"Directing" and "acting" in the style of Tran Luc

Among the artists favored by fate, Tran Luc's name certainly deserves mention. He is currently receiving a new joy, a recognition of his contributions to Vietnamese cinema and theater: the title of People's Artist.

Born into a prestigious family, with formal training.

Tran Luc (born in 1963), unlike many other artists, received extremely thorough and academic training. Born in Hanoi , he comes from a family of artists, the son of Professor and People's Artist Tran Bang, a researcher, playwright, and director of Cheo (traditional Vietnamese opera) who received the Ho Chi Minh Prize for Literature and Arts in 2017, and is known as "the king of Cheo art".

Father and son Tran Luc.

Tran Luc's mother is a traditional Vietnamese opera actress, Meritorious Artist Tran Thi Xuan. Tran Luc's paternal grandfather was the famous writer Tran Tieu, known for his novel "The Buffalo" before 1945. Writer Tran Tieu was the younger brother of writer Khai Hung.

Another very famous person in the Tran family is director and People's Artist Tran Dac, recipient of the State Award for Literature and Arts in 2012, who is the cousin of People's Artist Tran Bang.

Tran Luc studied stage directing in Bulgaria, but upon returning to Vietnam, he achieved fame in film, not only thanks to his acting ability but also likely because of his handsome looks that brightened up the Vietnamese screen for a time.

Before becoming famous, Tran Luc was an actor in the theater troupe of the General Department of Logistics. 1983 was a landmark year in Tran Luc's life. That year, he had his first film role, playing Hoanh in the film "A Love Will Come" by People's Artist Pham Van Khoa.

Also in that year, he attended a stage directing course and studied for seven years in Bulgaria. Upon returning to Vietnam, he continued his career as a film actor and became widely known to the public through a series of popular films of that era such as: "Only You and Me", "Love Story by the River", "Red Bauhinia Flower", "Overcoming Drought", "Marriage Without a Marriage Certificate", "Guava Season", "Nguyen Ai Quoc in Hong Kong", "The Right Heart Campaign", "Long Thanh's Lute Player's Song"...

Recently, Tran Luc's portrayal of musician Trinh Cong Son in the film "Em and Trinh" has stirred public opinion. His latest success is the film "Dao, Pho and Piano," in which he starred, which won the Silver Lotus Award at the 23rd Vietnam Film Festival.

In the field of television, Tran Luc has also made his mark with films such as "My Mother-in-Law," "My Lover Is Getting Married," and "The Whirlwind of Life"...

Tran Luc's acting style

I've often watched Tran Luc in his acting roles, and I've often remarked, "Tran Luc acts in a very Tran Luc way."

Director Tran Luc (seated) and students from the Hanoi University of Theatre and Film.

It can be understood that he has created his own unique style in acting, and this is something only truly talented actors can achieve. It can also be understood that when he acts, the audience only sees him, not the character he plays.

Tran Luc's roles are diverse and full of character, yet they almost all share a common theme: they are usually positive, emotionally charged characters. His face is unsuitable for playing villains, and his gaze, his wink, and his shrug all convey one message: Look at me, I am an actor.

That acting style meant that Tran Luc was only cast in very dramatic roles by directors. These included the role of Battalion Commander Phuong in the film "Red Bauhinia" by female director and People's Artist Bach Diep; the role of Tong Van So in the film "Nguyen Ai Quoc in Hong Kong"; and the role of Nguyen Khan in the film "Long Thanh Cam Gia Ca" by director and People's Artist Dao Ba Son…

But Tran Luc's efforts to embody and immerse himself in his characters are undeniable. He is also well-liked by friends and colleagues not only for his talent, but also for his elegance and sincerity.

Director Le Hoang, in his usual playful and humorous style, commented on Tran Luc: "This is the only handsome man who is also a good person!"

Screenwriter Trinh Thanh Nha exclaimed: "Tran Luc is an artist from birth. Luc creates art out of a natural need, like eating and breathing. Luc fears the 'old' in art but is not afraid to reinvent himself."

Lực is always genuinely innovative, daring to challenge himself in art, whether as an actor or a director. He has the same passion for film and theater, and can multitask without rushing or being careless."

Director in the style of Tran Luc

It seems that Tran Luc knows how to make the most of his time, always managing everything perfectly. He is very quick to adapt to the art market. He established the private film company Dong A in 2002, directing many successful television and film productions, as well as numerous successful television programs on VTV.

Director Tran Luc.

These include films such as "Grandmother and Grandchild", "The Afternoon Without Fading Sunlight", "The Story of the Moc Family", "Who Will Visit Our House This Tet", "Cocktail for Love", "The Sensitive Guy", "The Chef and the Tycoon", "Becoming the Wife of a Tycoon"...

Tran Luc's successes as a film and television director are perhaps enough for an artist's career. Many of his films have generated widespread public acclaim at the time.

However, many professional critics also expressed regret that Tran Luc's stage directing degree had not been put to proper use. But that regret disappeared when Tran Luc returned to stage directing in 2017.

Given his background, Tran Luc is no stranger to Western theater, from classical to contemporary, as well as being familiar with traditional Vietnamese theater.

Based on the existing environment and knowledge base, the Lucteam contemporary theater group was born as a natural consequence, with the hope of bringing good plays to the audience and contributing to revitalizing the Hanoi theater scene, which has been relatively quiet compared to the Saigon theater scene for many years.

Dr. Tran Ngoc Hieu, a lecturer in the Faculty of Literature at Hanoi Pedagogical University, revealed: "From 2017 until now, I have attended every play performed by Lucteam and haven't missed a single one."

Lucteam's theatrical style differs from conventional spoken drama in that it follows a conventional and expressive style with a minimalist stage setting and props. In Lucteam's plays, the plot development, character, emotions, and climax are expressed not only through dialogue and facial expressions but also through the actors' body language, movements, music , sound effects, and lighting.

It can be said that Lucteam's stage performances, in addition to portraying the characters' psychology, also emphasize the crucial aspect of expressing their emotions and feelings through actions and body movements. Tran Luc himself is not just a director; in many plays, he also plays the saxophone backstage.

This wasn't just another personal contribution from him to the theater production; his presence also demonstrated his dedication and care for Lucteam's plays. Plays staged by Lucteam, such as "Desperation," "Cinderella's Jealousy," "Eucalyptus and Willow," "Kieu," "The Bald Soprano," and "The Doll," were all sold out.

Tran Luc is also very skilled at communicating with his audience through social media. He occasionally livestreams to chat with his fans, showcases his musical talents, and is active in all aspects of his daily life.

With 2024 fast approaching, he revealed that his latest project, which he's devoting all his energy to, is directing a major VTV program to be broadcast during the Lunar New Year. Tran Luc shared this with amusement but asked to keep it a secret from the media for now, to maintain its element of surprise. However, he assured that it will be a novel, engaging, and unique program.

Sharing his joy at receiving the title of People's Artist, Tran Luc said seriously: "The title of People's Artist is a great honor for me because I consider it a recognition of my career and also a continuation of the proud tradition of my family, of my father, People's Artist Tran Bang."

When asked to describe himself in a short sentence, Tran Luc jokingly replied, "I'm just a hardworking person who loves my job."

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/dao-va-dien-kieu-tran-luc-192231226094317365.htm