Sompote Sands

Born as the youngest son in Thai Chinese family in outskirts Bangkok. Sompote's father was a Chinese immigrant from Guangdong. He dreamed of becoming a filmmaker as a child, at the age of seven years old, he left his family to live in the Wat Phaichayonphonsep Ratchaworawihan temple as a temple boy (Dek Wat) to follow his dreams. He started learning film production from being an employee in a photo studio first. While he was studying at grade three, he became a freelance photographer, his work was to take photos of King Bhumibol in boy scout uniform. This photo was published on the cover of Chaiyaphruek, a popular youth magazine at that time. He was also a private photographer for Jim Thompson as well. Later, at the age of 15 years, he was a photographer for Siam Rath, a newspaper with M.R. Kukrit Pramoj as the owner and editor, he was considered the youngest personnel.[3]

In 1996, Sompote Sands presented Tsuburaya Productions with a document claiming that he had ownership over the international rights of Ultraman, the Ultra Series before 1974, and Jumborg Ace. These are all the properties used by Sands to direct the films The 6 Ultra Brothers vs. the Monster Army and Jumborg Ace & Giant. He claimed they were turned over to him a whole twenty years beforehand in 1976 by the patriarch of the Tsuburaya brand, Noboru Tsuburaya, who died the year before.[4] On November 20, 2017, a Los Angeles Federal Court ruled that he did not have ownership of the brand after the 1976 document in question was classified by a jury as not authentic.[5] The final judgement on April 18, 2018, forbids him and his companies to use the Ultra Franchise and all of its related characters, forcing him and the company to pay infringement damages.[6]

Sompote Sands died on August 26, 2021 of cancer, at the age of 80.[7]

Films

• Tah Tien (1973)
• Jumborg Ace & Giant (Yuk Wud Jaeng Vs. Jumbo A) (1974)
• The 6 Ultra Brothers vs. the Monster Army (Hanuman pob Jed Yodmanud) (1974)
• Hanuman and the Five Riders (Hanuman pob Har Aimoddaeng) (1974) (A controversial production that was made without the consent of the creators of the Kamen Rider series.)
• Yod Manut Computer (1977)
• Land of Grief (Pandin Wippayoke) (1978)
• Ka Ki (1980)
• Crocodile (Chorakhe) (1980)
• Kraithong (1980)
• Phra Rod Meree (1981)
• Khun Chang Khun Phaen: Prab Chorakhe Tan Kwand (1982)
• Phra Chao Suea Panthai-Norasing (1982)
• Noble War (Suek Kumphakan) (1984)
• Space Warriors 2000 (Hanuman pop Sib-et Yodmanud) (1984)
• Kraithong II (1985)
• Magic Lizard (King-ka kay-a-sit) (1985)

Television films/ Series

• Kraithong (1972) Channel 7
• Phra Aphai Mani (1973) Channel 3
• Yai Ka Ta
• Long Prai
• Project Ultraman (suspended broadcast due to court judgment[3])

• Sompote Sands at IMDb