Former staff from RS Company's Avant studio|set up a new production house with M Pictures

Although its comedies have always turned a neat profit, movie studio Avant has not escaped its parent company RS Public Company Ltd's re-engineering process.

RS boss Surachai Chetchotisak has even sent his brother Komson to lead Avant in a new and what he sees as a more coherent direction.

"We need to control both the budget and the risks, and not just focus on the movies," says Surachai. "Avant is to be a company that produces TV dramas and music videos as well as films."

Most of Avant's staff have left and joined M69 Company, a new firm set up by producer Jantima Liawsirikun, who was behind the success of "Sab Sanit Sit Saina" ("Noodle Boxer"), "Hode Nha Haew," and "Super Hab Saeb Sabud" ("Super Hab"). M69 is under the umbrella of M Pictures Entertainment, which has mainly distributed films but has been looking to expand into production.

"At first we wanted to run an independent production house, but M Pictures liked our first three projects so much, we decided to join them," says Jantima.

Their first project is "32 Thunwa" ("32 December"), directed by Rerkchai Paungpetch and expected to star singer Worawate "Dan" Danuwong and comedian Nong Cha Cha Cha.

That will be followed by a travel movie from Kittikorn Liawsirikul and Monthon Arayangkoon's as yet to be titled follow-up to his 2004 debut "Paksa Wayu" ("Garuda").