Relationships behind the camera: addressing the influence of the Thai cultural context on the relationship between filmmaker and participant in documentary filmmaking.

Abstract

This practice-led research aims to address the influence of Thai cultural context on the relationships between Thai filmmakers and Thai participants in documentary filmmaking. I was attempting to understand and conceptualise what kind of relationships are formed behind the camera and what the dynamics are. Furthermore, it explores how being Thai influences the development of relationships. employed autoethnography as a method to critically reflect on my own experiences while interacting with participants during the filming process, to better understand how relationships develop and what factors influence the relationships. In addition, I conducted interviews with other Thai filmmakers to better comprehend any differences in the relationships formed behind the camera as a result of other filmmakers’ experience. The diverse characters and the context of Thai culture framed my practice-led research; thus, the development of the practice provided insights into character relationship building based on how they influence the filmmaking process and represent different points of view and attitudes. The findings highlighted the boundary tension between the different relationships and the fact that these are continually being negotiated and renegotiated, depending on several factors, including trust, intimacy, performance, and cultural setting. Through the lens of a Thai cultural context, I discovered that gender, age, and social status have an influence on performances and decision-making as a filmmaker. Furthermore, some Thai characteristics are a barrier to developing professional relationships because of a tendency to take everything as a personal matter and value the hierarchy which leads to inequality; however, some characteristics facilitate the filmmaker in developing relationships such as humility and consideration for others (Kreng Jai). Several significant points were revealed: humility can lead to trust and benevolence, trust in a relationship can be transitive in the form of a third-party recommendation, and the participants' performance was driven by the technological configuration as well as the presence of the camera, which might shift between the camera and the filmmaker depending on who they wanted to impress. Thus, they spoke with half an eye on the conversation with the filmmaker and half an eye on the imagined audience which could be a collection of performances.