#the buisness times

[mileapo]

Mile & Apo: It takes two to triumph

IN THE GLITZY REALM OF entertainment, where talent often shines like a beacon, there occasionally emerges a pair of stars whose chemistry transcends the screen. Such is the case with Mile and Apo, two charismatic Thai actors whose TV show KinnPorsche has become a global sensation, watched by millions of viewers from Russia and India, to Poland and Peru.

The two have risen from relative obscurity to become the new ambassadors of Dior, mobbed by teenage girls when they arrived in Mumbai earlier this year to attend a Dior fashion show.

On the surface, the Thai series KinnPorsche seems to have thrown the rulebook of “How to make a hit TV show” out the window. It is a mafia story filled with surly men, bloody gang fights and epic shoot-outs – which, yes, is a mainstay of TV programming. But the radical twist is this: the two main characters are a mafia boss’ son (played by Mile) and his male bodyguard (played by Apo) who – surprise, surprise – fall in love with each other.

In the history of TV, there has never been a hit crime series centred on a gay plot. But when KinnPorsche debuted in April 2022 on Thai TV and global streaming service iQiyi, it almost instantly became the top trending title in neighbouring countries such as Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines.

Soon after, it claimed Europe, finding particular popularity in Poland, Turkey, Italy and France. Then it stormed its way into North and South America, where it was a top trending topic in the US, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador and Colombia.

No one – not even the cast and producers – thought the show would be this successful. It seems to have fed into some untapped market for female audiences who love action shows, but don’t care to see yet another threateningly perfect actress couple up with their fantasy man.

If you ask any fan what it is about the show that makes them sweat, swoon or quiver with delight, they’ll answer quite simply: Mile and Apo.

Double or nothing

At their photo shoot in Bangkok’s top restaurant Nusara, which overlooks the splendid temple complex Wat Pho, the models-turned-actors are in their element. They tailor their bodies and facial expressions instinctively for the camera, conveying a range of emotions, from sultry and mysterious to bright and playful. The slinky Dior suits, with their clean lines and minimal embellishments, don’t hurt either.

Mile (or Phakphum Romsaithong) and Apo (or Nattawin Wattanagitiphat) recently released their new film Man Suang in cinemas. It is a big-budget political thriller set during the 19th century reign of Rama III, replete with historically authentic sets and costumes.

Apo plays a traditional dancer who is recruited to spy in an elite club and uncover a plot to overthrow the order of the king. Finding a kindred spirit in the club’s taphon drummer (played by Mile), the two team up to stop the underground rebellion.

Speaking with the help of a translator, Mile, 31, explains: “We hope the movie reaches out to a wide audience. We wanted it to have both commercial and critical success, something that could show Thai history and culture to the world, but also be fun and entertaining enough to be a popcorn movie for the masses.”

Both actors note how T-pop (the shorthand for Thai popular entertainment) has been hyped as the next global sensation after K-pop and J-pop, following the massive success of Thai stars such as Lisa Manobal, Bright Vachirawit and Win Opas-iamkajorn.

“And it can happen,” says Apo, 29, also through a translator. “Thai people are very humble, gentle, hardworking and friendly. We can blend into any culture. If anything, Thailand has served as a melting pot for different cultures – just as Singapore has. Our culture can be easily embraced by the world.”

The duo believes that the global audience has transformed in recent times. “They’re now more welcoming of stories from different parts of the world, especially if those stories involve characters going on a journey to discover themselves and make themselves better, stronger, wiser and happier,” says Apo. “That’s why when I look for new projects these days, I look for the ones that carry the messages of self-actualisation.”

Mile concurs, adding: “I’ve always believed in ‘high risk, high return’. KinnPorsche was a risky proposition, because it took a mafia crime genre and placed it in the Boy Love category (a niche genre involving gay romance). But I believed in the project’s potential from the start – even if I never thought it’d become the cultural phenomenon that it is today. Its success has only strengthened my belief in ‘high risk, high return’.”

One-two punch

The road to success has been winding for both actors. Though born with the magnetic allure of leading men, they’ve had to work hard to secure roles over countless rivals, as strikingly handsome as they are. Having appeared in smaller parts before, it was the smash success of KinnPorsche – a show that almost didn’t get made because of funding issues – that catapulted them into not just the Thai limelight, but the global stratosphere.

Asked what Dior’s artistic director Kim Jones thinks of KinnPorsche, the duo laughs. Apo says: “We don’t know if he’s seen the show – we didn’t ask him. But we do know that our fans had been bombarding his Instagram account for a while, telling him about us, asking him to check us out, before he signed us up – well, at least that’s what he told us when we met him for the first time.”

“But for all you know, he could be binge-watching the series right now,” quips Mile, prompting another round of chuckles.

As the two men trade jokes in Thai, it’s clear that they share a genuine friendship. Their camaraderie is palpable, adding an extra layer of authenticity to their on-screen chemistry. Their behind-the-scenes antics and playful banter in candid posts have become fan fodder, launching thousands of TikTok videos and memes.

Mile says: “We’ve only become better friends in these past two-and-a-half years. We’ve become more synchronised, and our mindsets and energies are moving at the same pace. I can look at Apo and more or less understand what’s going on in his mind. We have small conflicts, of course – it’s normal among friends – but it’s usually something so minor, we can resolve it quickly.”

The best part of their friendship? Their shared love of dad jokes – that genre of silly, cheesy jokes with predictable punchlines that fathers supposedly love to tell their kids.

But Mile confesses: “I don’t tell dad jokes because I like them, to be honest. What I really, really want to tell are smart jokes, witty jokes… But I’m so bad at making jokes that they always come across as dad jokes, no matter how hard I try.”

Apo interjects: “Do you wanna hear a good dad joke?” Then, switching from Thai to halting English, he says slowly: “Hey you… watch where you walk… or you will… fall… into… my heart.”

[veetowervaporwave]

[Source]

Stolas bestie why are you rooting for them lmao.

[2aceofspades]

Holding you to it

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Lil time skip from the previous update..| Next

[emilynyaesmp]

WILD LIFE FINALE SPOLIERS UNDER CUT!!!!!!!

IM ACTUALLY NOT OK. GEM DIDNT WIN. NOOO. FUCK. NO. WHY. OMG IM GOING TO COMMIT WAR CRIMES WTF NOOOOYDYDTKDTKSTKSKTSKTZM. BUT ALSO THE FACT THAT SHE AND PEARL WERE FINALLY ABT TO BECOME ALLIES AGAIN AND SHE FUCKING DIED AND IM NOT OK AND SHE DIED TO A FUCKING VEX. A VEX. I RLLY THOUGHT IT WOULD BE SOME COOL FIGHT SCENE OR SMTH BUT ITS A VEX AND I WILL NEVER GET OVER THAT. IDK WHO WINS BUT IM THINKING ITS JOEL BUT OOOOGGGHHHHHH CHAT IM NEVER GONNA RECOVER FROM THIS OH MY GOODDDDDDD

[neutralitymybeloved]

When you're reading Ao3 in a public space and someone notices you and asks, "Is that fanfiction?"

[gracebethartacc]

teehees haiii soulwholeheads

[cj-kenobi]

after the battle, before the pyre

[foxy-kitsune]

LEE DONGHYUCK ACTUALLY WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH RANDOMLY POSTING A PADO DANCE VIDEO LOOKING LIKE THAT HUH? WHAT ABOUT MY HEALTH? LIKE I LITERALLY ALMOST DROPPED MY PHONE AND NEARLY HAD A HEART ATTACK LIKE HELLO?

[fulgurbugs]

Tressa + Therion Duopath - Back at Bolderfall

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(full series)

Bonus:

[kroovv]

Looking forward to your vn! I won't be supporting you through Dorian due to their very dodgy practices but will def keep an eye out if you find an alternative in future!

Sorry to hear that, hopefully i will have somewhere you'd be happier playing it in the future.

Thought it may take time, i understand not wanting to support Dorian but I am an individual creator and this is very much a passion project, with Horizon Walkers, Commissions and now this I am very busy and don't have a lot of time to learn programs from scratch. It could possibly take years before I am able to do that. So please if folk do want to support me please either just read Gravehearts on Dorian OR support me on Patreon or Ko-Fi. To even make that remotly possible.

[bruceawaynefrfr]

yall some dick riders fr, these men dont know you and wont fuck you stop bouncing on the dick with a boot in your mouth and recognize how fucking stupid they are right now

[theadventurek9]

She is everything to me.

[hasellia]

I want to know: do you feel dissociated from the current time? Have you noticed if any others have? & If yes to either, why do you think so? ( Writing why is NOT obligatory)

Author's thoughts & reasoning under the cut below V

As the year closes, I've noticed a lot of people feeling dissociated with the passing of time. This has been something I usually see at least once as a " time flies huh" kinda way. Maybe a liiitle bit more since the pandemic & with the current being internet so focused on the attention economy, understandably.

But within 2024; I've noticed so much more of this sense of " I should not be in this moment of time", and much much more from the people I would assume to be neurotypical or "well adjusted".

The people I've talked to agree on this: It is likely from how the business sector & hustle culture has influenced society in a "post" COVID-19 pandemic world. "Bali-bali" (hurry-hurry) is a term I hear a lot from a personal friend from Korea. The context being that folks post Korea-war had to act fast & snappy to rebuild their lives, & still act as such even if they're in prosperity. It's tearing children apart from how hard they're studying & adults from working.

It seems to be creeping here, too. For my personal micro-bubble, I understand. But not so for the world at large.

[softbutchthatlovesyou]

Thing I despise

Someone: I like to be called queer, and I love being queer.

Someone else, unpromoted pretending this isnt queerphobic: yeAH BUT DONT CALL ANYONE ELSE THAT WOTHOUT PERMISSIONS OKAY? THATS A SLUR!! YOURE IDENTITY IS A SLUR AND EVEN THOUGH YOU DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE IM MAKING SURE YOU DON'T CALL ME, A RANDOM STRANGER, THAT WORD! THATS A SLUR. HEY DID YOU KNOW IT'S A SLUR BTW? IT WAS A SLUR AND I STILL FIND IT TO BE A SLUR SO IF YOU CALL ME, A PERSON WHO WASN'T MENTION HERE, THAT SLUR THEN YOU ARE BAD! ACTUALLY YOU TECHNICALLY DID CALL ME IT BY SAYING QUEER COMMUNITY IN ANOTHER POST I SCROLLED YOUR BLOG FOR; ARE YOU A SLUR USING BIGOT WHO HATES OTHER LGBTQ PEOPLE? HUH?!?!

[the-worms-in-your-bones]

Thinking about skin of the sleek and thief who stole time again……………… romana I would have been your friend

[lorepossum]

Re: The New Orleans Rats

Other people, cowards: Nooooo! What do you mean Jean was “”with”” someone before the intern!?!? Weeehhh my intern would be so jealous!

Me, not a coward: nah, Intern is laughing like a hyena at these 3 idiots and is also a raging bisexual. They get it.