Jurassic Park (SAGA) gets approval to shoot in Thailand

Thailand has given the green light for the latest film in the Jurassic Park franchise to use Bangkok and three southern national parks as filming locations.

The permission is granted on the condition that SAGA Productions’ activities do not affect the environment, nature or wildlife, said Atthaphon Charoenchansa, director-general of the National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation Department.

The London-based production firm is allowed to shoot from June 13 to July 16 in Bangkok and three national parks, namely:

• Sunset Beach on Kradan Island in Hat Chao Mai National Park, Trang Province (5 days)
• Huay Toh Waterfall in Khao Phanom Bencha National Park, Krabi Province (3 days)
• Khao Tapu on Songpinong Island and Nakaya Island in Ao Phang Nga National Park, Phang Nga Province (5 days)

The company has already paid the film production fees and placed collateral, he said.

Throughout the shoot, the production team may not seal off any permitted zones and must control sound, ensure safety, cause no damage to the natural resources and environment or interfere with wildlife.

Moreover, in preparing the locations, drilling, changing or damaging the original natural conditions are not allowed. The activities should not affect tourists visiting the areas.

Atthaphon stressed all the conditions must be strictly followed, to prevent a repetition of mistakes made during the 2000 filming of “The Beach” in Maya Bay in Krabi.

That production felled trees and bulldozed Maya Beach, to create a new setting for filming, causing extensive damage to the environment and ecological system of the bay area.

Local authorities in Thailand filed a lawsuit against the ministries involved and the film production company responsible for the environmental damage caused.

The case concluded with the Supreme Court ruling that the Thai authorities were responsible for the restoration, costing millions of baht. The court upheld a compromise agreement, wherein Twentieth Century Fox and Santa International Film Productions agreed to provide 10 million baht (approximately US$270,000) for the rehabilitation work.

Photo : Koh Kradan Island