Tony Jaa and crew add final touches ot 'Ong Bak 2' before its December release.

After resolving their conflict over budget overruns, ac¬tion superstar Phanom “Tony Jaa” Yeerum and Sahamongkol Film are now working closely to complete the actor’s directo¬rial debut “Ong Bak 2” in time for its December release.
The cast and crew are winding up the shoot at the Bt25 million set, an old Khmer palace created on a 25rai plot in Rayong by pro¬duction designer Ek Iemchuen, who also wrote the script.
The palace forms the backdrop for a key scene where Jaa’s char¬acter Tien destroys the sacred ceremony being held by a tyrant king (Saranyoo Wongkrajang).

Smiles on the set
Action choreographer Panna Ritthikrai looks relaxed now that his beloved student is back on the set and working closely with him to complete the movie.
“It’s just like the good old days when we worked together in Khon Kaen,” he smiles.
Panna says the conflict arose because Jaa lacked the experi¬ence to handle such a large project but adds that despite their closeness, they haven’t discussed the problems in de¬tail.
“All I know is that he wants this film to be a masterpiece and I think you’ll see that in the end product,” he says.
Scriptwriter and art director Ek says Jaa is very easy to work with.
“He’s an artist who knows what he wants but sometimes that comes with a price that the producer cannot afford,” he notes.
Panna insists that Jaa has changed since he disappeared from the set a few months ago.
“He’s here all the time and we discuss everything shot by shot.”

Pick your poison
But Jaa is still awkward about giving interviews and refuses to comment other than in general terms about his return to the set.
“I am very happy to have the chance to finish this work. This film means a lot to me,” he says.
The film is based on the un¬released work “Ai Noom Saraphad Phid” (“Man of a Thousand Poisons”) made by Panna and Jaa in Khon Kaen a decade ago. It’s set in the Khmer Empire and introduces a newly choreographed fight¬ing style called “Nattayuth” – literally dancing fight – which blends the Thai masked dance khon with more traditional martial arts.

Xtra

>> Sahamongkol Film International approved another Bt50 million for Jaa to finish the film, bringing the total cost to Bt300 million.

>> The palace set in Rayong is one of three key location for "Ong Bak 2." The others are in Loei Province and Khao Yai National Park.