‘Bad Genius’ stars: In real life, cheating doesn’t pay
Thai actors Chanon “Non” Santinatornkul and Teeradon “James” Supapunpinyo know what their characters in the movie “Bad Genius” pulled off may be amusing or even thrilling to some viewers, but they trust the moral lesson of it all won’t be lost on them.
Thai actors Chanon “Non” Santinatornkul and Teeradon “James” Supapunpinyo know what their characters in the movie “Bad Genius” pulled off may be amusing or even thrilling to some viewers, but they trust the moral lesson of it all won’t be lost on them.
“It’s a movie that shows how people cheat but we’re telling students if you do cheat (in real life), you need to prepare for any consequences that will follow,” James said to that effect through an interpreter at a recent interview in Manila.
Inspired by true events, the story is about a genius, her friends and their mission to cheat and turn exam paper into millions.
Lyn (played by Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying) is a straight-A student who got the idea to turn cheating in exams into a business. Soon, scores of students offer her cash for her services.
James plays Pat, a rich boy who believes money can buy anything while Non is Bank, the scholar-rival of Lynn who detests cheating.
Asked if they have cheated in exams in real life, James and Non admitted to it. The former tried to exchange papers with a classmate when he thought no one was looking but the teacher caught him.
As for James, he said, “I’m not that smart when I was a high school student but I did cheat (occassionally).
“It’s a bad thing to do. If you keep cheating you won’t get any knowledge from school, for the money you pay. Now I’ve turned into a good person.”
Will they bend rules for love and friendship, though, Bulletin Entertainment asked. “Love can change people to do something in a bad way,” Non noted.
James said, “Depends on the situation. If that cheat will make everything for the better, for everyone then maybe I would consider it. But if that’s for selfish reason, maybe I won’t.” Though it might seem all fun, the two said shooting the movie has had its challenges. For James, it was the “huge” climax scene shot for grueling 24 hours. “Everyone was tired, sleepy, but we needed to be awake,” he shared. “I needed to do everything in order to get that point of my emotion and so basically we tried so many takes, I kept punching the mattress for me to get my power and energy, something like that. And then, finally, I passed.” Non’s hardest scene was in the swimming pool where he soaked for hours on end. “It was very cold,” he said. “The weather, the wind – it’s very cold while I have to concentrate with my acting. It so hard because it’s too cold, my body is shaking, my mouth is shaking.” Nevertheless, they are thankful for the critical acclaim and commercial draw of “Bad Genius” worldwide. Shot on location in Thailand and Australia, “Bad Genius” is produced by Jor Kwang Films, released by GDH 559, directed by Nattawut Poonpiriya, and distributed by Silverline Multimedia.