Thai Hoa in the movie Tunnels: Scared when shooting real guns, angry because the scene was cut

Actor Thai Hoa marks his return to the big screen with the leading role in the film project Tunnels, a carefully invested work that aims to recreate the life and fighting spirit of the Vietnamese people during the resistance war.

Thai Hoa plays Bay Theo in the movie

Thai Hoa plays Bay Theo in the movie "Tunnels".

In the film, Thai Hoa plays Bay Theo, the leader of a 21-man guerrilla group tasked with protecting the strategic intelligence group's territory. Thai Hoa shared with VTC News reporters about this special comeback.

I was angry and regretful when the scene of Bay Theo's sacrifice was cut.

- What preparations did you make to successfully play the role of Bay Theo, the captain of the guerrilla group in the movie Tunnels?

I read, researched online documents, watched YouTube videos , especially footage of the Cu Chi tunnels, including American documentaries, to gain a deeper understanding of the image of the guerrilla soldier. Another valuable source of information is my wife’s grandfather’s diary, which is a true account of that historical period.

To be honest, I haven’t read the whole diary, but the parts I have read are very valuable. When I came across interesting details, I immediately shared them with Mr. Chuyen. He read the whole diary. In addition, the film crew also created conditions for us to meet and listen to stories from the veterans.

Thai Hoa answered an interview after a long time of not acting.

- The character Bay Theo is both the center of the story and has hidden aspects that make the audience both admire and sympathize. What are your feelings towards this character?

I really love Bay Theo and the whole Binh An Dong guerrillas. Perhaps because of the feelings and the process of bonding together, when I entered the filming, I no longer saw actors Ho Thu Anh, Quang Tuan,... but saw them as comrades. I really love them so when I received the news of this or that person's sacrifice, I was very sad, that emotion supported my acting a lot. Bay Theo was very afraid of loss, sacrifice, and losing loved ones in the war, because of that, he always wanted to protect his comrades. But the mission was too great, having to witness his comrades sacrifice, it was very pitiful.

- There are gun scenes in the movie, how did you practice?

We spent several days on the training ground, and some practice days before filming, we also got to shoot real guns. When I was shooting real guns, I was scared, not happy. Unlike Bay Theo, who held a gun and shot without fear. At first, I closed my eyes and shot because I had never shot a gun since I was little.

I remember the day I went to the training ground, the teacher let me shoot 5 bullets, but after 3 bullets, I asked to stop because the explosion was too loud, too terrible, and very scary. After that, to practice, whenever I had time on set, I would hold the gun, practice disassembling and loading bullets. Because Bay Theo was a guerrilla, he had to sleep with his gun, so when I got home, I also found a stick to hold next to me. Normally, I practice loading bullets, but when I went to act, it was different, so I had to practice disassembling and loading the gun smoothly.

- Which scene of the character Bay Theo impressed you the most? Is there any scene that you regret?

In the film, there are 3 scenes that impressed me: the scene where Bay Theo shot and killed Ba Hieu, the scene where Bay Theo received the news that his child was dead but hid it, and the cut scene where Bay Theo sacrificed himself. Before that, he recorded the achievements of each child, how he lived and died in a notebook. Before dying, Bay Theo gave the notebook to Ba Huong and Tu Dat to bring to his superiors. I regret that scene because it most clearly shows the spirit and ideals of the character Bay Theo, living only for his comrades, but Mr. Chuyen cut that scene. I was greedy for my role, so when it was cut, I was angry and regretful.

Thai Hoa revealed that he practiced shooting with a real gun, and had to stop after firing 3 bullets because it was so terrifying.

- Do many cut scenes affect the content and emotions of the audience when watching the movie?

I think it changed my feelings for the role more. But I trust Mr. Chuyen because he is the director, the one who takes the biggest responsibility. I have to say that Mr. Chuyen lives and dies with this film, the editing time is terrible. We have edited 4-5 versions already, and until the release date, Mr. Chuyen is still editing. His decisions are all the best for the film.

Tunneling is more fun than hard

- Compared to previous projects, is Tunnels the most challenging and arduous film you have ever participated in?

If we talk about the level of torture, "Tunnel" is probably more difficult than other films due to the specific setting and genre. However, I personally really like and feel happy when playing such roles because I only have to wear one outfit and every day on set I get dirty, after filming I can lie down anywhere. But playing a rich, tycoon role is much more tiring, after filming I want to sit down and rest but it is difficult because the costumes have to be adjusted again.

There are also many scenes of hunger and frugal eating in the film. For example, in this film, we mostly ate fried rice. When playing rich characters, sometimes we had to film the lobster eating scene four or five times, and sometimes we even got sick. It sounds difficult, but it was actually much more comfortable.

The main actors don't dare to complain about how "hard" it is, especially when compared to the other crew members, they work much harder than us. The actors can rest after finishing their scenes, but the filming crew still has to continue filming other scenes. We have days off, but they hardly have any.

Although the audience can see the hardships of the guerrillas in the film, the ones who really suffered the most were the actors who played the American soldiers. They suffered even more than the main actors in this film. The American soldier scenes were filmed entirely outdoors, at the height of the hot season in Saigon, with temperatures reaching 40°C.

Filming in the blazing sun of Cu Chi, without any shade, they had to perform battle scenes in the smoke and fire, sitting on tanks exposed to the scorching sun that reached 70-80°C. They also had to wear thick American military uniforms, body armor, backpacks, and guns. Many of them fainted and then struggled to continue filming. They were so professional, how can we say it was hard?

Thai Hoa regrets that the scene where the character Bay Theo sacrificed himself was cut.

- Thai Hoa said that acting in "Tunnel" was fun and happy. Is it because he overcame a certain limit of himself in acting?

There is no such thing as going beyond your limits. The role required me to lose weight in less than two months. To achieve that, I only ate one meal a day. My wife felt sorry for me and told me to take care of my health. But I was happy, eating one meal helped me lose weight, reduce fat and feel healthier, and lose weight quickly.

During filming, I sweat up to two liters a day, which is great. At home, whether I wear weights, walk on the treadmill, or do boxing, I have to work hard to sweat. But when I get on set, it feels like I’m in a sauna, and sweat just pours out.

Furthermore, on the set, there were people who guided me through physical training, practicing rolling movements, using guns, and being given the opportunity to exercise without spending any money, which was also very good. Being fed well and taken care of during filming was also a joy. Then when the film started filming, I got to review the footage and the memorable images. So, if you say this role is beyond my limits, I don't think so. I'm simply enjoying my work.

After the movie Tunnels, I decided that for the rest of my career, I would try to enjoy the moments of making films and on set.

- How much weight did you lose for the role? Did cutting down on your diet affect your health?

I love to eat, 3-5 meals is fine, but if necessary, I can eat 1 meal, even not eat, just drink water. That is a habit from my student days, when I was hungry, I didn't have much money to eat. I didn't have money to buy a 5k plate of rice, many times all day I only had 2-3k to buy a bucket of iced tea and the kids sat there smoking all day. I got used to those things, just drinking cold water, my stomach shrinks and I forget about hunger.

Eating one meal a day is easy for me, no problem, and I can still exercise. Mr. Chuyen told me to lose weight, and that I would lose weight in 2-3 weeks. I don’t remember how many kilos I lost, but one day during filming, Mr. Chuyen told me I was thin enough and had to stay healthy. At that time, I knew that was my milestone.

Director Bui Thac Chuyen highly appreciated Thai Hoa's professionalism.

- Directors always appreciate Thai Hoa's professionalism. Director Bui Thac Chuyen also shared that he felt lucky to participate in this project, how do you feel?

Mr. Chuyen said that, but actually I am the lucky one. In the current film scene, to find a war-themed film project like the Tunnels that has investors to invest in is not easy. There was a time when I thought I wouldn't be able to do the project, my role would be cut, but fate kept the role for me, so I am the lucky one.

- Working with a very difficult director like Bui Thac Chuyen, do you feel a lot of pressure?

I really need that fastidiousness from Mr. Chuyen. Sometimes I am under pressure, many things affect me and make me do not do well, but thanks to Mr. Chuyen's meticulousness and delicacy, I can complete it well. I do not need a cute director, if Mr. Chuyen is easy-going, but if I act poorly and he lets it go, I can feel comfortable at that moment, but in the end, everything remains in the film. Mr. Chuyen is extremely meticulous and a perfectionist, but I really like it.

No actor is a box office guarantee.

- Known as a box office guarantee, do you expect any revenue milestone for "Tunnels", like hundreds of billions for example?

No actor guarantees the box office. The film itself guarantees it. We have seen many films, both in the world and in Vietnam, with young actors or even new faces, still achieve great success. Of course, if the film achieves good revenue, I am also happy, but I do not set any specific goals. I think the emotion of the film is the deciding factor, hopefully the film will win in terms of emotion.

As an actor, I just try my best to do my role well. As for the film's revenue or popularity, I think that's the producer's problem. No matter how worried I am, I can't do anything. The best way for me to contribute to the film's overall success is to do my role well.

Thai Hoa affirmed that no actor is a box office guarantee.

- Is the role in "Tunnel" your choice to renew yourself after entertaining roles? After this role, are you afraid it will be difficult to return to the previous types of roles?

I get bored easily. Playing the same role over and over again, before the audience gets bored, I get bored first. I don't try to create an image in the eyes of the audience. Later I realized, like the way I love this profession, loving my job will be what determines my image in the eyes of the audience.

I think each role has its own life, when you act, you start from the beginning, not because you did well then when you come back it will definitely be good. I love acting, I love characters. If you meet a good character, a good crew, at the right time, that role will be good.

- Many colleagues in the theater and cinema have been honored as People's Artist and Meritorious Artist. However, Thai Hoa has not received any title yet. Does this make you sad?

I don’t feel any regret. I feel so lucky to be loved by the audience, to receive awards, to be able to live with my profession. The profession has given me so many things. As for the titles of Meritorious Artist and People’s Artist, I still feel I am not worthy. I don’t dare to call myself an artist, I am just an actor.

Thank you.

Vtcnews.vn

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/thai-hoa-dong-phim-dia-dao-so-hai-khi-ban-sung-that-tuc-vi-bi-cat-canh-quay-ar935660.html