by Do Le Anhdao

photos courtesy of Charlie Nguyen and Thanh Truc

The Vietnamese International Film Festival (VIFF) only happens every other year. 2006 is not one of those lucky years. However, this does not mean that Vietnamese directors in the diaspora get a break or would even like one. Many of them continue the process of writing, producing and directing their dream features. Charlie Nguyen is currently doing just that in Viet Nam.

Nguyen is neither a novice at filmmaking nor a newcomer to the scene. More than a decade ago, while many of the current Vietnamese filmmakers were still in school, Nguyen had already released his first feature, Thoi Hung Vuong 18, a historical drama circa 900 BC, when the country was ruled by kings. Nguyen’s second feature, Chances Are, was released in 2003. Chances Are is a romantic comedy focusing on a Viet Kieu (overseas Vietnamese) who journeys back to Viet Nam to find a bride and ends up finding love in the most unexpected places. The film was very well-received in the community because of its sensible Vietnamese American humor.

Nguyen has had years of experience working with the Vietnamese community, directing Vietnamese music videos and comedy skits. Although he’s built an impressive fan base and contacts in the entertainment industry, Nguyen is not one to settle in complacency. Feeling trapped by the creative constraints of making music videos, he began shooting an action/drama feature this year called The Rebel. Set during the French colonial period, The Rebel is currently being shot on various locations in Viet Nam. Here, the ambitious director talks to NHA about his upcoming feature and his passion for filmmaking.

NHA: How did it go on the set today?

CN: Lately I’ve tried to be on set an hour prior to call time and spend that time on camera blocking. On a typical day, I walk Linh, our storyboard artist, around the set and show him the shots I want for the scene. Within minutes, he finishes all the sketches. Sometimes we don’t film the storyboard at all, but that’s another issue...After blocking, I get together with the actors and talk about the scene. If there’s dialogue, we sit together and go through several readings and discuss the emotions in the scene. Meanwhile, the crew is setting up for the day: lighting, camera, arts, make-up, costume, etc. When that is done, I talk to Dominic (Director of Photography) and Anh Yen (1st Camera) about the storyboards and tell them the first shot of the day. Despite the unpredictable problems that we face in every set-up, we work on one shot at a time; each shot is a little project unto itself. We [usually] schedule 12-hour days but there are days when we work for 18 hours. It is completely exhausting.

NHA: Before we discuss your film-in-progress, can we talk a little bit about your background? You made another feature some years back and frequently work on the production of Van Son.

CN: It was dreadful making music videos and live shows over and over, so I wanted to break away from the song and dance world. I convinced VS to make Chances Are for a change. I had to work in the comedy genre because of all the comedians in the production. Though it was well-received in the community, I’m done talking about it! I don’t even have a copy myself. Recently I heard they’re making more DVDs because it was out of order. I suppose that’s good news.

NHA: What interests you about the filmmaking process? When and why did you begin making films?