Ctar said it was vital Thailand looked to the future and ensured a constant stream of talent continued to come on line.
"Our crews are fantastic. But how many crews do we have? Who's looking after the training of the next generation of crews?" he asked.
"The guy who did James Bond in 1974, he doesn't move so fast anymore," he said, referring to The Man with the Golden Gun, which was partly filmed around the dramatic limestone coast of southern Thailand.
The consensus is that Thailand only has the capacity to supply crews for three major productions at any time. And demand over the next year could exceed that.
"We have skilful people, but we don't have enough of them," Sudhichai acknowledged.
Nevertheless, the Film Board is still hoping to attract three or four foreign productions with budgets of over 200 million baht (US$4.6 million) each this year.
Some 59 foreign films were at least partly produced in Thailand last year.
Sudhichai said he also aims to overcome the negative press that surrounded probably the best-known film to be made here -- The Beach, starring heart throb Leonardo Di Caprio.
Thai environmentalists grabbed headlines around the world after complaining that the film crew tore away native plants alone the dunes of stunning Phi Phi Island and planted coconut trees in order to create their idea of paradise.
"Our image was not so good after the shooting of The Beach," Sudhichai admitted. "But I think things have changed since then."



