สถานภาพความรู้เศรษฐกิจสร้างสรรค์และศักยภาพของอุตสาหกรรมภาพยนตร์ไทยในการพัฒนาสู่เศรษฐกิจสร้างสรรค์ / มนฑิรา ธาดาอำนวยชัย = Status of knowledge on creative economy and the potential of Thai film industry towards creative economy / Montira Tadaamnuaychai
This research has the following objectives: 1) to study the status of information and research on topics related to creative economy, locally and internationally; 2) to study the potential of Thai film industry in fostering a creative economy; and 3) to develop recommendations and guidelines for the development of creative economy for film industry in Thailand. The study uses documentary research, policy analysis and key informant interviews for data collection. According to the research, the reviewed literature and research on creative economy reflect two major theoretical dimensions – economic, and media and cultural studies. From an economic dimension, economic institutions related government agencies and industrial corporations are seen as the prime movers and central agent in mobilizing the changes in the new economic formation. The economic perspective is macro in focus and emphasizes such issues as economic growth, employment, profit-seeking and international wealth derived from exports of cultural products. Culture is seen only as a consumable product. On the other hand, the media and cultural studies perspective sees cultural producers and the exchange of meanings in cultures as the beginning and progenitor of changes in the new economy. Networks of cultural exchanges, cultural participation and creation and promotion of cultural identity are seen as fundamental components in a creative economy. In this light, culture is seen as more meaningful than just a consumable product. As for the Thai film industry, the researcher has gauged broadly from a self-constructed film creativity index and finds that there is a significantly high potential of which the strengths are mainly reflected through creative labor, skilled craftsmanship, and service-mindedness of workers in the film industry. As for weaknesses of the Thai film industry, infrastructure, both technological and social, is found to be major limitations, especially the inflexibility of film-related laws that still prefer censorship and control of freedom of expression as well as the shortage of research and development in this area. The study concludes by recommending that an independent public enterprise be set up to be a central agent in promotion of a creative economy in the Thai film sector by covering the entire value chain in the industry from production, distribution to consumption outlet. The new enterprise will integrate between public and private sectors in capacity-building towards the new creative economy.
