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Jen St. Jude, author of YA novel "If Tomorrow Doesn't Come," talks with Bren Coombs about the writing process, mental health, neurodivergence, Yellowjackets, apocalypses, fan fic, and more! This is a transcript of a live video interview between Gamut's Carol Velasquez & Bren Coombs and 'Long Live Love' Director Mook Bootprasert & Actor Becky Armstrong from July 2023. The full video interview can be found here. Carol: Thanks for joining us. Becky: Thanks for having us. Carol: If you were to describe the movie Long Live Love in three words without using "long" "live" "love," which words would you choose? Mook: Me first? Becky: Yeah! Mook: I think "relationships" "identity" and "chaos." Becky, Carol, Bren: Yes! Carol: I like that. Becky: Oh, my turn? "Broken relationship," "growing up," and "time." Bren: What initially grabbed your attention and drew you to want to work on this script? Mook: In the first part of my job, my part of work, I was interested in the double parts of the character, and when I had the opportunity to do the movie, I thought I wanted to develop the double character into something serious and not just comedy. That's why I had the lead role be two characters in one person and then I put the point about identity of human. I had a question, if I go back to see me in the past when I have no identity, when it's not the me of now in the present, I have the question: would I like to do like that at the time or not? Something like that. Do you understand? And then I got to develop that into building another character for [learning] the lessons by taking the pictures. That it's a family, he has a daughter, has a wife, and he goes back to the situtation and ask himself, "that's okay, this was good, t made sense for you or not." Carol: To sort of evaluate his life decisons, right? And the things he did in the past. Bren: What about you Becky? Becky: Whuu? Carol: What drew you to the part? Made you want to- Becky: Drew me to the part? I think it's a challening role. It's a different character to me. It's a whole differnte life vibe that I've probaly never experienced before. So it's quite challenging to go into Namo's life, learn about her, grow up with her and slowly understand about her. Carol: Because she's very different from you, right? Becky: Yes, yes. Very different. Flipped. Mook: Flipped! Bren: So building off of that, what were the unique challenges you faced working on the film? Mook: I think I [was] challenged about how [to show] two genres of the movie. It's a comedy and drama. I think it's hard for me and I don't believe it one genre now when I see the movie, and the more I see the movie, now I can say I think we can combine two genres, comedy and drama, and I needed the challenge to balance and hit the board to the audience. Carol: Yeah, okay. Bren: I mean it's prety heavy material, not to give spoilers,I'm not supposed to- there are definitely some moments that took me by surprise, so how did you keep the comedy during? Even in some of those intense moments, it was still funny. How do you keep that balance? Mook: Actually, even if you, it's not far too hard to see mood and tone like this in Thailand, I think. Thai culture always handles a problem with humor, a sense of humor. Yes, my uncle, my aunt, my friends, we always see the comedy in the tragedy, as always in Thai culture. Carol: What do you hope that audiences take away from Long Live Love? Mook: For me, I think about the two identities that I want to present. I think when you fight with someone, when you- Becky: Argue? Mook: Argue with another, with someone you love, sometimes if you have a step back, you see- Becky: The situation. Mook: Yes, from another perspective. Like another person, who is not you. Becky: Looking at it from a third-person point of view, you can see the situation in another light. Mook: Yes, I think that we can drop [it], we can not have a problem. Becky: I think it's the fact that when you view if from another [perspective], you might not, as you want to win always the situation, when you look at another view you might listen? down and start to understand the situation. Mook: Yes Carol: To understand the other person's point of view- Becky: Putting yourself in that person's shoes. Mook: Yes Bren: Mook, you said that you considered 100 actors for Becky's part, so what was that process like and then what about for the other actors? Did you see as many actors for those roles, as well? Mook: Actually, it's not about dialogue or something that she played, but it's inner, what's inside when she played on the casting, she used sound, a voice, something that's so monotone so it made me feel that, oh, this girl is so troubled. And her eyes, I feel like she can perform about inside that have a problem in me and I feel my friend Mr. P'Sunny in her. Yeah that changed my attitudes about this role, Namo, because at first I think that she is the daughter of Mommy. Becky: Mommy's Girl. Mook: Mommy's Girl, yes. But when she plays and I see my friend in her I think that is so good. Bren: You had mentioned in an interview that you originally saw Namo being a Mommy's Girl- Mook: I think that Becky has masculine in her, something when she played. I think she had masculine energy. Bren: And then how did you cast the cat? Mook: Oh, actually, he is the star at the Caturday Cafe in Bangkok. Yeah, he's a famous cat. Carol: Any funny stories about the cat or was he pretty well behaved? Mook: Oh, no, he's so professional and that's just a bit, two takes. Becky: Very professional, goes in, knows his job. Mook: Yeah, and no cut away. Carol: He seems very relaxed. Becky: Just one take? Mook: Just one take! He came but- Carol: Wow, that's impressive. Mook: Better than Namo! Better than Namo, Yeah, better than 'Mo. Carol: Wow. Mook: Yeah, better than Namo. Bren: The truth comes out! Mook: One take. One shot. Becky: Oh. Carol: How many takes for Namo? Mook: I'm so proud of her. I think that when she's on set with the adults, the actor adults. She's so good. She's also charming, but plays so good. But when she plays with the kids- Becky: Yeah, like my age. Mook: The teenagers. She's like uh, eh, uh. I think maybe she's so bad??? intention. Becky: I think I work extra hard when I know such thing. Mook: Yeah, that's why the father has many takes with the kids. Carol: Well, you're having fun, right? Becky: Yeah, I think because when I'm in a sceen with them, I'm having fun. But with the adults, it's like, going to set, play, leave. Carol: So there's a lot of interest from other countries in Love Live Love. Will it be available internationally? Or is there something that we can do, as fans, that we can do in our country, that we're not doing? Mook: Yes, it is. We are gonna plan about this. In the process of dealing and something maybe. But right now, I think Singapore, I can talk now, Singapore, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia. Carol: I would love to see it here on the big screen. Becky: Yeah. Mook: I hope so, too. Carol: Maybe we can just go to Thailand. Bren: Yeah, let's do it. Carol: Can you tease anything else that either of you two are working on at the moment? Becky: New project for me would be Uranus (Uranus 2324). Yes, that's the new project that'll be. I think the pilot will be coming out very very very soon. Yeah. That's all I can say, Uranus. Carol: Very very soon, okay. Bren: I saw something from IdolFactory. They tweeted something the other night at, like, I think it was 3 in the morning your time. About- Becky: Admin Bren: A different series popping up. Any- Becky: Ahh. Yes, there's plans to have more movies and series, so stay tuned. Carol: More movies and more series? Bren: Then multiple? Becky: Yeahhh, more movies and series. Carol: Oh, that's exciting. Bren: How did working on the film change your perspective on love? Becky: On love. Mmm, my perspective on love has always been just being with somebody who makes you feel good about yourself, want to see more. There's that cute tingling vibe. That's always been my perspective on love. After watching this, you see the end you have to choose, will you love again? Or do you leave? Eh. I think my answer would be very clear and I think everyone would know what I would pick, here, where I would say, I would leave. Because you see it's very toxic, From the mother's perspective, you've gone through a lot, from the daughter's perspective, you've gone through a lot, from the father's perspective, you've gone through a lot. So, I think it's enough. You can go to another country, start a new life and meet new people. That's what I would say. Bren: Well, it's self- love. Becky: Pardon? Bren: Self-love. Loving yourself. Becky: Yeah, self- love. You need to have. That's the most important thing, where you have to love yourself first. I always tell P'Mook, I want it to end like...without spoiling. Bren: I saw on Twitter you had said you didn't know what the ending was going to be before you watched it on the big screen so was it what you thought it was going to be or did it take you by surprise? Becky: Actually, no actor there knew the ending. It was like a piece of paper and it was like black, black, black. Everyone says it's like when copy has no ink, like black black black, you couldn't see the ending. So you would go through, we would film without knowing the ending and then, but P'Mook would come and ask us actors, being like, in your perspective, how would you like it to end? Like this or like that? And then we would give our perspectives. But, the ending is what I thought it would be. Mook: Yeahhh. Carol: Did you film multiple endings? Or... Becky: Yeah. Mook: Yeah, yeah. Becky: Yeah, we filmed the last day shooting. Carol: Ohh, do you think we'll see the other endings, like an alternate copy? Mook: Actually, I have a point because I don't want Sati and Meta to play like they decided, when they know in the end of the story, you know. Because they [would be] too confused and when they have romantic moments on set I want them to feel like they really are in love and not worry about if that is [going to] last in the end, what happened. Becky: Ah, because it could affect it in the end. Mook: Yes, I think it's when they play, because I think if they know in the end, maybe they have to- Becky: -hold back. Mook: Pull back and all that. Carol: It might change their- Mook: I have reason. Bren: I liked the ending as it was. I think I would have been upset if it had ended differently. Becky: Yeah, I like the ending, as well. Carol: What kinds of roles would you like to take on next, Becky? Becky: Next roles? Carol: What kind of roles do you think, you know, might challenge you as an actress or sometjing you would love to play. Becky: Yeah, I want to play action. Carol: Yes. I would love that. Becky: Use my boxing skills. Carol: Like shark dibing or a shark movie or something, maybe. Mook: You want to swim with the shark. Becky: Yeah, I think actually any opportunity that comes at me, either Thai, English, any language, I'm prepared to face any challenges and work up to that expectation that that director sets. Carol: I think it would be cool to see you play a villain. Becky: Yeah? A villain? Carol: Someone really evil. Bren: Slytherin Becky! Carol: Yeah, Slytherin Becky. I think that would be fun. Becky: Yeahhh, anything. Anything that comes at me. Bren: Are you auditioning for any English-speaking parts? Becky: Uh, there was something that came, but I can't say much about it until everything is finalized, but, yeah, when I'm able to say a little bit more I'll make sure to...without spoiling anything. Carol: That's interesting. Bren: When that, when you're able to share more about that, we'll have to have you back to talk more. Becky: Of course, thank you. Bren: So GAP was based on a book that already had an existing fandom, but nobody previously knew what Namo was like. So, for the two of you, how was it building a new character from scratch? Mook: We had a workshop, yes. We have a workshop class and we talked a lot about this character and [during] that time I wanted to blend, because Becky is so- Becky: Uh Mook: Beck is so... Becky: Um Mook: So, soft. Becky: Soft, polite. Mook: Soft and polite. And Namo is contrast with Becky. We had to workshop to push the pain to Becky, because her family is so good, yes, but so opposite in the script. Yes, we put the pain and we talk and we have a lesson about acting, like the need of closeness in the script when Namo has to wake up Dad in the morning to take her to school, but Dad is not waking up. Something like that. to push Rebecca to build her Namo character. Becky: Yeah, I remember the first workshop with P'Sunny, P'Mook, and Colom, make me pull P'Sunny to go to school and it had to be very comfortable. It had to be like it's something you would do everyday. It had to be believable to the audience that this a father and daughter relationship that is not going well. Mook: Yes, a long-time problem, we have to push the pain, something, in. Carol: Do you create playlists for your characters? Becky: Playlist? LIke music? Bren: Yeah, like to get in the mindset? Becky: Hmm. But I watched [a] movie. Mook: Yes. I gave her to see, Juno. Becky: Ah, that's what it's called. Carol: I like that you said that, because it reminds me a little bit of Juno and the way, the moodiness. Becky: And I had to write essays. Mook: Yeah, I had her write diary. Becky: Yes. Mook: Had to write [in her] diary every day. As Namo. Carol: Whoa. More homework! Bren: So you were filming GAP at the same time... Becky: Uh huh, as Long Live Love, right? Bren: Yeah, so how do you switch between the characters? And I know your hair was part of it. Did that help you? Did it have an effect on getting a feel for which character you were portraying? Becky: I mean during the switch Mon and Namo it was quite, at the start, quite confusing, because I'd have GAP in the morning and then I would run to workshop in the afternoon and then back to set in the evening, so you'd go from this very sweet, innocent, very lively girl to this dark, bored of the world kind of girl, then you go back. It was like a switch, switch, switch. But the main problem for me, would probably be the hair, because we were already mid-filming GAP, so that means that there were so many scenes with my long hair already. And then when I had to cut it, I had to get a hair piece. So It would be like hair piece morning, hair piece off, hair piece on again. Yeah, so it would be that contrast, but actually at first I didn't understand why Namo... I was like, ooo, I can keep my hair long, I think that the character can still come out the same, but when filming, and I think everyone when you go watch it now will understand that it brings out the vibe more, it brings out the character more, yes. So it did have quite an impact. Carol: I agree. I think that hair was perfect for Namo. Just her whole vibe is that, you know, and I think she would look good with long hair or inbetween, but- Mook: I feel that when she cut her hair and I saw it, I think that she looks like Jodie Foster. You know Jodie Foster? You know, the actress? She's so cool. Or Natalie Portman or something. Becky: Like, look cool. Mook: Yes, cool girl, for me. Scarlett Johanssen in the style. Carol: Yes. Very much that vibe. I afree. Becky: So it was worth it. Mook: So cinematic. Carol: Yes, for sure. Bren: And you were also studying law at night? Becky: Mmmhmm. So when I finished filming, I would sleep and then I'd wake up and study. Some days I would go to class, some days I won't go to class. It depends. But I have to make sure that all my work gets sent, no deadlines. Otherwise, I'll have professors on me being like, finish your work or you're not goingt to pass this semester, but like I say it's acting and law, they're both my passions, so it's because I enjoy it. That's why I think I can pass through the tiring phase. Carol: Yeah, but do you sleep? Becky: Uh. Maybe like two hours? Two hours, three hours. Carol: Oh, wow. Becky: Yeah... Carol: Wow. Bren: That's what all the milktea is for. Carol: Right Becky: Tea is life. Bren: Has studying law had an effect on your acting career and vice versa? Does it help like with reading contracts or does, you know, acting help you getting up in front of a courtroom and arguing a case? Becky: Yeah. Like everyone knows, I'm like an introvert. So I don't really like to socialize with people. I don't really like to go out. I like just spending time with myself or it has to be someone, has to be someone I'm very comfortable with, but from acting that you have to be on set with lots of people, camera crew, lighting, director, actors, everyone. You have to have that confidence to try new things, to go out and just do your best, so it helps in law where public speaking, debates, yeah, it does help. Carol: Helps bring you out of your shell more. Becky: Yeah, yeah. Carol: Any news? I know a lot of US fans, during the first FanBoom, they talked about maybe the FanBooms coming over here to The States. Any idea? I know you're super busy and things have gotten even busier- Becky: Yeah. Carol: Anything you can say about that? Or are we gonna have to fly to Thailand? Becky: Definitely, definitely this year, I have to say, because there's more plans than just the FanBoom, yeah, in The States. Carol: Oh? Like? Any other details? Or you're like, that's not- Becky: NOPE, that's it! Carol: Okay, we'll take it. We'll take it. Bren: Yeah! So, we'd like to play a little game with you both. Becky: Ah, a game. Mook: Okay. Bren: So it's, we're going to name some things and then you tell us which character would be most likely to do that thing. Becky: Is this in Long Live Love characters? Bren: Yes. Carol: So I'll start. Which LLL character is most likely to...Travel to the United States? I keep talking about that, huh? Becky/Mook: Meta Carol: Any reason why? Mook: It's her dream. Becky: Without spoiling? Mook: Oh! Becky: Meta, um. I think it's her dream to restart her life. Live once again. Mook: Yeah. Bren: Who would Buy Bitcoin? Mook: Bitcoin? Bren: Crypto Currency! Becca: Sati! Mook: Nakrob! Friend of Sati, but not Sati. Becky: Yeah... Mook: I think he'd like a list? Becky: He probably looks at something that follows these kinds of things, Bitcoin, cryptocurrency. Mook: Yeah. Carol: Which character is most likely to use AI to complete a project? Becky: Namo? Mook: Namo. Becky: Yeah, Namo. I feel like she'd find every other way than to do the project herself. Carol: I get it. Bren: Be fluent in multiple languages? Mook: Maybe Sati. Becky: Sati? Mook: Playboy. Becky: Ahh, Sati. Mook: Maybe Sati. Becky: Because he's like a Playboy. Mook: Playboy. Flirt with another girl. Bren: He would know pick up lines. Becky: Yeah, he would know pick up lines. Carol: Which character is most likely to Leave line messages on read? Becky: Meta Mook: Sati! Carol: Right? He's too busy out there using his pick up lines. Bren: Miss a flight? Becky: Sati, again, probably. Carol: He's not coming across too good in this. Becky: I feel like he'd sleep in. Carol: Be 4 hours early for a flight? Mook/Becky: Meta! Mook: For sure. Bren: Wake up after just one alarm? Becky: Who would just wait, what did you say? Bren: Who would only need to set one alarm? Mook/Becky: Meta Carol: Who would be most likely to Attend a Pride parade? Mook: Lung Peach (Uncle Santi) Becky: Oh, yeah, Lung Peach Bren: Go shark diving. Becky: NAMO! Carol: I think that's just because you want to go. That's why. Becky: Yeah! Does she want to go, I don't know, but I want to go. Carol: If she goes then you have to keep playing her. Bren: You need to use your law work to work that into a contract for one of your upcoming movies that your character has to go shark diving. Becky: Ahhh, yeah. P'Mook, Nu(I) go shark diving! Mook: Shark diving... Carol: It's gotta happen at some point. It's just gotta happen. Becky: Yeah. Carol: Which character is most likely to Collect Care Bears? Mook: Care Bear, Namo. Becky: Namo! Yeah, Namo. And Becky. Mook: Becky, yeah. Bren: Who would Do the latest TikTok dance trend? Mook/Becky: ICQ Becky: Namo's friend. Carol: So which one is more likely to Run for political office? Becky: Uhh. Mook: Namo Becky: I think Namo. Yeah. Mook: I think Namo. Carol: I think so, too. Namo for President! Bren: And last one, Attend Taylor Swift's Eras Tour? Mook/Becky: Namo! Becky: Namo. Carol: What would be Namo's favorite Taylor Swift song? Becky: Oh?! Mook: I think Namo doesn't listen to Taylor Swift. Carol: No? Right? Carol: What kind of music do you think Namo listens to? Becky: Love Story? Bren: I think she would like Karma. Becky: Karma? Mook: Karma? Huh. Carol: Or what kind of music do you Namo would listen to? Something dark. Becky: Hm. Like some old band. Mook: I think Thai song and alternative song. Carol: Yeah, something more like edgy, right? Becky: Yeah. Mook: Yeah, Not that. Carol: Something like rock, something edgy or cool like that. Mook: Yes. Carol: No Taylor Swift. Mook/Becky: No Taylor Swift. Becky: No, I don't think Namo would be a Swiftie. Bren: I think the uncle would go to Taylor Swift. Mook: Uncle Santi. Becky: Yeah. Bren: Well, we only have a few more minutes. Is there anything you would like to say to your fans in the United States? Mook: Actually, I have never interviewed with an International press like this and I want to say thank you to interfans of Becky. They always support my film and I'm so surprised and they are so cute, yes, and thank you for loving Long Live Love movie. Carol: Yeah, we're very supportive and very excited to follow Becky in her career and- Mook: I so appreciate it. Yeah, so supportive. Carol: And I hope we get to see Long Live Love over here, if not in the theaters, at least maybe on Netflix or on another platform. Anything we can do make that happen- Bren: Let us know. Carol: Just let us know! We're ready to do anything. Becky: Thank you. Mook: Thank you. And don't worry, I would like to have that. Many plans to push my film on the worldwide. Carol: Good. Mook: I promise. Becky: Yeah. Carol: Well, thank you so much for joining us, taking time out of your day to talk to us. We really appreicate it. Becky: Oh no, thank you for having us. Thanks for having us. Mook: Yes, okay, goodbye, Becky: Bye bye, nice to meet you. Carol/Bren: Bye Becky: See you, thank you. Mook: Bye bye Watch the Long Live Love trailer Bren Coombs talks with writer Sa'iyda Shabazz about getting work published, 90s teen movies giving hot people makeovers to make them hotter, YA books moving away from stories about white protagonists, and more. Carol Velasquez and Bren Coombs discuss Thai movie Long Live Love with Director Mook-Piyakarn Bootprasert and Actor Becky-Rebecca Armstrong. They discuss Long Live Love, international plans, and Taylor Swift. Watch the full video interview on our YouTube page! |
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