which she tends to apply to everything, from fashion, food, travel and relaxation. She told me, “I’ve just got back from Hong Kong, although it was for vacation not work. I enjoy the shopping there; it can be cheaper than Bangkok for some things. I like Singapore too. I’ve been there a few times. I like the clean air and the city planning; it’s like England! I love the organisation of everything. Some people find it off-putting, but I really enjoy it; it’s so different to here! I miss Bangkok when I leave though; you become addicted to the madness of it all.”

“I’ve been to Kuala Lumpur too. I love Malaysian food. Because I come from the South, it’s quite similar in style to Southern Thai food. I need to spend more time there, to get to know the people and to understand the city.”

“Next year, my big plan is to go to America; Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, maybe. I’m hoping to find some long-term project work. I’ve never been, but I’m prepared for it to be a crazy experience. I want to travel more too, so I’ve set aside a month just to do that next year.”

“You’re gonna hate Los Angeles,” I tell her. “It’s horrible.” Xanny replied, “That’s okay. I just have a hunger to experience anything new. There’s opportunity everywhere. In five years time, I will still be in Thailand, but I hope to travel more. My life is complex; I just need to find a way to accommodate it all! It excites me that when I look at what I’m doing; the Xanny brand is International. It makes me really happy.”

Business is good for Thailand’s number one glamour export. Xanny’s diary is so full-on right now, it seemed almost pointless asking about her favourite type of shoot, but I elected to anyway. “Anything glamour,” she replied. “Anything where the client goes away thinking that they got what they were looking for in terms of the shoot concept.”

 

 

This accommodating attitude is probably the reason why she’s being approached for TV work. But Xanny is businesswoman before anything else, and she is prepared to take things day by day. It is a lesson her peers often seem unable to grasp.

This self-motivated professional life does not appear to leave any time for personal relationships; “I’m single!” she declares. “I’m very into business and knowing what I’m focused on, but I still haven’t met any guy that understands my lifestyle! I need someone who can chill with me and accept my busy life, as I can’t be with my man all the time. I have to manage work, family, time for myself, friends, socialising, so . . . not yet!”

I stop my MP3 recorder for a moment because my french fries are getting cold. Chatting to Xanny is a very interactive experience; she is as interested in my Bangkok story as I am quizzical about her life. As a part-time freelancer myself, I’m particularly interested to know how she picks up on new work.

“I use a web site called Model Mayhem. This site is terrific because it connects everyone in the industry; models, photographers, make-up artists and clients. It works internationally too, as hiring agents who are coming to Thailand for a short period of time can look on there and do a local search. Model Mayhem is great when I go overseas too, because I can let people know where I’m going, and they can get in touch if they wish to book me while I’m there.”

“I used to spend a great deal of time on Facebook, like ten hours a day. It’s not all social though; I use it primarily for work. I’ve picked up jobs directly from there, and I have several fan pages which I administer myself. “

I notice Xanny constantly refers to herself as “the brand”, and I also note she refers to her Facebook fans as friends. She elaborates, “My personality is important, and the way I am looked upon, which includes the way I interact with people on social networking sites. I’m friendly, and I try to reply to people who take the time to contact me. It’s a bitchy industry at times, and I work hard at not being like that. For example, I never use bad language on Facebook, because it’s important that people perceive me in a certain way.”

This warm, self-motivated world view permeates every aspect of Xanny’s operation, even down to the complexities of the working day itself. She says, “If it’s just in Bangkok, I always get myself to the shoot. I can do my own hair and make-up, and I have regular photographers that I use. Many are international though, so we have to hook up each other’s diaries! I love to work with the same people, but if I’m working with a new photographer, we will have the same attitude; “let’s get this moving, let’s make it fun.” This is the kind of person I need to be working with. Sometimes, I will see locations that I would like to shoot in, and occasionally, we even shoot on the roof of my condo!”

“If I was not modelling, I would still be doing something in media. I’ve done some presenting for public relations clients, but singing is my biggest love, and has been for as long as I can remember. I will do this full-on one day, definitely! I would not give up modelling; I can fit the two together. I don’t like any full-time thing that keeps me fixed to one place. I love the flexibility of my work, so I would consider anything that can slot into my life in this way.”

At the reasonably tender age of 24, I wondered if Xanny had any advice for young girls looking to get started in glamour modelling. She said, “Model Mayhem is the first step for a new model, and it supports your career as you develop. It’s the premier modelling site in the world.” She jokes, “Maybe if I keep plugging them, I can be their international face! But seriously, in a few years, I will eventually open my own modelling agency. That would be something close to my heart, personally.”

 

 

Pitfalls? “I sometimes have guys hitting on me. I guess this is to be expected in this business! Funnily enough, they are not usually photographers, but hiring agents!” Xanny takes a sip from her orange juice. “They are not interested in me particularly, they are just after anyone. It’s important that models new to the business understand this is a big risk; new entrants are easily exploited, so it’s quite a dangerous job in that respect. You do meet a few bad guys, but generally speaking, at this level, everyone is very professional, very proper.”

I’ve noticed that our section of the restaurant seems to have become very popular; the Sukhumvit road end is virtually empty. I swear the guy behind me is recording us on his iPhone.

“There are other threats to your business also. For example, I find my picture in many magazines without my permission. It’s difficult to personally police all this!”

This is probably the only time I’ve ever had an exciting meal in Macdonalds.

I thank Xanny Disjad for her time, and tell her that I probably have enough material now for three back-to-back specials, to which she replies, “You’re sure?! Ha! Email me if you’ve forgotten anything, or just give me a call.”

Might just do that.

 

Xanny invites you to join her at her exclusive Xanny Disjad web site

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2011 in review

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 1,300 times in 2011. If it were a cable car, it would take about 22 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

Heavenly Images from Phuket King’s Cup Regatta

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

© 2011. Photos by Dave Swinfen.  start@catalina.me.uk

Reproduction or distribution prohibited without consent.

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Opening Ceremony Hoists the Flags on Five Days of World Class Racing for Quarter Centenary Regatta

 

The 25^th Phuket King’s Cup Regatta has attracted a record fleet of vessels, including 90 keelboats and multihulls, 38 dinghies, and 19 Kiteboards. This is the largest combined fleet to set sail since the prestigious event began.

Every year, Asia’s most famous Regatta attracts competing vessels and their crews from every corner of the globe. For 2011, the event has enjoyed increased levels of participation of sailors from Thailand, China, Russia, Singapore, Australia and the United Kingdom. The crews race over five days across nine classes; IRC 0, IRC1, IRC2, Premier, Bareboat Charter, Cruising Class, Modern Classic, Firefly 850 Sports, Multihull, all challenging for their respective classification honours off Kata Beach, Phuket.

The first Phuket King’s Cup took place in 1987 to mark the 60th birthday of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyedej, and the Regatta has been held in the first week of December ever since. This is the 25^th Anniversary of the classic boating spectacle, and this particular year marks His Majesty the King’s 84^th Birthday.

This year, the event welcomes the magnificent Swan 82 from China, Chao Ren Plus One, skippered by Wang Bin, who is competing with two more Swans in the Premier Class – Silandra V, captained by Riccardo Denoni, and Titania of Cowes crewed by a team from the Royal Thames Yacht Club. Frank Pong’s Custom Jelik II racer from China will be trying to fend off tight competition from regatta regulars Team Premier, FreeFire and HI FI in IRC Zero Class.

Thailand’s proud sailing history is represented with a strong showing of Thai sailors and crew, including popular IRC winners, the Royal Thai Navy. The Regatta opened on Sunday with an official Opening Ceremony, presided over by President of the Organising Committee, Kevin Whitcraft, who welcomed representatives from Phuket Province, Yacht Racing Association of Thailand (YRAT), the Third Fleet of the Royal Thai Navy, sponsors, and participants. The joint ringing of the ship’s bell and hoisting of the Flags at Kata Beach Resort & Spa formerly signalled the commencement of the evening’s party, and five subsequent days of world-class racing.

 

 

Kevin Whitcraft, President of the Organising Committee, said, “25 years of hosting the Regatta is a big honour for us. Over the years, we’ve enjoyed strong support from volunteers and sponsors which allows us to run as non-profit. I’m very grateful for the diligence of past committees and organisers who have successfully grown the event. We now want the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta to be the primary focus for the yachting industry in Asia. Part of our role is to support and grow sailing in Thailand, and you can only do that by introducing young people. In the future, we will be driving and expanding the dinghy class because we received strong interest this year from nations that we could not accommodate. Thailand can be particularly proud of its performance in Optimist; Noppakao Poonpat is the girls’ World Champion, and the Thai team is World Champion in Optimist. We are also the first regatta in the world to give Kiteboarding its own class. I would like to thank all of the sponsors who really supported us and allowed us to deliver this year’s programme.”

Sponsors of the 2011 Phuket King’s Cup Regatta include Kata Group Resorts Thailand, PTT Group, Siam Winery, Singha Corporation, AIA Thailand, PTT Global Chemical, PTTEP, Thai Oil, Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket, Boathouse and Sunsail. Media Partners include 91.5FM, Helm Superyacht Asia Pacific, The Nation, Phuket Best Group, Phuket Gazette, Phuket Magazine, Sail-World.com, SEA Yachting and YachtStyle Asia.

 

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Take a Seat. I’ll Make You a Star.

 

 

Annie Rowe is an emerging freelance casting director with a passion for promoting and championing actors via groundbreaking new writing. She trained as an actress at The National Youth Theatre and RADA before becoming a freelance casting assistant in 2007. To read the full interview with Annie Rowe Casting Director, please click here.

 

What made you decide or choose to get into this sort of career?

I trained as an actress at The National Youth Theatre and RADA before embarking on a career in casting six years later. I fell into casting purely by accident, and loved it straight away. All the skills I learned from drama school and after training are now being utilised in a different capacity, and the insight I gained into the profession (having been an actress) has been an invaluable asset to my process and approach to casting.

 

Do you have a standard day or a standard type of `exercise’?

Yes. I go to the theatre at least four times a week, so I have to do quite a lot of diary management. And if an actor has invited me to a show and I can’t make it, I always endeavour to drop them a line.

 

What is the most common type of problem/call-out/enquiry to which you must attend?

Non applicable really, as every project is different.

 

What do you like most about the job?

Its diversity. I might be looking for tap dancing seven-year-olds for a corporate film one day and a hard-looking football manager for a gritty new play the next. This scope and range keeps your eyes and ears open to all kinds of talent, and I’m constantly refreshing and updating my internal roller index of names and faces.

 

 

What do you like least about the job?

It takes a long time before you can make a proper living out of casting. You have to really stick at it and plough on; it’s very tough!

 

What is the starting salary, and how does this increase over time with promotion?

I started as an assistant on £10 per hour but when I branched out and began casting independently, I worked for free for the first year. In order to get your foot through the door, you have to be prepared to put in a lot of time, passion, energy and hard graft in return for very limited remuneration.

 

What advice do you have for someone who is looking to get into this as a career?

For starters, buy the latest copy of Contacts. It is a very useful industry directory that is updated every year and can be purchased from Spotlight or Waterstones. And you should also be aware of the perks; agents will take you to the theatre and to Press Nights and after show parties, actors will offer you complimentary tickets to see them perform in shows, and occasionally, you may get invitations to film and television screenings. If you can manage the administrative as well as the creative aspects of the job, casting can be an incredibly inspiring, fulfilling and rewarding career.

 

Any closing questions, comments or additional advice?

It is important for any prospective assistant to know that casting is not just ‘choosing leading actors’. Although many producers, directors and agents are delightful and a pleasure to work with, at times you may have to handle difficult situations and sometimes nervous, ill-informed or frustrated people with honesty, knowledge and charm. It requires much more than a ‘good eye’ to get the balance of casting right; gaining the agents’ trust, understanding how contracts work and knowing the right actors for the smaller as well as the leading parts is integral to the job. All this requires huge experience which can only be gained over time.

 

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Our Pleasure, Our Responsibility

 

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Environmentally Friendly and Green Automotive Technology

It was a vast blanket of ice. A sweeping, crystalline vista of blues and whites. The night sky was as clear as spring water, because in an Arctic summer it never gets dark. A blanket of stars spattered the unending panorama above, and the plains were alive with noise as the unrelenting crosswind attacked the icy surface without remorse. At the far reach of the snow field, a ridge had opened up along the mountainside like a seismic chasm. The large cave, rendered of stalactite and meandering sharp teeth split the starlight to their touch, and spilled it as amethyst fallout upon the cold rocks below. I watched as the polar bear walked with her cub. The star pattern overhead was Ursa Minor, known also as The Little Bear.

At the time, I thought that it was simply a nature documentary. Thinking back six years, I would never have thought that such a scene, inherently bereft of mankind’s intrusion and discolouration, would inadvertently depict such a convenient microcosm for public debate.

We marvel at glittering untouched landscapes on The Discovery Channel, but then we go out and forget to switch off the television. We head to the shops and bask comfortably in the warm glow of our own magnificence as we buy Fair Trade coffee, before driving home in a four-litre SUV.

Yet we have become accustomed to remaining cynical towards the use of environmental awareness by marketers in advertisements. Green methodology has replaced Blue Sky thinking. At times, we could be forgiven for believing that “environmental awareness” was merely a convenient means for brand managers to sell us things we don’t need. Even some independent studies have suggested that mankind’s total contribution to global Co2 output is marginal at most. Yet even if our slice of the toxic pie is to be merely a sliver, the responsibility for it still falls firmly upon our toes.

Some also fear that the green evolution of our technologies will eventually see off the pleasure in using them. There is perhaps a predetermined chauvinism within us that tells us that an economical car cannot be powerful, or that a car body shaped by logic cannot be beautiful. Sometimes new thinking is met with resistance. Many people agree that wind farms are a good idea, but no one wants to live next to one. Most people would coalesce that recycling is important, but organising one’s rubbish into various material types is a pain. When mankind crashes through barriers, we do so slowly and painfully, but in an unrelenting manner.

The automotive industry has had to face these changes too. The challenge comes not through people’s lack of understanding of green issues, but through buyer empathy. Car buyers, who for years have been told that outright performance or practicality is essential, now need to be convinced that reducing Co2 is the paramount purchase driver. Sometimes is can make the mind muddle. Yet one thing we can all understand is the rising price of fuel. As the cost per mile increases, so too does our interest in driving a vehicle which is economical. The more kilometres an engine can eke from each litre of fuel, the more real-world application and appeal it has.

 

 

But what of the future? How are we to decide which fuel to opt for in our next car? We are told that Bio-fuel will both save and endanger our planet. What is gained in relief upon the world’s oil reserves is apparently lost in the vast amount of food crop that would need to be processed in order to supply the world with Bio-fuel. It is said also to be the same story with electric power. Electric cars have no Co2 output, but then how do people think electricity is made?

Just a few years ago, people didn’t care about greenhouse emissions and were simultaneously criminalised for not doing so too. It was around this time I went to the cinema to watch Roland Emerich’s movie, The Day After Tomorrow. Perhaps the bewildering world of automotive engineering has reached what climatologist Jack Hall referred to in this prophetic global disaster movie as the “critical desalinization point”. Buyers know that it will not always be petrol that powers their daily transport. Crucially, they have also realised that this decision-making moment is now imminent.

For those of us who have a deep love for driving in its most pure form, it is an unsettling time. Although the most avid petrol-head would concede that something must be done about depleting ozone and melting ice caps, it becomes something of a different matter when he or she is asked to part with their beloved V8. Yet even America, that last impenetrable bastion of conspicuous consumption has finally started to yield, and a new mindset has descended slowly. Hybrid technology does not mean the end of powerful engines with a voice of tenor. Electric power is no longer a definite precursor to slow travel, or even a lack of driving fun.

The difficulty now arises from knowing which pony to back.

Hybrid power offers a means of drawing better economy from a traditional petrol engine. This is of course not a new idea. Porsche showed an early example of this blending of power sources at the 1900 Paris Motor Show, but it was not until 1997 and the launch of Toyota’s Prius that worldwide use grew substantially. Popular demand for large SUVs such as the Chevy Tahoe has led to hybrid drive being used in all manner of bigger 4x4s and luxury cars. The manufacture of hybrid motors requires the use of what is known as a rare earth element; the wonderfully futuristic-sounding Dysprosium, which is in short supply. Hybrid drive then is not the future, or it certainly will not be in any long-term sense. Think of it as merely a stop-gap, an intelligent way of lowering a vehicle’s fuel consumption until we as a planet can agree on something more concrete for a way of powering the cars of the future.

Continuing on, the next step of course would be for a Full Electric Vehicle. Ever since the Sinclair C5, we have been conditioned to be sceptical about such a car, believing in most circumstances that it is a method of transportation only slightly preferable to walking. The first of the breed that saw any real global acceptance was the REVAi. This in itself has presented traditional car buyers with their most insurmountable electric hurdles; it has limited range, limited performance and the charging cycle can be considerable. Yet it also proved that the technology was ready for mass production, and that people were prepared to buy it.

 

 

2009′s IAA Frankfurt Motor Show was a brightly-lit showcase for electric vehicles in all their iterations. The many hybrid-drive cars on display all had list prices; they were cars that could be ordered at the show, and be on the owner’s drive within weeks. The Full Electric cars, however, were concepts. They were working prototypes largely, but concepts nonetheless. History has taught us that motor show concepts rarely translate to production, yet the sense when wandering the halls at Frankfurt was that the futuristic EVs were being pushed towards production-feasibility as soon as possible. It seems that the world is now waiting with open arms rather than scepticism.

So where does this leave hydrogen fuel cells? The promise of emission-free motoring, big torque and quiet operation would appear to tick all of the boxes. In fact, the only concern that volunteers for General Motors’ “Project Driveway” (a long-term test of hydrogen-powered cars by 80,000 users in North America) had was that they expected the car to be in some way bizarre or impractical. The fuel-cell-quipped Equinox though turned out to be perfectly usable day-to-day.

Fuel cells operate by producing electricity from a fuel, in this case hydrogen. The fuel is passed to the anode, and oxygen is fed to the cathode, and the reaction between the two separates the electrons from the existent protons by way of catalysis. The resulting current is then fed to a circuit. Unlike a conventional battery, it is dependent on a constant supply of external fuel, but it is a true low-emission process when compared to the combustion of petrol.

The main issue which currently prevents all of us from driving a hydrogen-powered car is the lack of an infrastructure. This is to be expected, and the same problem had to be overcome when petrol-engined motor cars were first introduced.

The truth is that there is likely to be a huge worldwide demand for hydrogen fuel cell cars. They lack the compromise of hybrids or Bio-fuel and are bereft of the flaws inherent with Full Electric vehicles. Where fuel cell technology will really deliver, however, is in the fact that it is able to offer a familiar driving experience, albeit through a wonderfully futuristic power train. Buyers are reluctant to abandon an acquainted technology in favour of an untested alternative, but fuel cells overcome this reluctance and replace it with the fervour of what was previously unimaginable.

So what does the future hold? Perhaps we will one day look at motoring as we do today with our mobile phones; a pay-as-you-go utility which exists to serve a purpose. It is entirely feasible that we will eventually be able to buy cars with interchangeable battery packs. Drivers would simply visit supply stations where they would pay a fee and exchange their depleted battery for a full one. This would reduce the planetary burden on fossil fuels, offer great cost savings to motorists, and mean cars become scalable in common with improvements to gains in range and efficiency. This is not “pie in the sky”; it is merely a reasonable expectation based on the rate of current development.

The world will not change overnight. But it will need to change soon.

There is an expectation upon all of us to reconsider our ways and methods, but this upheaval need not be a painful one. Now that we as car buyers are being offered realistic solutions instead of just car-show fantasy, it is becoming easier for us to embrace these changes. We look to the near future with excitement and understanding. More importantly, we have our own say in the evolution of our planet, and our involvement is not only obligatory, but also welcome.