Thai drama "Enigma" balanced romance, horror, coming-of-age, drama, fantasy, action and more. Thai director Patha “O” Thongpan – nominated in the ContentAsia Awards 2024 Best Director category – talks about the most challenging project of his career so far, as well as moving into his first second season ever. 

Thai director, writer and producer Patha (aka O) Thongpan’s "Enigma" caps a career that has ranged from horror, mystery and thrillers to comedy and romance, including directing high-profile shows like "F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers" and "The Gifted". The four-episode Enigma season one, which won Thongpan a ContentAsia Awards’ nomination for Best Director this year, aired on GMM25 and Prime Video. The supernatural thriller, produced by GMMTV and Parbdee Tawesuk, delves into mysterious events at a prestigious high school where a diligent 12th-grade student becomes suspicious of a new substitute teacher. The horror mystery continues with "Enigma 2", which started filming this month.  

How do you feel about returning to a project with a supernatural storyline? “Actually, the subject of black magic is a common theme in Thai productions. However, we didn’t think that anyone had successfully made a modern and relevant take on it.  It was really fun to explore and, as I hadn’t directed horror since ThirTEEN Terrors almost 10 years ago, I felt it was time to dive back into something exciting like this. Growing up with Japanese anime, much of my signature style is rooted in that. So, I had a lot of fun creating cool spells and grand, spectacular visuals. I wanted the project to feel like a superhero movie, where the villain is just as compelling as the hero – like Batman.”

"Enigma" season one aired on Prime Video as well as GMM25 in Thailand. Were you happy with its performance? “We received very satisfying ratings and viewership numbers, not just in Thailand but in many other countries. Of course, this type of drama is quite unique and far from mainstream, so it didn’t become a massive hit everywhere. But we’re happy to see more people willing to explore this genre, and it’s great to see Thailand becoming more open to new and different styles of work.”

What were your biggest challenges on "Enigma"? “Budget is always a big issue in the Thai series industry, especially when we aim to meet international standards. The only way to overcome this is to focus on creating the most perfect script possible – maintaining suspense throughout the entire story. It also required a precise and efficient shooting process with no unnecessary shots. Preparation was more than usual, but it was worth it. This project turned out to be one of the most challenging in my career.”

What has been the most surprising or gratifying audience reaction? “I’ve been incredibly touched by the global response and the in-depth reviews. Reading detailed analyses always brings me joy because it shows that our work not only entertained people but also made them think deeply and interpret the story in their own way. It reminds me of my film school days, analysing great movies with friends. It surprised me just how many strangers approached me, telling me how much they loved Enigma and are eagerly awaiting season two. It makes my heart swell!”

How did you decide on the look and feel of the show? “We wanted something spectacular and fresh, balancing horror and cool elements like in anime or superhero movies. We put a lot of thought into colors and tones, especially when blending Thai black magic with a more international style. It was important that the magic didn’t feel outdated but also didn’t look too Western, like witchcraft, so a lot of effort went into framing the shots, placing the props, and setting the lighting. Essentially, it was about problem-solving for a project with a mix of genres. This show had to balance romance, horror, coming-of-age, drama, fantasy, action, and more.” 

What learnings are you taking from season one into the new season? “The detailed groundwork laid in season one has made the process of setting up the next project much smoother. Now, it’s just about adding exciting new flavours to the mix. The goal for both me and the team at Parbdee Tawesuk is to keep pushing boundaries. This experience has made us more confident and excited to take on more new and creative challenges. Season two is a really intense project. This is my first time working on a second season, and while we have a bigger budget, the ambition has grown several times over, making many aspects extremely challenging. However, it’s an exciting new door to open, allowing us to build on the original work, retain its charm, and create an even more thrilling world with new challenges for the characters to face.”

As a director, what are your biggest takeaways from the "Enigma" experience? “What I’m most proud of is seeing the team break through their own limitations. We pushed some of the younger, less experienced crew to become true professionals who won awards for their work. I’m incredibly happy about that.”

▶ Published in ContentAsia December 2024 Magazine