MATT DILLON and his film juggernaut checked out of town on Tuesday, headed for

five days of shooting in Bangkok. There is no word yet on when the release will be

but insiders say that it won't get hooked in with the regular bundle of hopeful blockbusters

that get premiered in summer or before Christmas. The curious will have to sit back

and wait until a date is set.

The buzz from the set is that a number of in-country recruits delivered brilliant

performances. Sophal, owner of Happy Herb Pizza, is being talked up for a Best Supporting

Actor nomination after his scintillating transvestite rendition in a karaoke parlour

in Kampot. Aussie Snow hit the nail on the head during his spot as a burned out expat

in the Laughing Lotus massage parlor. And veteran 73-year-old actor Lotto needed

little coaching for his role as the bar owner in Kep.

 

One scene in Bokor had crew members a bit spooked. A wire and plastic "cooked

human body" was flown in from Hollywood that looked so real there were a flurry

of rumors that some poor soul's spirit might be offended and hungry for a bit of

payback. The special effects lads had to spend some time pointing out the non-human

nature of the concoction before nerves were eased.

And is film making hard work? Just ask Andy Pendleton. He sweated off 40 pounds in

the last four months.

• The word from Pailin is that In Sopheap is quite busy producing a biography of

  Khieu Samphan. An initial version in French will be published in Thailand with efforts

  under way to find someone to do the English translation.

• There are a few nervous bureaucrats over at UNHCR. With the 24 Montagnards now

  headed for the US, fears of a "pull factor" are circulating and people

  are scratching their heads over what they will do if another 2,000 refugees show

  up on the border next week.

• This seems to be the season of street banners. From the Hun Sen Golf Tournament

  to the Assembly of Franco-phone Parliamentarians, Norodom Boulevard is chock-a-block

  with all kinds of announcements. Inquiring minds want to know what happened at the

  event called "Long Live the 51st Anniversary of World Meteorological Day".