Vietnamese films using AI: A breakthrough or a gimmick, a 'damage control' tactic?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is being applied in many different fields, supporting various aspects of life; among them, the Vietnamese film industry is also gradually applying this tool to its production processes. Recently, the film "Chốt đơn" (Closing the Deal) used AI to replace Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien's role after a controversial incident, leading many to question: Is this a "boost" or just a "damage control" measure?

Thought to be shelved after the controversy surrounding Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien, the film "Chot Don" (Closing the Deal) announced its return with a solution to replace the female lead, Hoang Linh, with AI. This marks the first time a Vietnamese film has used AI to create a main character.

The character images in the movie "Closing the Deal" have been replaced with AI technology.

Photo: Manufacturer finalizes order

Sharing their thoughts on this decision, directors Bao Nhan and Namcito said that the idea of ​​replacing characters with AI was a case of "opportunity in crisis." Initially, the directors themselves hesitated, thinking that using AI would make the characters soulless and emotionless. However, after receiving the demo version, they were surprised because: "The AI ​​technology perfectly preserved the emotions and naturalness. That's also an important criterion for us when telling a cinematic story. From there, we decided to implement this solution for 'Chốt đơn ' (The Final Order)."

Sharing her perspective on the film "Chốt đơn" replacing Thùy Tiên with an AI, artist Việt Hương believes this is a major breakthrough in thinking. However, she also considers it a risky move for the producers, facing two choices: either cancel the film entirely and incur a total loss of production costs, or revise and release the film. According to the artist, this is a way to potentially recoup the investment and, above all, fulfill their responsibility to the film's investors. Expressing her viewpoint, Việt Hương stated: "If I were an ordinary audience member, I would probably be curious to buy a ticket to see what the AI-replaced female lead would be like. We may not be completely satisfied with the result on screen, but at least we get to witness a turning point in Vietnamese cinema."

However, the producers' efforts to use AI to replace Thuy Tien still failed to help "Chot Don" achieve significant box office success. According to Box Office Vietnam data, after more than 3 days of release, the film by directors Bao Nhan and Namcito only grossed over 2.8 billion VND. Many viewers sympathize with the producers for this unfortunate incident. However, many believe that while the AI-generated character still bears many similarities to Miss Grand International 2021, her expressions are still awkward and stiff, failing to evoke genuine emotions while watching the film.

What can we learn from applying AI to filmmaking?

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From a professional perspective, director Bá Cường stated that AI is assisting from pre-production to filming and even post-production in the making of a film. Specifically, AI can analyze films and scripts based on factors such as themes, characters, story structure, or the success history of similar works. According to him, this helps producers make more informed investment decisions.

Director Namcito shared his thoughts at the event about replacing Thuy Tien's role with AI.

Photo: Manufacturer finalizes order

The director added that AI can plan production, optimize schedules, and allocate resources efficiently. Furthermore, director Bá Cường believes AI is a powerful tool for filmmakers to develop ideas, perform casting (analyzing databases based on specific criteria to suggest suitable actors), create special effects, and manage on-set data. In post-production, AI is a valuable assistant for filmmakers in editing, sound processing, color grading, subtitling, and voice-over work.

"In my opinion, AI can also assist in the distribution and marketing process. Specifically, AI can analyze viewer data to better understand audience preferences and behavior, thereby helping distributors target advertising more effectively. AI can analyze film content and automatically create engaging trailers and advertisements tailored to different audience segments," director Bá Cường assessed.

Mr. Dang Tran Cuong, Director of the Vietnam Film Department, believes that the application of AI in film production is no longer a novelty, but is gradually becoming a new standard for the global film industry. In this context, the fact that Vietnamese filmmakers are boldly experimenting with, applying, and gradually pioneering AI in the region is very encouraging.

The benefits of applying AI to the film industry include: Unleashing unlimited creative possibilities (recreating actors' images, designing complex scenes, simulating spaces that were previously impossible due to cost or technical limitations); Reducing costs, shortening production time, and optimizing resources for filmmakers, especially for independent or medium-scale projects; Opening up access to high technology for domestic production units, contributing to improved film quality and competitiveness in the international market.

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From that perspective, the Director of the Department of Cinema believes that the use of AI-generated actors, as in the case of "Chốt đơn" (The Order Closed) , does not set a "precedent" in a legal or managerial sense, but rather opens up a new and encouraging opportunity for the development of the Vietnamese film industry in the context of global technological integration. Mr. Dang Tran Cuong cited the example of scenes that previously required stunt doubles or special filming techniques, but now, AI technology allows directors to proactively design images and create frames beyond physical limitations, contributing to enhancing the artistic value and technical quality of the work.

"It needs to be further emphasized that AI is not something entirely new in the global film industry, but rather an inevitable trend. Vietnam's beginning to apply this technology is a positive sign, showing that our film industry is ready to adapt to digital transformation, innovation, and keep up with global development trends, in line with the spirit of Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo on the development of science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation," the Director of the Vietnam Film Department stated.

In fact, it's undeniable that the application of AI in filmmaking opens up many advantages for filmmakers in the process of creating a work. But what challenges come with these opportunities, and how can it be applied in a controlled and legal manner? (to be continued)

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/phim-viet-dung-ai-cu-dot-pha-hay-chieu-tro-chua-chay-185250812221607573.htm