Charlie Nguyen [p.3]

NHA: How long will you be on location for the film? Can you tell us about some memorable moments that have happened on set?

CN: We’re expecting 12 weeks of shooting. There are too many memorable moments to list here. Off the top of my head: Van passed out for 30 minutes during a fight scene. She said all she saw was black and it felt like she was floating on water. Dominic was hospitalized for one week in Hoi An. Stephan had to take over. So far, about 10 of our crew have been hospitalized. Blood spills, tears and bruises are pretty normal on the set. We expect more will head to the hospital in the north under worse shooting conditions. Dustin’s hand got swollen twice. I did a “hand stunt” for Van and left with a scar. That’s the physical side. On the emotional side, you’ll just have to use your imagination.

NHA: What are some challenges you’ve come across shooting in Viet Nam? Has there been any censorship from the Vietnamese government with regard to the script?

CN: Not one day goes by without challenges, everything from technical problems to human errors. You name it. I learned to let go of things and just concentrate on one shot at a time.

Since I’m still writing as we shoot, I’ve no idea how this will work out in the end in terms of censorship. The final film will be quite different from the script that we turned in before production started. But it was all for the better and I think everybody can agree on that. So far, A25 (cultural police) has been very supportive of our changes.

NHA: There is an Italian proverb that says every translation is a betrayal. For The Rebel, will you have subtitles in English, Vietnamese? Is the English title the original title or is it a translation from the Vietnamese?

CN: We wrote the script in English. Then my AD [Assistant Director] translated it [into Vietnamese] the night before we started shooting. Sometimes we translate on the set. Direct translation is almost impossible. I think the process is more like “adaptation.” Since the script is written in English, I don’t think English-speaking audiences will be at a loss. However, you could say that reading subtitles which take your eyes off the screen is a disadvantage.

NHA: Thank you for your time.