Four years on from his breakout turn in “KinnPorsche: The Series,” the Thai actor’s star continues to rise. He talks to Tama Miyake Lung about journaling, becoming friends with his characters, and why getting comfortable is the one thing he refuses to do

A little over a year ago, Wichapas “Bible” Sumettikul picked up a pen and started journaling. “I just write whatever is in my head,” says the 28-year-old Thai actor and model. “Sometimes I’m feeling a certain way, and writing it down helps me explore those feelings, and then usually – not all the time – I can sort of pinpoint why I’m feeling that way. It’s almost just like getting whatever’s up here down on the page, and then it gives me a different perspective on how to view those thoughts or feelings. Another way to look at it is just like I just need to dump everything out of the container, and then I can sort things out easier.”

These days, Bible spends much of his time thinking about characters – the ones he is asked to play, and his own. After debuting as Vegas in KinnPorsche: The Series, he played a son of a wealthy businessman in 4 Minutes and an employee at a low-cost airline in Jetlag. While taking on such diverse personalities can have an impact on the actor, it’s not in the way most would expect.

“I have to figure out their wants, their needs, likes, and background. So it’s almost like a new close friend coming into my life,” Bible says. “They don’t really influence me by their personality rubbing off on me. It’s more like, I know more about human nature. Now I know more about interpersonal relationships with this new person, because it’s almost like I had to get to know them.”

In fact, Bible considers acting to be logical as opposed to emotional. He sees every action as a natural reaction based on each character’s unique traits. “From how I view it, you know, the character acts in a way that makes sense to them. So if you look at everything as, like, a big picture – what they go through, what they’ve been through, what they want, what they need, what they’re feeling right now – and then you take an outside stimulus and you put it on them, and then they react that way. It makes sense,” he says.

While Bible is said to have used method acting while playing Vegas, his newfound journaling practice has proven to be a powerful way to get to know both his characters and himself at the same time. “Looking back, maybe what I did wasn’t really true method. There are so many different schools of thought, so I’m just gonna say what I did before maybe wasn’t the best option overall,” he says. “But now I feel like, especially with journaling, it helps me know my base self more. How I’m feeling, what I’m thinking – and that also helps me get into character. Because when you get into character, you have to accept the reality that you are also you while you’re that character.”

That’s not to say Bible’s goal is to remain comfortable at all times. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. “I feel like I don’t want to ever get used to anything or, I guess, comfortable with anything. I always want to try something new,” he says. “If I feel like I’m too used to or too comfortable with something, I think I want to step out just outside my comfort zone and to explore new things.”

For him, that can mean anything from gaining more confidence in his Thai (having attended an international school in Chiang Mai, English has always been his go-to language) to saying yes to more fashion partnerships and exploring a wider range of storytelling. “I feel like I’m getting more experience. Definitely more experience than I had before, and a little bit more confidence, I can say. Yeah,” he says. “So maybe, in the same definition, I’m getting a little bit more familiar. I just don’t want to get too comfortable or used to things. I want to understand more, but I still want to step out of my comfort zone. I don’t want to become accustomed to it. I want to try new things.”

When asked if he would like to try directing, Bible reveals some of the self-awareness he has been cultivating of late. “Yeah, I think it would be cool to try. But again, these things, there’s a process,” he says. “Just because, in the future, if I have many years’ experience as an actor, it doesn’t mean that I can all of a sudden direct. If I’m really interested in the future, then I would probably just try it on my own, pick up a camera and do it. If I all of a sudden step in without having any education, it would be hard to be accepted. If I’m really interested, I would just direct something small myself, and do it like people who studied directing do – writing a story, doing a thesis, making a short film – and just keep doing it until I have a good enough portfolio, and then step into the industry.”

For now, Bible is focused on telling stories through his acting. Not only does he see TV and movies as a great escape, he also appreciates how their storylines offer viewers a way to reflect, to relate or simply to feel something. And as for whose storytelling reaches the level of #legend for Bible? “Dolph Lundgren is one of [my] favourite idols, he’s done it all,” he says. “He’s really impressive in terms of looks, physique and also intellect. My favourite role is him in Rocky IV. It’s supposed to be the pinnacle of human humanity. He is something that I aspire to – just see what your limits are. Do everything. You know, don’t let anything hold you back.”

But the longest game Bible is playing has nothing to do with acting. When we last spoke, he said his ultimate goal was to start a family. “I feel like to be a good father, you need to be a good human being first. So in my daily life, I try to be the type of example that I want to have for my kids,” he says. “It’s difficult, as humans are selfish creatures, but I still try to be a better person every day.”

CREDITS

Creative Concept and Production / #legend
Photography / Somkiat Kangsdalwirun
Styling / Kontee Pamaranont
Creative Director / Patipat Chaiwitesh
Producer / Titapat Kateklin
Hair / Thanupol Phoothepamornkul
Make-Up / Atimate Ariyakornanun
Location / The Royal Suite at Mandarin Oriental Bangkok

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