Stella Nova Film from Sweden, with the help of Living Films, recently completed principle photography on the low-budget romantic comedy “Cutting Loose” which shot in Sweden and in Thailand.  

Helmed by the Swedish director Staffan Lindberg, and produced by Lena Rehnberg, “Cutting Loose” shot in exotic locations around both Phuket and Krabi.  The film follows the adventures and inter-twining stories of several characters who, each in their own way, travel to Thailand to escape their routine lives back in Europe and to follow their dreams and try to live in the moment.  Thailand was the perfect setting for this story of finding paradise and love.

Some of the locations that were used included Bang Tao Beach, Layan Beach, Kamala walking street in Phuket and Ton Sai beach and Koh Hong in Krabi.  Unfortunately, Southern Thailand had an unusually wet March and April this year – and the film team had to constantly overcome schedule changes and last minute location adjustments to compensate.  However, through careful planning and use of cover sets and through amazing cooperation with local authorities and location owners, the shooting was successful and only went over schedule by one day.

Successful productions like “Cutting Loose” are helping Thailand to gain a positive reputation for being able to host lower budget European dramas.   Although Thailand attracts many high-profile Hollywood pictures, such as “The Hangover Part II”,  it is less known that many lower budget European features are now picking Thailand as their production base.   

Just in the last two years, Living Films has been involved with many European low budget dramas that picked Thailand; from Denmark (“Teddy Bear” which shot in Pattaya) Switzerland (“How About Love” which shot in Chiang Mai) and Ireland (“Crossing Salween” which shot in Chiang Mai as well.)  This was, in fact, our second Swedish picture, after having helped produce "Angel" directed by Colin Nutely.

Successful productions of lower-budget European dramas, like “Cutting Loose” are clearly starting to encourage more and more European filmmakers to look into shooting in Thailand as well.