“Lights, camera, action!” (or the Thai equivalent) is a phrase Chalong Pakdeevijit is all too familiar with as the world’s oldest TV director.
Known as the “King of Action,” 91-year-old Chalong (b. 18 March 1931) is a pioneer of action film and TV in Thailand.
The veteran filmmaker is still very hands-on with his work, personally directing every scene himself.
With a career spanning over seven decades, Chalong has worked on more than 60 movies and TV shows.
His last completed project was the 18-episode miniseries Skyraider, which aired on Thailand’s Channel 7 from November 2021 to February 2022.
With Chalong staying true to his nickname, Skyraider featured scenes involving diamond heists, transnational mafia gangs, and frequent life-or-death situations.
Filmmaking runs strong in Chalong’s family genes; his dad was a director and producer, and his brothers all work in the film industry.
Despite his family ties, Chalong was forced to carve his own path.
He began his career in 1950 as a cameraman, working his way up the ranks to make his directorial debut 18 years later with the film Jao Insee (1968).
He made a name for himself in the ‘70s with the hugely popular Thong (translated: Gold) film series, which were the first Thai films to feature foreign actors in lead roles.
Chalong continued to cast American actors throughout his career, such as Greg Morris, Jan-Michael Vincent, Christopher Mitchum, and Olivia Hussey.
He is considered to be the first director to achieve financial and critical success beyond Thailand’s borders on the international market.
Some of his most popular films include Fhon Tai (1970), Fhon Nuea (1970), Gold Raiders (1982), Eyes of the Condor (1987), and In Gold We Trust (1990).
When Thai cinema ticket sales began to decline in the late ‘90s, Chalong transitioned over to directing TV shows, where he rejuvenated his career and established himself as one of TV’s top talents.
The first show he directed for the small screen, Raya (1998), received critical acclaim. It marked the beginning of Chalong’s long relationship with Thailand’s Channel 7 network.
According to Nielsen ratings, Chalong’s shows rank among the top 10 highest-rated miniseries each year in Thailand.
He is also the only director to have more than one show on the list of Thailand’s top 10 highest-rated TV miniseries of all time - Chumphae (2007) and Sao Har (2011) - as per Nielsen data.
Still going strong at 91, Chalong is presently working on another miniseries titled Kan Song Pandin, which is sure to be just as action-packed as the rest of his filmography.
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