productioninterview
You’re My Sky
BL boost 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 rid-
We can see the potential to
ing the Boy Love (BL) content wave, unveiling its first original production
serve this target audience lo-
– You’re My Sky – along with a slate of seven new BL titles in the pipeline
cally and internationally,” Suteestar-
for 2021-2022.
pon says, highlighting the ability of lo-
The 12x45 minute You’re My Sky is directed by Dhammarong Sermrit-
cal production to reach local hearts
tirong (The Gifted, My Bubble Tea) and produced by World Y Entertain-
and eyes in a way that is impossible
ment. The first trailer will be released at the end of April. The series will
for international content.
premiere in October this year on Grammy’s digital terrestrial television channel, One31.
Joe Suteestarpon, Mediaplex International
“There are certain audiences for international content but to capture larger local audience, we have to create original production,” he says.
You’re My Sky is about a first-year student Thorn, played by Suar Krit-
Suteestarpon’s inaugural foray into local originals tracks a significant
sanaphong (You Never Eat Alone), who has been secretly in love with
trend in Asian content creation, with shows such as Call It What You Want,
jock Tupfah, played by Tae Chayapat (Y-Destiny). As they train together,
a 2021 Thai-Taiwan BL series by Taiwan’s global LGBTQ streaming service
Thorn slowly falls for the handsome Tupfah and despite his close friend’s
GagaOOLala and Thailand’s Line TV; Gen Y The Series, which is currently
warnings, one day confesses his love. Tupfah, who is highly competitive
airing on streaming platform iQiyi; and Philippines’ Globe Studios Gaya
and doesn’t trust anyone easily, wants to focus on his game instead. Sup-
sa Pelikula (Like in the Movies), which debuted in September last year on
porting characters include Jump Kananat, Boom Thanat (Wake Up Ladies
Globe’s official YouTube channel.
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.
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“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.
contentasia may 2021