Fan Meeting: let’s get to know August and Mac!

On June 1st, actors August Vachiravit Paisarnkulwong and Mac Nattapat Nimjirawat enjoyed their time visiting France to meet their fans. They will soon be starring in the Addicted Heroin series, a Thai remake of the Addicted Chinese series, which was banned after one season and adapted again last year as a new series called Stay With Me.

This event was far from the ultra-organized, precise and choreographed fan meetings we’re used to seeing. This time, the fan meeting was something way more intimate: we did not gather into a big venue or a showroom, but into a small restaurant in the fifth arrondissement of Paris called Les petits plats de Marc (Marc’s Little Meals). Around fifty people were expected at the event, and in the end we were a bit more than twenty fans willing to meet August and Mac. Some on them even drove for hours to be there!

The restaurant where the fan meeting took place

Despite the fact that August and Mac’s first series together wasn’t released yet at that time, Alexandra and Gabin took advantage of the situation to join the actors and get to know them better… 

Let’s talk about the event in detail!

Rain was pouring that day, but we arrived earlier than expected to put out a few feelers. At the restaurant, we met Viviane, the organizer of the event, and her niece who was great at livening things up! We started talking with the fans who were arriving one by one while waiting for the actors, and we met some acquaintances along the way!

Once August and Mac arrived with their staff, the event officially started. It all went in a pretty casual and easy-going way, just as if we were attending the birthday party of two friends, and yet without knowing them! The actors settled in the restaurant’s mezzanine and fans got up there to meet them. One by one, we were able to chat with the actors for around ten minutes (5 minutes were scheduled with each actor). A translator was there to help from French to Thai if needed. 

Fans were able to ask August and Mac their questions freely about their work as actors or their role in their upcoming series. But we have to admit we were plenty to talk to them about their trip to France, the weather, and to give them advice about French cuisine. Mac and August probably left with a very long list of French dishes to try (and we hope someone told them about raclette!). In exchange we also got recommendations of Thai dishes or places to visit in their country. Alexandra remembers « laab », a salad with ground meat, profoundly recommended by Mac!

Mac & August waving from the mezzanine!

After discussing with the actors face to face, every fan got a signing and pictures with them, with a signed Polaroid photo as well. Actually, some of them were not really lucky and had to do their Polaroid pictures a few times (up to five times!) to get their photo right, this made the event funnier!

While waiting for our turn, we were savoring a homemade and typically French cold buffet served by the restaurant staff. August and Mac took a few breaks and waved at the fans downstairs. While the event lasted a bit more than three hours, it all went pretty fast. After all this, the event ended with a few group pictures in front of the restaurant.

Our writer’s opinion

Gabin: I have to admit I was a bit nervous about attending this fan meeting because it was announced just a week before the scheduled date, and the « format » of the event could be a little bit surprising as well. And in the end… it was a success. Even if I didn’t know the actors yet, I was really happy to spend some time with them face to face, in a small group. This kind of event doesn’t happen a lot. Which just goes to show that simplicity is enough sometimes! August and Mac were pretty lovely and radiant with everyone despite bad weather and heat at the mezzanine during the event. I hope we get the chance to meet them again sometime!

Alexandra: If I had to sum up my feelings about this fan meeting in a few words, it would be intimate and friendly. We spent a first-hand moment with the actors, far from the crowd and usual screams! We didn’t know what to expect from this event when it was announced but we were not let down. Mac and August made an impression on me with their maturity and their spontaneous behavior. We got to know them the best way possible and I hope they enjoyed the warm welcome the fans provided them. I don’t know about you but I can’t wait to see them in Addicted Heroin!