A Study of Interpersonal Communication on Thai and International Film Production

Abstract

        This research explored interpersonal communication on Thai and foreign film sets. The objective was to study communication patterns during the filming process on both types of sets, excluding online and social media interactions. This qualitative study gathered data through in-depth interviews with two Thai film directors, one foreign film director, an assistant director with experience on both Thai and foreign sets, and an actor with similar experience. Additionally, participant observation was conducted on the sets of the Thai film “Uranus 2324” and the foreign film “The Girl in the Feather Jacket.” The theoretical framework included interpersonal communication theory, intercultural communication theory, film directing concepts, and the concept of high-context versus low-context communication.

        The finding revealed that interpersonal communication on Thai film sets differs from that on foreign film sets. Thai film sets are characterized by communication that is both verbal and non-verbal, heavily reliant on context, highly flexible, and maintains significant distance between those communicating. On the other hand, communication on foreign film sets is also both verbal and non-verbal, but it is more direct and involves less distance between those communicating.