Press Statements
Leonardo Speaks to the Thai People

Tuesday 19th January 1999: First statement from Leonardo DiCaprio over The Beach controversies

''First of all, I love Thailand. This country is magnificent, the people are especially warm and welcoming, and I feel privileged to be filming here.

I was not involved in selecting any of the film sites in Thailand. Preservation of the environment has always been of utmost concern to me, and I would never be part of any project that did anything to harm nature.

Before I arrived in Thailand, I was assured that nothing done by 20th Century Fox would have any detrimental effect whatsoever, and that the island of Phi Phi would be returned to its natural state. In my two weeks here, I have seen extraordinary measures being taken to protect the island, and I pledge to remain vigilant and tolerate nothing less than these maximum efforts.

I'm grateful that the Thai government, the environmental committee that investigated the site, and the courts all agree that Fox is doing nothing wrong. Meanwhile, I hope to have a great experience acting in The Beach."

Leonardo DiCaprio

The following is the reaction in the national press:

DiCaprio defends 'The Beach'

HOLLYWOOD star Leonardo DiCaprio issued a statement on Monday defending the changes made at the Phi Phi Island national park for the filming of ''The Beach''.

DiCaprio's statement comes as the Civil Court waits to decide tomorrow on whether to impose an emergency ban on the filming of ''The Beach'' or to accept the Bt100 million guarantee.

''Preservation of the environment has always been my utmost concern, and I would never be part of a project that does anything to harm nature,'' DiCaprio said in a statement released.

''Before I arrived in Thailand, I was assured that nothing done by 20th Century Fox would have any detrimental effects, and that the island of Phi Phi would be returned to its natural state,'' DiCaprio said in his statement.

The court accepted the lawsuit from Krabi's Provincial Administration Organisation and Ao Phra Nang Tambon Administration Organisation last Friday alleging that damage had been done to Phi Phi Island national park and that the permission granted to Fox by the Royal Forestry Department was illegal.

Warin Thiamcharas, a lawyer for the two Krabi local assemblies, said in Bangkok that the court had three days to make a decision after the request had been submitted, thus until tomorrow.

He said that once the decision had been made the court order would have to be signed by the five defendants before it came into effect.The five defendants include the Royal Forestry Department (RFD) director-general, 20th Century Fox and its local partner Santa International Film Production Co.

''The defendants have 15 days to sign the court order and another seven days to appeal against the decision,'' he said.

Wichien Harnpraween, a lawyer for Fox, said on Monday that he was suspicious about the reasons behind the lawsuit.

''If they really wanted to fight the filming, why didn't they file the lawsuit before? It seems like they just intend to disrupt the filming,'' he said.

DiCaprio added in his statement: ''In my two weeks here, I have seen extraordinary measures being taken to protect the island, and I pledge to remain vigilant and tolerate nothing less than these maximum efforts.''

Last month villagers on Phi Phi saw a foreigner visit Maya Bay several times with the production team. They speculated that this man was DiCaprio's father, but he was later said by a crew member to be a close friend of DiCaprio's father.

The crew member said he had visited the island because DiCaprio's father was worried about his son's safety.

''The news from here might be making Dicaprio's father worry about his son's safety. Then he asked his friend, who planned to visit Thailand, to check on the situation,'' the crew member, who declined to be named, said.

February 5, 1999: Second Statement by Leonardo DiCaprio

PHI PHI LEY ISLAND, Thailand -- I am acting, here in Thailand, in a film called The Beach. It is about backpackers who look for utopia on a Thai island.

The location in the book where the story's utopia is set, is in a national park, so we have remained true to the book. Phi Phi Ley Island seems the most perfect location that the book's author, Alex Garland, could have imagined. A small island encompasses a wall of rock, with an idyllic world inside.

In the film, the interesting thing about my character, Richard, is he is a backpacker in the true sense of the word. A rugged individualist. He is not looking for luxury. He is truly looking for adventure. The great thing about real backpackers, who come to foreign countries, is they go to more isolated places, and improve the commerce of the people who live there. I think the release of a film like this will encourage young people to see the beauty of Thailand, and encourage more young backpackers to come here. This film will also encourage more people to explore the countryside of Thailand, and some of the isolated villages that wouldn't normally earn money from tourism.

Personally, I find the Thai people to be extremely friendly and polite, and very welcoming to foreigners. Back home in America, Thailand is certainly the hot spot for young people to go, one of the most interesting places to go. They say, "Before you die, you have to go there." I told a lot of my friends I was coming here, and they were very interested too.

I also want to say a few things about what is going on, concerning the environmental issues of our shooting in Thailand, and would like to tell my side of the story, and put the record straight. For example, I would never, by any means, intentionally go forth with a project that I believed would damage the environment of any country, or the image of Thailand.

I just want to say two points: I know that the company took three tons of garbage off the island, and I believe that whenever we leave the island, it is going to be better off than it was before.

From what I see with my own eyes, everything is OK. I have seen nothing that had been destroyed or damaged in any way. I cannot tell you the reasons why people have been saying the opposite. It is beyond me.

I've seen Fox taking meticulous care, and their utmost respect for the island. If I had seen any evidence that anything was being done wrong, I wouldn't be happy. I wouldn't endorse this project. The environment, and environmental issues, are the first and foremost charitable concerns I have focused on, and I consider myself an environmentalist. And I want to do a lot more for this cause in the future. I would never be part of a situation that would cause harm to an island, or waterfall, or any place.

From what I've been told about Fox's filming on Phi Phi Ley Island, people have approved it. We had about 20 environmentalists come and study it, and said it was 100 percent fine. So it is not just my personal opinion.

Thank you very much for your time.

Leonardo DiCaprio

The following is the reaction in the national press the following day:

Movie star defends use of Maya site

Insists The Beach would boost tourism

Screen idol Leonardo DiCaprio yesterday issued a strong defence against the use of a Thai paradise island in his new movie, ruling out environmentalists' claims the project had destroyed an idyllic beach.

The Titanic star insisted producers would leave Maya beach in southern Phi Phi island national park in a better state than before filming and said the film, The Beach, would boost tourism.

"I would never, by any means, intentionally go forth with a project that I believed would damage the environment of any country, or the image of Thailand," Mr DiCaprio said in a lengthy statement issued in Bangkok.

"From what I see with my own eyes, everything is OK. I have seen nothing that had been destroyed or damaged in any way.

"I cannot tell you the reasons why people have been saying the opposite, it is beyond me."

Mr DiCaprio said producers 20th Century Fox had taken "meticulous" care to safeguard the island's natural heritage and had cleared tonnes of garbage off the beach.

Local environmentalists opposed to the film claim the beach's fragile ecosystem has been ruined by alterations designed to paint Maya beach as Hollywood's idea of a paradise island.

Coconut palms have been planted on the beach and activists claim dunes have been shifted and natural foliage ripped up.

But Mr DiCaprio, describing himself as an environmentalist, said Fox had shown nothing but respect for the island and said Thailand would benefit from the project.

"I think the release of a film like this will encourage young people to see the beauty of Thailand, and encourage more young backpackers to come here."

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