Director Charlie Nguyen: Ups and downs behind the camera

These days, the director who has helmed many blockbuster films, some of which grossed over 100 billion VND, is always busy. During breaks while casting for new films, Charlie Nguyen shared many stories about his profession and his life with a reporter from Thanh Nien newspaper.

After 10 years in America, what prompted him to return to his homeland in 1992 to establish Chánh Phương Film Company? What does the name Chánh Phương mean?

I took the name Chánh Phương because my family name is Nguyễn Chánh. My grandfather was Nguyễn Chánh Minh, my father Nguyễn Chánh Sử, my uncle Nguyễn Chánh Tín, I am Nguyễn Chánh Trực, and my younger brother Johnny Trí Nguyễn is Nguyễn Chánh Minh Trí… My grandmother once won the Miss Bạc Liêu - Cà Mau pageant.

Nguyen Chanh is the surname of my aunts, uncles, cousins, children, and grandchildren. Chanh Phuong chose the right path, and Chanh is not evil. When fate brings people together, they return. I studied and worked in America, but one day, I returned to Vietnam because of a fortunate opportunity when I persuaded Van Son (my maternal aunt's son) to come back to Vietnam to make my second film - "Things Change, Stars Shift" in 2000.

His debut feature film, " The 18th Hung King's Era ," was a Vietnamese historical film shot in the United States . Why did he choose this subject?

I got into filmmaking because I'm passionate about Vietnamese history and martial arts. When I made my first film, there were no Vietnamese scenes in America, so we had to build all the sets, props, and costumes ourselves. The whole family pitched in, with a few "apprentices" around 15 or 16 years old helping out. Johnny Trí Nguyễn and I formed a lion dance troupe, so we had many "apprentices" joining. Since I was little, I loved watching lion dances because they were closely related to martial arts. I asked for money to buy two lions and drums. We didn't just dance; we liked performing impressive moves, like lifting Johnny onto my shoulders to dance. We performed in California during Tet (Vietnamese New Year) every year. This group later collaborated on my first film, " The 18th Hung King's Era ," which cost $300,000 and was considered... terrible! But thanks to that, I started learning the craft. It's been over 30 years since then.

- Ảnh 2. — Director Charlie Nguyen during a sharing session about cinema.

Who taught him martial arts, and what types of martial arts did he know?

My family has been involved in martial arts for three generations. My grandfather was a famous martial arts master in the Southwest of Vietnam, and later participated in the resistance against the French, establishing the anti-French resistance force (the Ha Tien Front). He founded Lien Phong Quan, which is now continued by Johnny Tri Nguyen at the Lien Phong martial arts school (Ho Chi Minh City), so I studied there from a young age. Later, I also studied Aikido, Tai Chi, Hung Gar, Wing Chun, Wushu…; in short, I learned many different martial arts styles by observing others. Looking back now, I still remember the techniques, but if I were to actually strike, I probably wouldn't have the same power or accuracy.

Did his first directorial work, " Things Change," filmed in Vietnam, break even in terms of revenue?

I remember the total cost of making this film was only $35,000. I kept urging Van Son to come back to Vietnam to make the film, even though he only specialized in shows and comedy. I kept persuading him, and eventually, he relented. He liked the script I wrote and agreed.

Things change over time. The film brought together all the stars of the time: Van Son, Bao Liem, Quang Minh, Hong Dao, and even my younger sister Tawny Truc Nguyen. Before that, I invited Hong Anh, but she was busy with other shows. Johnny Tri Nguyen was in charge of cinematography, and I was the director. The film made a small profit; avoiding a loss was fortunate because there were very few cinemas back then, and most people weren't yet used to going to the movies.

The film "Heroic Bloodline," released nearly 20 years ago, was a huge success and won many awards, but unfortunately, it ended up being a financial failure. If you could go back in time, would you still make this film?

I never imagined that the second film shot in Vietnam would require such a large investment, reaching $1.6 million USD. Once we decided to "take the plunge," we couldn't abandon it halfway through. My family and I decided to borrow 70% from the bank to finance the project. The loan was taken out under the names of my sister and her husband, and Uncle Nguyen Chanh Tin.

The film was well-received but still lost money because the theatrical film market was extremely small at the time, with very few theaters and therefore few viewers. Chánh Phương has been paying off his debts for almost 19 years now. Fortunately, later on, thanks to us making a few high-grossing films, we had money to gradually pay off the debt.

If I could go back in time, I would have made "Heroic Bloodline" but I would have been more skillful in reducing the budget. Back then, I lacked production experience, so the filmmaking process dragged on, causing the costs to skyrocket.

He used to choose humorous themes for his projects; was that perhaps due to pressure to achieve box office success?

Comedy is difficult to make, which is why I enjoy it. The market accepts this genre, so it attracts viewers. Filmmaking back then was a hobby, fulfilling a passion, not a real business.

After "Heroic Bloodline ," Dustin Nguyen, a Vietnamese-American filmmaker, invited me back to Vietnam to film more. I was overjoyed. Then "To Be Continued" was released in theaters in 2010.

Why did he stop making highly entertaining comedy films that were once box office hits like "Teo Em ," "Long Ruoi ," and "De Mai Tinh "? I'm not 18 yet. …?

I'm still working, but in the roles of producer, screenwriter for film studios, and director. I'm about to make a horror-comedy film, serving as creative producer, with Phan Xi Nê directing; we're starting filming this August.

What are your thoughts on filmmaking in the US and Vietnam?

Vietnam is always noisy and bustling, with everyone constantly busy and in a hurry. When I first arrived in Texas (USA), I was bewildered by the unfamiliar scenery and food. The streets were deserted, with only occasional glimpses of people. I struggled with my studies because everything was in English. As for the similarities in filmmaking, everywhere you go, you need a good script, a talented director and actors, plus a skilled film crew and modern equipment.

Charlie Nguyen on the set of Gama: Fast-Paced Unbeatable - a game show he directs.

According to him, what elements do film scripts—considered the weakest link in Vietnamese cinema today—need to add in order to attract audiences?

The script is the cornerstone, determining success or failure; it's the soul of the project. A bad script will make it very difficult for even the most talented director to succeed. The Vietnamese screenwriting team currently has many limitations. The number of talented screenwriters is too small; almost every director has to double as a screenwriter.

There's no formula for writing a script, but there is a structure. If you study thoroughly and know how to develop character psychology, your storytelling will be more engaging, captivating, and emotionally impactful for the audience. Conversely, you won't be able to create something good. Learning only provides theoretical understanding; creativity is innate. Creative potential cannot be taught and is rare and precious in the art of storytelling.

A screenplay must have a compelling idea, a solid structure, well-developed characters, a powerful message, and a unique, creative storytelling style. While that sounds simple, mastering screenwriting takes many years of dedication and perseverance. Those lacking passion will give up.

What motivated him and his younger brother, Johnny Trí Nguyễn, to make two historical films: " The Heroic Bloodline 2: The White Swan of Cà Mau" and "Guardian Spirit of the Valiant Warrior: The Mystery of King Đinh's Tomb "?

Simply put, my brother and I are passionate about martial arts and history, and we enjoy stories that incorporate both elements. For "Guardian Spirit: The Mystery of King Dinh's Tomb ," I only assisted and advised the producer and director on the script, while Tri played a role in the film and directed the action sequences.

For "Heroic Bloodline 2: White Swallow of Ca Mau," I will be the director, and the scriptwriting team will include myself, Johnny Tri Nguyen, and a few other colleagues. We are currently developing the script, and we won't consider production until 2026. But it's certain that Tri will play the role of the grandfather - martial arts master Nguyen Chanh Minh.

The Nguyen Chanh family has produced many cinematic talents such as Nguyen Chanh Tin, Charlie Nguyen, Johnny Tri Nguyen, Van Son, Nguyen Duong… who are descendants of Mr. Nguyen Chanh Minh, known as the White Swallow of Ca Mau . What message does he want to convey with this film?

Now, only my father and my uncle are still alive. I hope to make this film so they can watch it, as a token of gratitude. To be able to make a film right in my hometown, a historical film about my grandfather, I consider myself a fortunate person.

I estimate that Heroic Bloodline 2 will cost between $3.5 and $4 million to make. More money would be even better. Less would make production difficult due to the large-scale and spectacular story and action sequences.

- Ảnh 9. — Charlie Nguyen directs a scene.

Do you have any memorable memories with your uncle, actor Nguyen Chanh Tin?

An unforgettable memory is when Uncle Tín took me sitting on the fuel tank in front of his Honda motorcycle to see him perform in a play. When we arrived at the theater, the audience booed from both sides of the gate, shouting his name loudly. I remember seeing his picture on the poster of the Bông Hồng theater troupe; it was very impressive. Perhaps that experience sowed the seeds of my passion for art later on.

Chánh Phương Film Studio, in collaboration with Netflix, organized a film talent training and support program called Practical Series Production , for which he was primarily responsible. To date, has this project trained personnel for the country's film industry?

I previously conducted several filmmaking workshops for young people. Netflix saw that I enjoyed giving classes and invited me to collaborate on teaching screenwriting for feature films. Netflix sponsored the students' free education along with funding for short films. When the opportunity arises, I continue to work on projects like this and am currently teaching a screenwriting course.

Now, opportunities in filmmaking are much more open thanks to technology. Anyone can make a film. All you need is a phone and a laptop. In the past, making a film required a lot of money. Young people today are much luckier than I was back then.

Having served as a judge in the Comink Comic Contest 2022, which aimed to discover young talents in the field of comics, would his idea of adapting comics into a film be feasible?

The competition aims to encourage young people who enjoy drawing and comics to participate. I want to create a platform where young people can access and develop their passion for storytelling through images.

What's new in Gama's latest racing game show project , "Invincible Desire," in which he's involved as director?

I created this game with 16 friends participating in Go Kart races. Each episode will gradually eliminate participants until the end to find the best racer.

Someone told me that game shows are in decline, so why did I accept the offer to direct "Invincible Desire" ? I saw it as a creative challenge, so I participated to gain experience. It was the first racing game show in Vietnam, which excited me. Besides, I'm also very passionate about speed.

At nearly 60 years old, does your job stress you out when you have to juggle the roles of director, lecturer, and producer...?

Having nothing to do is boring; work is fun. Wherever I live, I always find something to do, regardless of age. My health is declining now, so my productivity isn't what it used to be. But these past few days, working 14-15 hours a day has been normal for me.