All 4 of my children have to go to castings like everyone else.
- "Lat mat 7" earned nearly 500 billion, becoming the second highest-grossing film in Vietnamese cinema history. Did that put pressure on you when making part 8?
I started from zero when making films, so when I made the series Lat mat, I never thought I would get to part 8. My dream is to make movies. Starting with passion and love for the profession, I never thought about how much I earned or how much I lost.
I just hope I don't lose so much that I have to sell my house. Luckily, the audience loves me so the sales of the parts of Lat Mat have gradually increased and part 7 has been a breakthrough. Therefore, the pressure is only on me.
- In "Flip Side 8", do you have any new dishes to treat the audience?
Every year I always want to do something different from the previous film. In part 8, there will be different perspectives of 3 generations: grandparents, parents, children. Everyone thinks they are right and always believes that parents put their children where they are, but today's young people always have their own voice. Therefore, there must be a solution to keep the family happy and parents should not impose on their children. Everyone has the right to dream, as long as we try to do it thoroughly. That is the message I want to say in part 8.
- Curious to know if all 4 of Ly Hai's children will participate in part 8?
This year all four children participated. The two older children had longer shoulders than the previous part. The children complained: "Dad, why did my role appear so quickly? My friends went to see it but couldn't make it in time." This year, they also had to go to the casting like everyone else.
- That means there is no favoritism towards family?
I have always been like that, I do not favor family members. The actors who work with me, whether famous or not, if they are suitable for the role, it is fate that brings them together.
- Your four children had to audition to get roles, so how much were they paid? Did they have to sign a contract?
I said there was a contract, but the kids said that their parents considered it an opportunity, so they didn't take any salary. They were happy just by taking them out to buy some small things because even if they were paid, they would give it to their mother to keep. They didn't spend any money at home.
I never touch money
- People say the director is the king on set but the production manager is the one who approves the spending. So on set, who is more powerful and has the final say, you or your wife?
When I write a script, I will let Minh Ha read it first. For example, in part 8, there is a big war scene that I wrote very carefully. When she reads it, she will know how much money to invest in that segment and whether she agrees or not, if not, I will fix it immediately. If I go to the scene and don't agree, I will never accept it. My wife always stands behind me and supports me, so we usually don't argue but agree from the beginning.
- In Vietnam, besides Tran Thanh, you are the only director with a trillion-dollar fortune. Many people say you are very rich with huge assets....
It’s all just speculation because I never touch money. When I go out, I never have a thousand dong on me, only my phone. I ask my wife to book a car for me. After I go out for coffee, I take a picture of the receipt and send it to her to handle.
- Why don't you take the initiative to do that because asking your wife for everything is very annoying?
It seems like a habit of many years, when I finish work, I stand up and go home because Ha takes care of it. Luckily, they see my face so they don't worry about me defaulting on the debt (laughs). I'm reputable! Or if I like a certain pair of shoes, I'll ask my wife to buy it for me and ship it to my house. I don't know how to spend money, I only know how to do art.
- So when the wife wants to buy something, does she have to tell me?
Whatever the family buys, she tells them. My children are the same, none of them know how to spend money. If they like this or that, their parents will buy it for them. My 8th grader said that he is the only one in his class who doesn't have a phone. I told him to try harder, when he turns 16 or older, I will buy him a phone (laughs).
- Do you want your children to pursue art because all 4 of them acted in Ly Hai's movies?
We do not guide you, but let you see what your talents and interests are, and your parents will be the bridge and the launching pad behind you to help. If we see that you have any talents, we will let you take extra classes, but whether you pursue acting or not is up to you.
- You said you have to tell your wife if you want to buy something, so if one day you want to buy something for your wife, what will you do when she manages the money?
That is the biggest flaw of people who do not save money because they do not have money to buy. So if they want to give Ha something, they can only make handmade things with their children. Ha knows that, so when my husband and I go to the supermarket, I tell her to buy whatever she likes. Luckily, my husband and I have the same hobby of going to the supermarket to look at the products but not buy them (laughs). We also do not use expensive things, only use common things, we are like everyone else.
- What is the most romantic thing you have done for each other?
Probably travel and watch movies. Sometimes we wake up early in the morning to take the kids to school, then we can stop by a cafe for breakfast and go home. To outsiders, we would seem like an ordinary couple, not creating any outstanding shock.
Photo: NVCC
Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/ly-hai-ra-duong-khong-1-xu-trong-nguoi-mua-ly-cafe-cung-phai-goi-vo-kem-17-tuoi-2391864.html
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