"The Beach"
"Hollywood Hotshots Invade Phuket"

- © by Travelers' Net
- Pictures and Text by Michael Bjorklund

After the huge success with "Titanic", Leonardo DiCaprio's next movie will be "The Beach" which is being filmed here in Phuket and the surrounding Islands. The crew has been working here for a long time but the actual cast members will not come to Phuket until January '99. Travelers' Net was of course there to check things out...

Phi Phi Lee, the smaller of the two Islands, have been thoroughly cleaned by the film crew and has the appearance of a real paradise Island. With all the tricks of movie making, it will appear as if most of the movie was shot right here. The truth is however that all the indoor shots will be filmed in a studio near Thalang, Phuket. The movie is directed by the director of "Trainspotting".

Mia and Rudi, two Swedes who are involved in the production of this movie, found Phi Phi Lee and unforgettable place. And who can blame them?

Posing as a double for a movie star means a lot of walking back and forth on the beach. It was still a very nice experience and it makes you realize the size of a production like this. So, is the movie going to be a good one? Well, if it's not, they can't blame it on a lack of money. Leonardo DiCaprio makes 20 Million Dollars on this one...