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yoursincerelyholmes · 15 days

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BAD BUDDY FILMING LOCATIONS

This isn’t an analysis of any episode, but rather a list of (several, though not all) Bad Buddy filming locations, the result of some obsessive Internet sleuthing over the past week. It doesn’t really add much more detail to the narrative of the series, but it does give an idea of how challenging the filming process must have been for the Bad Buddy team. (Information cross-referenced from other websites and online maps is current as at 15 March 2022.)

First up is the legendary rooftop: Chana City Residence (829 Pracha Uthit Rd, Bangkok, visible on Google Street View using Google Maps).

The flat roof of this apartment building was the setting for many scenes that were key to the plot (including PatPran’s blind-date-gone-wrong at Ep.2 [2/4] 4.56; the Epic Rooftop Kiss at Ep.5 [4/4] 11.35; PatPran’s dinner-with-a-view at Ep.8 [2/4] 3.10; Pran pleading with Pat to take up the role of Riam at Ep.7 [4/4] 1.40; and Pat consoling Pran after his confrontation with his mom at Ep.10 [4/4] 12.42).

The corresponding Behind-the-Scenes video (tagged จนกว่าจะพบกันใหม่ครับเพื่อน! on YouTube) shows how all the rooftop filming, heavily delayed by rain, was done in the course of one very long evening that dragged on into the night, before completion in the wee hours of the next morning. Because of the bad weather, some filming was shifted indoors (suggesting that there may have been other key scenes originally slated for the rooftop). It was also the last night of filming, so (almost) everyone in the cast and crew turned up for a group shot. (They were also joined by Nanon’s real-life mom – I think that’s her in the front row, extreme right, in red. How sweet is it that she dropped by too for Nanon's last night of filming Bad Buddy? Makes me love this vivacious lady even more. 😊)

The rooftop was also the setting for the music video accompanying Pat’s theme (the lightly-spun jazz-pop confection “Secret”, sung by Kacha Nontanun) – the same decorative lights visible in the video are still strung up on the railing at Ep.10 [4/4] 12.22, just before Pran’s rooftop breakdown.

For visual proof of this location: Chana City Residence (at the top part of its façades) has the same rectangular view-framing walls seen at Ep.2 [2/4] 4.56, and the company that installed its satellite dishes (HSTN) has a photograph on its website (https://www.hstn.co.th/en/album/6295/digital-tv-system-chana-city-residence-by-hstn – the fourth photograph in the series) that shows the same rooftop view enjoyed by PatPran at Ep.8 [2/4] 3.10:

Pat and Pran’s student apartment interiors were filmed inside studio/suite units at the Tinidee Hotel Bangkok Golf Club (heavily disguised with posters, furniture and random clutter to look more like student accommodation). Pran’s apartment is unit 439 (Ep.8 [1I4] 4.39) while Pat and Pa’s apartment is unit 444 (Ep.8 [1I4] 5.39).

For visual proof, check out the Tinidee website at https://tinideebangkok.com/rooms/#twobedrooms.

The views of its Executive Suite show the same or similar kitchen set-up, bulkheads, moldings, curtains, wall colors, air-conditioning fan coil unit, door paneling, room cardkey slot, and wall-mounted flatscreen TV (with its shelving below). Pran’s dining chairs and sofa, that we see at Ep.2 [1I4] 14.00 and at Ep.4 [1I4] 13.22, are also visible on the Tinidee website – click on the room gallery at the bottom of their homepage.

The high school and university scenes were shot at various locations in and around Rangsit University. (Fun fact: a lot of filming for SOTUS happened on this campus as well.) PatPran’s high school entrance and lobby (Ep.2 [4/4] 8.28; Ep.10 [3I4] 1.18) were represented by the Satit Bilingual School (52/347 Muang Ake, Phahonyothin Road, Lak Hok, Mueang, Pathum Thani 12000), within the Rangsit University campus.

(above) The Satit Bilingual School, Rangsit campus

For visual proof, check out Google Street View and Google Images for Satit Bilingual School (Bangkok).

The scenes at the back of the Archi Faculty (where Pat goes to pass Pran his USB stick (Ep.5 [1I4] 7.37) and outside the Engineering Canteen (just after Korn rebuffs Pat when he discovered PatPran were an item, Ep.9 [1I4] 10.05) were filmed at the Rangsit University Student Center and Food Court (the white angled struts are quite a campus landmark).

For visual proof, Google Maps and Google Street View have images of this building.

The various seaside scenes (during the Archi Volunteer Camp of Ep.6, PatPran’s honeymoon at Ep.11 and their graduation photo with Junior and UncleTong at Ep.12 [3I4] 5.17) were filmed in and around the beach district of Hua Hin. (Can’t help thinking they’ll be popular with Bad Buddy fans looking to take graduation photos. 😊)

Sadly, UncleTong’s Zero Waste Village doesn’t actually exist, but was composited from several locations around Hua Hin. Perhaps fittingly, UncleTong himself was played by multi-faceted Renaissance Man Khom Kongkiat Khomsiri, known for wearing many hats in the industry including those of respected director (especially for action movies), screenwriter, producer and (sometime) actor.

The entrance to the Zero Waste Village (Ep.6 [2/4] 1.53, Ep.11 [1I4] 4.28, Ep.11 [4/4] 0.22, Ep.12 [3I4] 5.19) is in reality the Hua Hin Fishing Pier, also known as the Saphan Pla pedestrian promenade (and which becomes the Saphan Pla Night Market on weekends). Google Maps and Street View (plus several Hua Hin tourist websites) show many images of this pier for visual confirmation. The image here is from the video on YouTube posted by Thailand Adventures & Garden “Hua Hin Fish Pier: Best View (of) the Sun Rise in Hua Hin City”.

Scenes of beach games, meals and drinks during the Archi Volunteer Camp (e.g., Ep.6 [2/4] 3.19, Ep.6 [2/4] 7.56, Ep.6 [3I4] 14.05) were filmed at the Seapine Recreation Center on Suan Son Pradipat Beach. For visual evidence, take a look at The Thairish Sun’s YouTube video “Beach Walk – Khao Takiab to Suan Son” (dated 5 Feb 2022). You can see the same white beach chairs and catering pavilion that made an appearance during camp mealtimes (at timestamp 1.08), and the same view of Khao Takiab Hill that was in the background of many beach games (e.g., at Ep.6 [2/4] 3.50) at timestamp 1.03.

The Zero Waste Village office (Ep.6 [3I4] 11.10), Pat’s room during the Archi Camp (Ep.6 [4/4] 1.08), UncleTong’s outdoor kitchen/dining area (Ep.11 [1I4] 10.16 and Ep.11 [2/4] 2.51) and PatPran’s honeymoon suite (Ep.11 [1I4] 12.09 and Ep.11 [3I4] 2.18) were all set up at the Khao Tao Beach Lodge Old Siam. See https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Hotel-resort/Khao-Tao-Beach-Lodge-2599550960183666 and https://www.facebook.com/khaotaobeachlodge/photos for visual evidence. They even have a couple of photos taken during the filming of Bad Buddy, dated 17 September 2021. 😊

There is also a close-up video available on YouTube – “Best of Beach Walk - Haad Khao Tao, Hua Hin/Thailand” posted by followhannes.w on 16 Mar 2021 – that shows the lodge looking quite run-down before its yearly repainting (sea air is harsh on buildings). However, the current Facebook postings show that it is very much still in operation as at March 2022, and in lovely condition as well.

Actually, Pat’s room during the Archi Camp of Ep.6 and PatPran’s honeymoon suite in UncleTong’s house were both the same space, just made to look different in Ep.11 with a lower camera angle, the blue mosquito net removed and the interior gussied up with a surfeit of nautical tchotchkes. Visual clues supporting this – the timber walls and framing, curtains, window placement and air-conditioning controls (to the right of the door) were all the same in both set-ups. The room is on the upper level of the double-storey timber building facing the sea, above the eco-village office (see followhannes.w’s YouTube video above at timestamp 5.40). From this we can tell that the scene where Pat stands on the deck outside their suite and sees Pran on the beach (Ep.11 [3I4] 17.39) is editorial artifice – the roof of the lower veranda and the sea almond tree in front of the building would have blocked Pat’s view of Pran, unless he was far away in an unshaded part of the beach (which is not what we see). So Ohm and Nanon must have filmed their bits separately – kudos to their acting for still managing to convey the emotional connection. 👍

The hut where Pat and Pran work with the local fishermen (Ep.11 [2/4] 0.28, 2.07 and 7.59) is located at the bend of Ruamjai Alley nearest the sea, facing the southern breakwater of Khao Tao Beach. (Check out Google Maps for visuals.) The net fishing scene (Ep.11 [2/4] 1.47) was filmed next to the breakwater – you can just make out a bit of Wat Tham Khao Tao in the background. This corner of the beach was also the setting for their beachside bet (Ep.6 [4/4] 4.39) and Pran's walk with Junior's mom (Ep.11 [2/4] 10.20), while the breakwater itself was where they had honeymoon beers and conversation (Ep.11 [3I4] 9.54).

The beach where Pat and Pran frolic in the sea (Ep.6 [3I4] 4.50) after their market visit and mud-play is referenced as Sai Noi Beach (actually just outside Hua Hin District) in the Behind-the-Scenes video (tagged ขอบคุณทุกคนที่เปียกไปด้วยกัน! on YouTube). As the rocks are similar, the location is likely also the same one for their beach talk at Ep.11 [3I4] 5.44. For visual proof, Google Maps has a Sai Noi beach walk with several 360 panoramic photos.

UncleYod’s Beach Bar (Ep.11 [4/4] 5.20) is actually the Anchor Bar and Restaurant, also at Khao Tao Beach. Google Maps has a 360-view taken by Tanawat Wongpichet that shows the location clearly, and there are also photos on their Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/anchorbarhuahin/photos). There’s a post on the Pantip forum saying that Director Backaof mentioned it was on the island of Ko Sadao, but this is wrong. Or maybe the quote is correct but Director Backaof was just trolling us. Again. 😊

The hospital where Pat was treated for his gunshot graze was Boonyavej Hospital at 834/1 Phet Kasem Road, Bangkok. Both interior (e.g., Ep.9 [4/4] 10.00) and exterior (e.g., Ep.9 [4/4] 5.30 and 9.56) scenes were shot there (reference: https://www.boonyavej.com and Google Images).

The high school reunion was filmed inside and outside The Halls Bangkok (a convention center at 79/1 Soi Vipawadee Rangsit 64, Vipawadee Rangsit Road, Taladbangkean, Laksi, Bangkok 10210). There is visual confirmation on their Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/thehallsbangkok/photos) and at https://www.centerwedding.com/bangkok/venues/429021.

Bad Buddy’s interior scenes (e.g., Ep.12 [2/4] 2.18 and 4.11) were shot in the small dining hall with no false ceiling – corroborating details include the same exposed (ceiling-hung) air-conditioning FCU above the stage, with the same (faux?) timber strip flooring, hanging ferns and copper-colored globular pendant lighting. The exterior shot (Ep.12 [2/4] 10.24) is the front entrance, visible on Facebook.

These are all the locations for this post. For other locations discovered after I wrote the above, check out the listing at the end of this write-up. 😊

The location-based shooting can’t have been easy (not that it ever is) – Director Backaof and his production team would have had to pay great attention to detail in order to minimize continuity errors and differentiate scenes/locations in time and space (e.g., when filming in Pat’s room v. PatPran’s honeymoon suite). It would have been especially tough on the actors, requiring them to jump about the different stages of their characters’ emotional journeys, usually out of sequence. For example, at the beach Ohm and Nanon would have had to portray an awkward emotional distance between Pat and Pran for Ep.6, but then also couple-mode intimacy for Ep.11. Likewise, on the rooftop they would have had to incarnate Pat and Pran at very different junctures in their relationship, from childhood frenemies getting re-acquainted (Ep.2 [2/4] 4.56), to hopeful romantics daring a forbidden kiss (Ep.5 [4/4] 11.35), to squabbling rivals competing in a strange courtship bet (Ep.7 [4/4] 1.47), to new boyfriends navigating each other’s boundaries (Ep.8 [2/4] 3.10) and finally to star-crossed Shakespearean lovers finding solace in each other’s arms (Ep.10 [4/4] 12.42) – but with the order of scenes all jumbled up. 🤦‍♂️ (We know this from the Behind-the-Scenes video, tagged จนกว่าจะพบกันใหม่ครับเพื่อน! on YouTube.) It’s testament to how excellent everyone was at their craft (both in front of and behind the camera), that the end product has the seamless fluidity it does. 👍

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[Afterpost Edit: here are the links to all the BBS filming location posts so far:

Part 1 – The legendary rooftop, PatPran’s student apartments, their high school, the white arches behind the Engineering Canteen, the Zero Waste Village and various seaside scenes, their honeymoon suite, the hospital where Pat was treated for his gunshot graze, and the high school reunion.

Part 2 – Pat and Pran’s family homes, the Flagpole Bar, the car park fight location, and the Jae Si Curry House.

Part 3 – Various locations at and around the rugby field, including Pat’s photoshoot with Ink, the rugby bleachers, the iced milk tea (and green tea wave) picnic table, InkPa’s photography picnic, the old bus stop and the new bus stop. Also Khun Noppharnach’s pharmacy.

Part 4 – Pat’s Engineering Faculty (in and around Rangsit University’s College of Engineering).

Part 5 – Pran’s Architecture Faculty (Rangsity University’s School of Architecture).

Part 6 – Various F&B and commercial locations (eateries, shops, malls and a market).

Part 7 – Pat’s post-graduation apartment and Pran’s residence in Singapore.

Part 8 – Various campus locations filmed within Rangsit University’s Digital Multimedia Complex, including the auditorium and the Freshy Day Song Contest.

Part 9 – The LogTech Building and Pran’s architectural office in Singapore.

Part 10 – Locations for the Our Skyy 2 x Bad Buddy special episodes.

Part 11 – The apartment for rent that Pran went to view in Ep.2, the elevator scene with Pat just after the viewing, and Wai's apartment.

Part 12 – PatPran's elementary and high schools, as well as the location of Pa's near-drowning.

This list will be updated when I post remaining locations in due course – there are only a few more. 😊]

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