Photo: Actors Will Yun Lee (AKKARAT) and Giovanni Mocibob (JASON) in a scene from She Has A Name
Let’s set the scene. This is how the script describes The Pearl, the go-go bar central to the film’s undercover investigation, when we first see it on camera:
White men sit at tables, covered in beer bottles. A group of ROWDY WHITE MEN hoot toward a raised stage just beyond. We see naked legs moving on the stage. Some OLD FAT MEN have PEARL GIRLS in their laps, or sit alone, nursing beers.
Day 8 brought us to Living Dolls, a real go-go bar on Pattaya’s infamous Walking Street. For the second time in as many days we had three of the film’s major stars share screen time. This go-around Giovanni Mocibob joined Gil Bellows and Will Yun Lee for a critical moment in the storyline.
What the script notes didn’t describe were how many cockroaches poured out of every seam in the faux leather benches and crawled along the walls and floors. Or that some of the girls trafficked both to and within Thailand cycle through the very area where we rolled cameras.
We got an up-close glimpse of that world. And so will our audiences.
Photo: The She Has A Name creative team and crew among the throngs of people on Pattaya street as the camera department sets up a shot.
We were extremely privileged to have some real-life heroes join us on set. Members of the A21 Campaign Thai office came for a visit as we filmed. What an honour to meet the real people who fight the injustice of human trafficking every day.
Photo: The #SHANFilm (http://www.instagram.com/unveil_studios) Producing team with (L to R) Will Yun Lee, Gil Bellows, Joseph Adams, Giovanni Mocibob and A21’s Malina Enlund, Sudjai Nakphian and Suwat Leehame
That kind of courage inspires us to share this powerful story in a way that not only entertains audiences, but challenges people to action as well.