Biography & experience

BIOGRAPHY

Takonkiet’s career began in 1990 right after he completed his BA in Communications & Theatre from Boston College and MS in Broadcasting from Boston University. In 1991, he made situation comedy (“sit-com”) a popular genre in the Thai entertainment industry from his break-through sit-com The Three Brothers, which ran for 8 years. In 1992, he started Exact Co., Ltd., a television production company specializing in television dramas, partnering with GMM Grammy, one of the biggest entertainment companies in Thailand. He produced and directed the company’s first drama series Love and Revenge, a modern-day Thai Romeo & Juliet, which took Thailand by storm. From then on, many hits (dramas, sit-coms, variety shows) followed, such as Love Before Sunset, Destiny of a Princess, Heart of Chocolate, Stop the Clock (Asian Television Awards Best Game Show), and Pentor (Asian Television Awards Best Comedy). In 2008, his Battle of the Angels, was one of the first Thai dramas to become very popular in China. From 2004 to 2017, he created The Star, a singing competition program that became a cornerstone of the Thai entertainment industry, consistently producing top-tier pop stars each season.

For live theatre, starting from 1997, Takonkiet produced and directed several original Thai musicals, such as, Four Reigns, The Ghost of Bangkok, and Double World, making musical plays a popular form of entertainment in Thailand. In 2004, he founded Scenario Co., Ltd., specializing in live theatre. Then in 2007, the company built Muangthai Rachadalai Theatre, the only theatre in Bangkok which can house big international touring Broadway shows; among them were The Phantom of the Opera, Cats, Mamma Mia!, and The Lion King. One of Takonkiet’s original Thai musicals Behind the Painting was adapted for the American audience by Broadway’s Richard Maltby, Jr. and David Shire, under the name “Waterfall,” which played at the Pasadena Playhouse, winning the theatre’s award for audience’s favorite play, and Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre in 2015. For Broadway, he was a co-producer for shows including “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” starring Daniel Radcliffe, “Promises, Promises,” starring Sean Hayes and Kristen Chenoweth, and “Water for Elephants.”

Currently Takonkiet is the Group CEO of The One Enterprise Public Company Limited, which owns and operates one of Thailand’s top new digital television stations, Channel ONE31, whose primetime slots have reached the top 3 within a few years. ONE31 also produces its own series and variety shows, for which Takonkiet serves as executive producer. Most of ONE31’s series have gained top ratings on television and high number of views both online and on streaming platforms, such as Wan-tong, Blood and Treasures, The Fierce Wife 2018, War of the Marriage, and You’re My Destiny, which reached over 1 billion views in China. Among the popular variety shows are Do You Know Who’s Single, The Golden Songs, and the Thai version of Family Feud. The One Enterprise also owns GMMTV, which produces leading Thai Boylove (BL) series that have captivated audiences across Asia, including "Together," "Last Twilight," "My School President," and "SOTUS." Additionally, GMM Studio, under The One Enterprise, produced "Girl from Nowhere" which was the number one show on Netflix in several countries. More than 300 artists and talents are under the management of The One Enterprise.

Takonkiet was honored with Thailand’s Golden Television Honorary Award in 2013 and the Nataraja Award for Lifetime Achievement in Broadcasting in 2016.,