FEATURES
BL boost
23 April 2021
Thailand’s Mediaplex International has ventured into production for the first time after seven years of aggregating content for the local market. Malena Amzah spoke to company CEO, Joe Suteestapon, about his new slate.
Bangkok-based Thai content aggregator, Mediaplex International, is riding the Boy Love (BL) content wave, unveiling its first original production – "You’re My Sky" – along with a slate of seven new BL titles in the pipeline for 2021-2022.
The 12x45 minute "You’re My Sky" is directed by Dhammarong Sermrittirong ("The Gifted", "My Bubble Tea") and produced by World Y Entertainment. The first trailer will be released at the end of April. The series will premiere in October this year on Grammy’s digital terrestrial television channel, One31.
"You’re My Sky" is about a first-year student Thorn, played by Suar Kritsanaphong ("You Never Eat Alone"), who has been secretly in love with jock Tupfah, played by Tae Chayapat ("Y-Destiny"). As they train together, Thorn slowly falls for the handsome Tupfah and despite his close friend’s warnings, one day confesses his love. Tupfah, who is highly competitive and doesn’t trust anyone easily, wants to focus on his game instead. Supporting characters include Jump Kananat, Boom Thanat ("Wake Up Ladies 2: Very Complicated"), Kris Sakris and Porsche Tanatorn.
The first originals out of the seven-year old Mediaplex, which was established in 2013, are funded by a local private investor, says Mediaplex’s chief executive officer, Joe Suteestarpon.
“Demand for BL content in Thailand and in this region is increasing. We can see the potential to serve this target audience locally and internationally,” Suteestarpon says, highlighting the ability of local production to reach local hearts and eyes in a way that is impossible for international content.
“There are certain audiences for international content but to capture larger local audience, we have to create original production,” he says.
Suteestarpon’s inaugural foray into local originals tracks a significant trend in Asian content creat...
Thailand’s Mediaplex International has ventured into production for the first time after seven years of aggregating content for the local market. Malena Amzah spoke to company CEO, Joe Suteestapon, about his new slate.
Bangkok-based Thai content aggregator, Mediaplex International, is riding the Boy Love (BL) content wave, unveiling its first original production – "You’re My Sky" – along with a slate of seven new BL titles in the pipeline for 2021-2022.
The 12x45 minute "You’re My Sky" is directed by Dhammarong Sermrittirong ("The Gifted", "My Bubble Tea") and produced by World Y Entertainment. The first trailer will be released at the end of April. The series will premiere in October this year on Grammy’s digital terrestrial television channel, One31.
"You’re My Sky" is about a first-year student Thorn, played by Suar Kritsanaphong ("You Never Eat Alone"), who has been secretly in love with jock Tupfah, played by Tae Chayapat ("Y-Destiny"). As they train together, Thorn slowly falls for the handsome Tupfah and despite his close friend’s warnings, one day confesses his love. Tupfah, who is highly competitive and doesn’t trust anyone easily, wants to focus on his game instead. Supporting characters include Jump Kananat, Boom Thanat ("Wake Up Ladies 2: Very Complicated"), Kris Sakris and Porsche Tanatorn.
The first originals out of the seven-year old Mediaplex, which was established in 2013, are funded by a local private investor, says Mediaplex’s chief executive officer, Joe Suteestarpon.
“Demand for BL content in Thailand and in this region is increasing. We can see the potential to serve this target audience locally and internationally,” Suteestarpon says, highlighting the ability of local production to reach local hearts and eyes in a way that is impossible for international content.
“There are certain audiences for international content but to capture larger local audience, we have to create original production,” he says.
Suteestarpon’s inaugural foray into local originals tracks a significant trend in Asian content creation, with shows such as "Call It What You Want", a 2021 Thai-Taiwan BL series by Taiwan’s global LGBTQ streaming service GagaOOLala and Thailand’s Line TV; "Gen Y The Series", which is currently airing on streaming platform iQiyi; and Philippines’ Globe Studios "Gaya sa Pelikula" ("Like in the Movies"), which debuted in September last year on Globe’s official YouTube channel.
“Boy Love is a phenomenon of Asian dramas these days and these series have managed to amass enthusiastic fans around the world,” he says.
In addition to GMM’s One31, broadcasting partners for other titles in Mediaplex’s slate include BEC’s Channel 3 and Grammy’s SDTV GMM25. Discussions with OTT platforms are ongoing, Suteestarpon says.
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