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Desolation Angel is a personal road-journey for American Erich Fleshman, who moved to Thailand many years back but is still confused by the many contradictions of the country. He wonders why Bangkok residents don’t understand their own traditions, like Songkran, and decides to drive outside the busy city, to get the answers.

Transitioning from the raucousness of Songkran in concrete, crowded Bangkok, the director - playing himself in the film - finds himself at home in the quiet countryside of  Nakorn Sawan, in a cultural environment more rooted, basic, and simple.

Eric Fleshman moved to Bangkok from the US, and leads a multi-dimensional life as film actor, director, coach, and professor. He has acted in many Thai TV serials like Lady Mahachon, films like 7 Prajan-ban and in famed director Penek Ruttanaruang’s short film, Twelve Twenty. He teaches cinema at Chulalongkorn University, and is presently making a documentary on Thai cinema, called Behind the Mosaic.

From Siam to the Killing Fields is Belgrade-based Marko Sopic’s response to Asia, which he finds to be worlds apart from Serbia, France, Spain, where he has lived. This is another road journey, by another foreigner confused by the many contrasts of Bangkok.  Sopic is surprised by the ‘Westernization’ of a traditional city like Bangkok.  This film is a longer journey, and moves from Bangkok to Ayutthaya, Chiang Mai, and on to Laos, Cambodia - and it is made in a singular, zippy style.

The young, award-winning Sopic has worked on shorts, documentaries, commercials, TV serials, as well as music videos, all over Europe, and the film offers proof of his rich musical sense.
 
Brod Ludaka is the 15-minute thesis film of 24-year-old  Belgian  Matthias Lebeer, who did his Master’s degree in Film Studies at the Brussels Film Academy. It was shot in Sarajevo and was based on the life of a famous musician from that country, Vedran Smailovic, who continued to play his cello, when bombs rained all around the city. Leeber was inspired to make the film after seeing a riveting photograph of the musician playing the cello and went all the way to Sarajevo to make it with a talented cast and crew from the country.  The title is based on the famous Bosch painting, and refers to the irony of art in a war-torn country.

The music is one of the highlights of the riveting film, that won nearly 20 awards at more than 40 festivals, and was short-listed for the 2008 Oscar nominations for Best Short Films.

The young Lebeer is in Bangkok on a short holiday, and will be present at the screening to talk of his unique success-story.

There will be a Q&A with the film-makers at the end of the three films.   This is a rare opportunity for movie-lovers and potential film-makers to meet with these young and talented directors, and find out how they made their films and what they plan for the future.  (Please note the reduced entrance-rate, to encourage young filmmakers to attend.)

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Professor Mohammed Ayoob is Distinguished Professor of International Relations at Michigan State University, holding a joint appointment at James Madison College and the Department of Political Science.  He is also the Coordinator of the Muslim Studies Program at MSU, and Coordinator of the Muslim Studies Specialization administered by James Madison College.

Analysts and pundits from across the American political spectrum describe Islamic fundamentalism as one of the greatest threats to modern, Western-style democracy. Yet very few non-Muslims would be able to venture an accurate definition of political Islam. Mohammed Ayoob's latest book, ‘The Many Faces of Political Islam,’ thoroughly describes the myriad manifestations of this rising ideology and analyzes its impact on global relations.

A specialist on conflict and security in the Third World, Prof Ayoob has researched, taught and written on the intersection of religion and politics in the Muslim world; his publications, conceptual essays and case studies focused on the Middle East, the Persian Gulf, South and Southeast Asia.   He has authored, co-authored, or edited 12 books and published approximately 90 research papers and scholarly articles in leading journals.  He has furthermore been engaged as a consultant to the International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty, the High Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change appointed by the UN Secretary General, and the Ford Foundation.

Professor Ayoob received his PhD in political science from the University of Hawaii, and has served on the faculties of Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and the Australian National University in Canberra. He has held visiting appointments at Columbia, Oxford, Princeton, and Brown Universities, and at Bilkent University in Turkey. He has been awarded fellowships and grants from the Ford, Rockefeller, MacArthur and MSU Foundations and from the Institute for Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore and the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Join us for an evening with a leading intellectual and astute observer of our times, as he speaks on the themes of his most recent book in a lucid and comprehensive examination of the true relationship between Islam and global politics.

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Thailand's economy, a lynchpin of the region, has been in the doldrums for two years, hit by the political troubles that culminated in the September 2006 ouster of Thaksin Shinawatra as prime minister.
 
Economic growth of 4.8% in 2007 was a lackluster performance by regional standards and a far cry from Thailand's glory days in the years before the 1997 Asian financial crisis. In another sign of declining fortunes, foreign corporations are increasingly favoring Vietnam over Thailand as the country to base new manufacturing plants.
 
Hopes the economy would rebound after last December's elections are quickly fading as the political temperature reaches boiling point and record oil prices drive inflation to a decade high. The Thai central bank is widely expected to raise interest rates on July 16 to combat inflation; it will be an unwelcome development for an ailing government that's been banking on stronger growth to shore up its popularity.
 
A week following the interest rate decision, Bank of Thailand Governor Tarisa Watanagase will speak on the short-term outlook for the economy and the central bank's take on its role in Thailand's economic fortunes in the coming years.
 
Tarisa was appointed Governor in November 2006. Her career at the central bank started in 1975 and she is credited with leading reforms in the financial sector in the aftermath of the 1997 crisis. She recieved her B.A. and M.A. in Economics from Keio University and her Ph.D in Economics from Washington University. Between 1988 and 1990, she was seconded to work as an economist at the International Monetary Fund.
 
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Members: No cover charge, buffet dinner is 350 baht
Non-members: 300 baht cover charge without buffet dinner or 650 baht for buffet dinner including cover charge
Reservations:  To ensure sufficient food for the buffet, we would greatly appreciate your making a buffet reservation at least one day before the program if you plan to join us for the dinner.  (No penalty for cancellation if last minute conflicts arise.)  Please also note that tables/seats will be reserved only for those with advance buffet bookings.  To reserve, please call 02-652-0580-1 or click here to send an e-mail to the FCCT office.  (Please do not reply to this e-mail because the return address is not monitored.)

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This slow, gentle tale of love by Eric Khoo, Singapore’s best-known film-maker created a stir when it opened the Directors Fortnight section of the Cannes Festival in 2005 and went on to win  awards at festivals around the world. The Director’s latest film ‘My Magic’ was in the main Competition section of the Cannes festival, this year.

The movie weaves together three stories of lonely people looking for love. There are two attractive girls, who meet each other through the Internet, and find their emotions confused and ambivalent; a middle-aged shopkeeper, who loses his zest for life after the death of his wife, and an obese watchman who loves food, but also loves a young woman who works next door. The three stories come together in the end, through the life of a deaf-blind woman Therese Chan, who plays herself in the film, and nearly steals the show with her amazing energy and positivity.
 
‘Be With Me’ is soft, elliptical, with sparse dialogues but an all-pervasive soundtrack, and stunning performances from a cast of amateur actors. It won awards at many festivals, including the Tokyo, Stockholm, Flanders, Mar del Plata (Argentina) festivals, and had a public release in many countries, where it created a stir.
 
Eric Khoo is Singapore’s most individualistic and iconic director, who has won world-acclaim for  his small, brave films, made with limited budget and support. His famed trilogy of movies - Mee Pok Man, 12 Storeys, Be with Me - are about dysfunctional characters trying to cope with their contemporary surroundings. ’12 Storeys’ was the first film from Singapore to be screened at the Cannes festival,in 1997. Khoo was named by ‘Asia Week’ magazine as one of 25 exceptional Asians for his influence on film and television. Well-known film critic Dr Kenneth Paul Tan said Khoo’s films “explore a set of hard-hitting themes, including a sense of alienation in contemporary Singapore, nostalgia for a humane past, and the centrality and complexity of human sexuality.”

Don’t miss this rare and unforgettable movie in our Contemporary World Film Series

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This memorable movie, made by Spain’s most acclaimed contemporary film-maker, Pedro Almodovar, is part revenge comedy, part murder thriller, part sexual farce.

The story centres around flamboyant singer-actress Becky del Paramo and her daughter Rebecca,a television anchorwoman, who try to connect after a long break.
After being estranged for 15 years, Becky re-enters Rebecca's life when she comes to perform a concert. Rebecca, she finds, is now married to one of Becky's ex-lovers. As the mother and daughter try to make up for lost time, an unexpected murder changes the course of their lives.

’High Heels’ has Almodovar's signature use of lush frames and vivid colours, grabbing  the viewer’s attention from the word 'go'. The energy simply does not flag in this vibrant roller-coaster melodrama, featuring diverse relationships, murder, gender-blurring, cross dressing, brief but intense acrobatic sex, and a totally unexpected
dance sequence.

The film also showcases Almodovar's gift of being able to leaven intensity with verve as well as absurdity, which are what make his films so rich, passionate,insightful, compassionate - and yet never wholly serious.

The film swept Spain's top Goya Awards, followed by the French Caesar for Best Foreign Film and awards and acclaim at festivals around the world, including  a nomination for the Golden Globes.

To toast the film and the country's winning this year’s European championship, the Economic section of the Embassy of Spain will serve their famed Rioja wine.

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‘Three Times’ is the austere but lavishly- made film of Hou Hsiao-Hsien, who has been called one of Taiwan's national treasures for his rich and elegant body of work.

The film is split into three love tales, set during three different periods of time. ‘A Time for Love’, set in 1966, is in a casual setting of pool-tables,  ‘A Time for Freedom’  set in 1911, is in a noisy brothel , ‘A Time for Youth,’ set in 2005, is in modern-day, hi-tech Taipei. Each love-story stars the same pair, Chen Chang and Qi Shu,trying hard to connect in different environments.

Hou Hsiao-Hsien unwraps the stories in his usual unhurried, minimalist style, with immaculate tempo, compositions and visual lyricism. The events of the different eras shape the characters' relationships, revealing indirectly how the individual is shaped by his society.  The famed director weaves a mesmerizing fabric, with his choreographed movements and lingering sequences, especially revolving around the haunting, smouldering beauty of Qi Shu, who won many awards for this film ( the actress was on the Jury of the Berlinale, this year). The second section is  pure cinematic visuals, with hardly any dialogue.

Like Hsiao-Hsien's other works, ‘Three Times’, is a movie that can be appreciated on many levels- a socio-political drama, a love story, a visual feast. The film swept the country’s top Golden Horse awards, was in the Competition section of the 2005 Cannes festival, and was a big ‘hit ‘when it was commercially released in the US.

American film critic Roger Ebert wrote '' Watching the movie, is like holding your breath, so the butterfly won't stir.'' Raved well-known Director Jim Jarmusch, “The first section is one of the most perfect pieces of cinema I’ve ever seen! The resonance of these combined stories, left me in a near dream-state - something that only happens to me after the most striking cinematic experiences!” He described Hou Hsiao Hsien as “The crowning jewel of contemporary Taiwanese cinema. His grace and subtlety as a filmmaker remain unrivalled.”

To celebrate the special film, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Thailand, will generously lay out a big meal of traditional food like fried rice noodle, steamed bread stuffed with pork, stewed meatball with brown sauce, and other items, washed down by a cup of the potent ‘gaoliang’ wine (nicknamed 'firewater' because of its high alcohol content), supplied by  the popular Taiwanese  restaurant ‘Honey’.

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Three noted photographers who were able to enter Burma in the immediate aftermath of cyclone Nargis, have kindly lent their work for an exhibition at the FCCT which will be opened at 7:00 pm on Friday, July 4 and will remain on display for the whole month. 

This is a collection of powerful images of the force of nature, physical destruction, and psychological trauma. 

Cristian Holst (Reportage by Getty Images)  is a Danish photojournalist whose work concentrates on social issues. He is a two-time World Press Photo award winner as well as the recipient of numerous international awards in photojournalism.
 
Suthep Kritsavanarin is a photojournalist focused on social and environmental issues in Southeast Asia. This year he won the Days Japan International Photojournalism Award, and he has also won the NPPA press award. His photos from Myanmar have been selected by the Grand Prix CARE du Reportage Humanitaire 2008 and will be exhibited in France during the Festival "Visa pour l'Image" in August. Suthep is represented by On Asia photo agency and worked in Burma on assignment from UNHCR. 
 
Paddy Brown has been based in Asia since the late 90's. His photographic forays along the rugged Thai-Burma border sparked an enduring fascination with the jungles of Asia and the events and issues surrounding them. In 2005 he received several awards for his project on the illegal wildlife trade in Asia, including World Press Photo, Picture of the Year International, a 3P grant and a Days Japan Award. Patrick's work has been shown in Australia, Japan and France. His work is also in numerous international collections, including the Holmes a Court collection, The Photography Gallery of Western Australia, and The International Center for Photography in New York. He is represented by Panos Pictures, London, UK.

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English-speaking instructors

Thailand's top jouralism school is looking for a native English-speaking instructor for its news writing course for this August-December semester.
The Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication of Thammasat University, which has offered its English-speaking journalism programme for three years, is keen for an  experienced professional journalist to co-lecture its Advanced News Reporting course
for its third year students at its Rangsit Campus in Pathum Thani province.

For further information, please contact Dean Malee Boonsiripan, who will be co-teaching the course,
at  malee2002b@yahoo.com or 081-480-5506.

Freelance Writers

Veritas Graphics publishes 13 English language periodicals under franchise agreements with Bangkok expatriate membership groups such as chambers of commerce, Rotary, yacht clubs and The British Club.
Each publication is assigned to a freelance editor/project manager.A few of the larger publications have budgets allowing the editor to hire free lance writers.  Our subject matter for such assignments varies from food to business to event reporting. Journalist training and experience is preferred but not essential.

Pay is negotiated on a per job basis.  Our writers work in the field, from their homes, and at the Veritas office.
Our selection criteria focuses on relevant training and work experience, oral and written English language fluency, people skills, reliability and (of course) income requirements.

If interested, please send your CV to Jim Fowler at jim@veritasgraphics.com.

Business Magazine Editor – Manager

Veritas Graphics seeks an experienced editor to publish an all new business monthly for the British Chamber of Commerce in Thailand (BCCT).  The position is ideal for a semi-retired free-lance journalist wanting to work part time in a responsible position dealing with consequential
issues and among senior executives.  Candidates should send a CV, complete with salary expectations, to Jim Fowler via Jim@VeritasGraphics.com.

Freelance Publication Editors

Veritas Graphics publishes 13 English language periodicals under franchise agreements with Bangkok expatriate membership groups such as chambers of commerce, Rotary, yacht clubs and The British Club.  Each publication is assigned to a freelance editor/project manager. 
Some publications require little editing but still involve a considerable amount of “project management”.  In other cases, serious editorial skills are required.
Project management duties include developing a production schedule, coordinating assembly of copy, art & advertising from clients to our graphics artist staff, and editing copy.

Current assignments involve managing the assembly and production of annual directories/ handbooks/ yearbooks for foreign chambers of commerce as well as membership associations.  Pay is negotiated on a per job basis.  Our editors work in the field, from their homes, and at the Veritas office.
Our selection criteria focuses on relevant training and work experience, oral and written English language fluency, people skills, reliability and (of course) income requirements. If interested, please send your CV to Jim Fowler at jim@veritasgraphics.com

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The FCCT gratefully acknowledges the generosity and support of our sponsors.  Please support our sponsors when you can, as they support us!

Major Sponsors - Thanks for their generous contributions to the Club's programs and activities

• Coca-Cola Company and Thainamthip Ltd., authorized bottler for products including Coca-Cola, Fanta, and Sprite
  
• Maneeya Realty
• Pfizer (Thailand) Limited
• Diageo Moet Hennessy (Thailand) Ltd., distributor of Johnnie Walker Scotch whisky
  
• Star Alliance for air tickets which make it possible to bring exceptional guest speakers to the FCCT and for our Wi-Fi Internet Service
• Unilever Thailand
  

Sponsors

• Nation Multimedia Group for daily delivery of The Nation
• Post Publishing Co., Ltd., for daily delivery of the Bangkok Post
• Heineken Thailand

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The Bulletin is published weekly by the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand, Penthouse, Maneeya Center, 518/5 Ploenchit Road, Patumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.  President: Nirmal Ghosh. First vice-president: Jonathan Head. Second vice-president: Patrick Barta. Treasurer:  Dominic Faulder.  Clubhouse acting manager: Thanutra Teerasuphaset.  Office telephone: 02 652-0580-1; fax: 02 652-0582.  Clubhouse telephone: 02 254-8165.  E-mail: info@fccthai.com.  Web site: www.fccthai.com.  Opinions expressed may be entirely those of an individual writer or organization, and do not necessarily represent the policies, positions or opinions of the FCCT, nor does the FCCT, by virtue of publication in The Bulletin, assume any liability therefor.  While all reasonable efforts are employed to ensure accuracy of announcements appearing in The Bulletin, including but not limited to dates, times and cover charges, the FCCT is not bound by those announcements and occasional errors or omissions may appear; we apologize for any inconvenience.  Copyright © 2008, Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand and others.  All rights reserved.

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For five decades, the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand has played a vanguard role as Southeast Asia's most active press club.  The club advocates press freedom as a cornerstone of civil society in emerging democracies and is a vital venue for an open exchange of information. Our speakers range from heads of state to local activists to international advocates, many of whom address issues that might not get a full hearing without the support of the FCCT.



Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont and all previous Thailand Prime Ministers since the early 1980's, Hans Blix, former United Nations Chief Weapons Inspector for Iraq, Shirin Ebadi, Nobel Peace Laureate, Rupert Everett, actor and activist, The Rev. Jesse Jackson, former U.S. Presidential candidate, Xanana Gusmao, President of East Timor, Tom Ridge, former Director of the U.S. Homeland Security Department, His Holiness The Dalai Lama, Dr. Peter Piot, Executive Director UNAIDS, senior members of the Thai government, Ambassadors to Thailand from the U.S.A.., India, Europe, and Asia.

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Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand
Penthouse, Maneeya Center Building
518/5 Ploenchit Road (connected to the BTS Skytrain Chitlom station)
Patumwan, Bangkok 10330
Tel.: 02-652-0580-1
Fax: 02-652-0582
E-mail:  info@fccthai.com
Web Site:  http://www.fccthai.com

Hours of Operation - All departments are open Monday-Friday and closed Saturday, Sunday, and Holidays

Clubhouse
(including Art/Photo Gallery)
10:00 am - 11:00 pm
Restaurant
12:00 noon - 2:30pm
6:00 pm - 9:00pm
Bar
12:00 noon - 11:00 pm
Office
9:30 am - 6:00 pm

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