Krabi is no stranger to movie sets, inspiring Directors from all over the world to pack up their equipment and head to Thailand to tell their stories. The list of iconic movies filmed in Krabi includes The Beach, The Hangover Part II, Mortal Kombat, and the 2023 blockbuster, The Creator.
So, imagine our excitement when we learned that there were plans to film not one, but two new blockbusters in 2024 across our Thai province! Earlier this year, Thailand’s Director General of the Department of Tourism confirmed that Hollywood teams were preparing to shoot the movie “Jurassic World 4” across Krabi and Trang provinces through June and July.
And, if that wasn’t exciting enough, that announcement was quickly followed by news that some of the scenes for the Alien TV series: FX’s Alien, would also be shot here!
How to be a film extra in Krabi: FARANGS WANTED!
It’s not uncommon to see small role ads for ‘farang’ (a term used mainly to describe Caucasians) across Thai expat groups. It’s far easier for production companies to capitalise on local talent, rather than shuttle extras to location, and there tends to be a lot of appetite for it (especially when it’s a Hollywood movie on the table.)
We’ve been in living and working in Krabi for over a decade now, and people are always eager to hear more about the behind-the-scenes process. We’ve even been fortune enough to host Hollywood actors on our Sunset Cruise for a bit of post-production downtime!
To give you a glimpse behind the curtain (or should we say, camera?), we caught up with our good friend Mike, who recently joined the team of extras for the Alien TV series.
Mike is an ex-Thai boxer turned personal trainer – he now works to help others reach their fitness goals. He’s always up for trying something new and exciting, and being part of film projects adds a fun twist to his routines …
Hey Mike, can you tell us how do you find out about film extra opportunities in Krabi?
I actually found out about the extra work for the Alien TV show through a friend who was already involved in extra work. They gave me a heads-up about the opportunity. Since then, I’ve joined a local Line group dedicated to casting calls and film extra opportunities in the area. It’s been a great resource, keeping me updated on upcoming projects and making it easier to get involved in future work.
Which movies/TV shows have you had the opportunity to be part of, and did they give you much information about the most recent one?
I was an extra in an Israeli TV show a few years back, but this was my first time on a high-budget set. The experience was quite different. For the Alien TV series, they didn’t give us a ton of information upfront, but enough to understand our roles and the scenes we were part of. It was exciting to be on a big production set and see how everything comes together.
What we do know is that the new series is set in the late 2090s, taking place before Ripley’s time, fitting neatly between the events of Prometheus and Alien: Covenant. While you won’t see Ripley or any familiar characters, the iconic alien itself will be central to the story.
What does a typical movie extra day involve?
A typical day on set as an extra involves quite a bit of waiting around, to be honest. However, the production team really takes good care of us, and we’re well-fed throughout the day. When it’s finally time to shoot, the actual filming doesn’t take that long. It’s a lot of hurry-up-and-wait, but being part of the process and seeing everything behind the scenes is pretty rewarding.
What was the coolest part of your extra work for the new Alien series?
The coolest part of working on the Alien set was definitely watching the stunt team in action. Seeing them perform all the incredible stunts up close was amazing. Their skills are really impressive, and it added a whole new level of excitement to being on set.
Can people expect to be paid for taking part?
Yes, the work is always paid. While it’s not big money, the experience itself is what attracts most of us. Being on set is a cool experience, and it’s a great way to meet new people who share similar interests. Plus, getting a glimpse behind the scenes of a major production makes for a pretty good story!
What do all these movies mean for Thailand?
The Beach is notably one of the most famous Hollywood movies to have come out of Thailand. The famous shots of Phi Phi’s Maya Bay catapulted the (then) lesser-known sandy paradise into the travel spotlight and, today, it’s one of the top bucket list destinations in Thailand.
Alongside putting Krabi on the map and driving travellers to new destinations across the country, these new movies and TV shows are also bringing a financial reward to Thailand. It’s been reported that the new projects above are expected to generate a revenue of 650 million baht for Thailand!
The money will go towards a variety of sectors within the country. Thai crew members will play a large part in production, and local suppliers should benefit from equipment rental, accommodation and venue needs, alongside transportation, catering, and other expenses.
Enjoy the Hollywood scenery from a different vantage point with a Krabi boat tour. Both our Morning Cruise and Afternoon Sunset Cruises have welcome aboard numerous blockbuster guests! Come and join us for a slice of that celebrity lifestyle.
