Da Nang is an economic and cultural center in Central Viet Nam and Central Highlands but its cinema activities are less vibrant as compared to such big cities as Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City. Currently, Da Nang has no shortage of enthusiastic and passionate filmmakers, but the city is seeking best ways to soon catch up with the overall development of the country's movie industry.

Members of the Da Nang Creative Arts and Entertainment Club attending a thematic event for the development of professional skills for Creative Art makers which took place at the Le Do Cinema. Photo: D.H.L

Difficulty in the production costs

Da Nang is one of the three Vietnamese cities that have established the Cinema Association under the municipal-level Union of Literature and Arts Associations. Da Nang has created a strong team of professional documentary filmmakers with such well-known names in the country’s documentary film as Huynh Van Hung, Doan Huy Giao, Ho Trung Tu, Truong Vu Quynh, Tra Xuan Phuong, followed by younger generation, including Doan Hong Le, Duong Mong Thu, Hong Quang Nam, Dang Quoc Phon, and Pham Hong Lien.

Mr. Tra Xuan Phuong, the Chairman of the Da Nang Cinema Association, said that the association’s members make more than 10 documentaries annually on average.  Their documentaries are not only made for television but also made for independent projects with the involvement of such famous filmmakers as Doan Hong Le, Duong Mong Thu and Pham Hong Lien. Their films have won national and international awards. Most of the previous generations of the city’s documentary filmmakers focused on cultural and historical topics but the younger generation is now making film about social life with good topics that are reflected in their own ways. In order to encourage and motivate its members to make films, the Da Nang Cinema Association has already asked for financial support from the municipal Union of Literary and Art Associations with 50% funding for the total prize value of winning films or financial assistance to filmmakers for their approved projects.

Despite difficult socio-economic circumstances in Da Nang in 2022 after the COVID-19 pandemic, members of the municipal Cinema Association always tried their best to find ways to make films, thereby making artistic imprints in the city’s cinema sector as their films were known and recognized nationally and internationally at film conferences and festivals. Members of the Viet Nam Television Center in the Central - Highlands Region (VTV8) have made dozens of documentaries and autobiographical episodes. Included were ‘Notes from a 12-night journey’, and ‘The Road to Peace’, both produced in South Korea and made by Doan Hong Le, plus ‘On Returning Feet’ made by Pham Hong Lien. Most notably, Film Director Doan Hong Le made a name for herself with her documentary film called ‘Mother’ that was broadcast on four TV channels in the UK and Northern Ireland.

Members of the municipal Cinema Association mainly worked for VTV8, the Da Nang Radio and Television Station, and the municipal Cinema and Cultural Center so their films are made in accordance with their work units’ plans. In addition, Da Nang’s young people find it hard to access cinema studies production courses as there are no schools for film studies in the city.

“The municipal Cinema Association’s members mainly make their films in their work units based on their annual budget, so they face certain difficulties in funding and operating mechanism for their film production. Meanwhile, retired members want to make films about Da Nang but face difficulties in production funding. Furthermore, film distribution and marketing also face challenges as the Le Do Cinema which is the only public film venue in the city mainly show films for political purposes, ” Mr. Tra Xuan Phuong emphasized.

Connecting passions, developing young talents for film industry

In addition to the Da Nang Cinema Association, there are currently two cinema clubs operating in Da Nang, namely the Cinema Club and the Creative Arts and Entertainment Club under the municipal Cinema and Cultural Center. The two clubs are exclusive gathering places for movie lovers, actors, screenwriters and filmmakers.

Mr Ngo Van Bay, the Director of the Da Nang Cinema and Cultural Center, said that the Cinema Club established in 2019 but its members are mainly professional employees who are still working, so they have little time to participate in the club’s activities. In its efforts to create a professional playground for young people after the COVID-19 pandemic, the Da Nang Cinema and Cultural Center established the Creative Arts and Entertainment Club to bring together young people (aged 16 to 30 years) who love filmmaking. The club’s members are helped and supported with film or video making about such topics as family, tourism, culture and history of Da Nang in a bid to promote the city as an attractive tourist destination. However, they are too young with no experience so the city cannot build a professional film crew from these young people.

Mr. Le Vinh, the Chairman of Da Nang Creative Arts and Entertainment Club, said that the club now has 25 members, the majority of whom have a passion for filmmaking and work in different fields.

“The club is focusing on digital content creation, media and film production,  musical composition and event organization. Besides, the club also helps our members make short films, including projects for the 66S Entertrainment Company Limited and others to post on Tiktok, thereby providing a great opportunity to test the ability of the club’s members before launching an own Tiktok channel for the club," remarked Mr Le Vinh.

In 2022, the Da Nang Creative Arts and Entertainment Club boldly made a short film called "Sunset in the Other Side of the Hill" and wrote a song named ‘Suddenly realize’ that was used in this film. Besides its advantage of young resources, the club faces financial difficulties, so there are not many film production projects for young people to take part.

Mr. Le Vinh said that in October 2022, the club successfully organized a talk show entitled ‘I want to become a film director" with Chinese-Canadian Director Brian Szeto, and the event attracted a large number of young people in Da Nang.

In 2023, the club will give high priority to providing professional skills training courses for its members. In which, talk shows with invited speakers for music and movie production, along with film and music specialists will be held to give the club’s members a chance to discuss and exchange with these people in a bid to help them improve their professional skills. The organization of talk shows will also contribute to calling for funds from investors to create film projects for the club.

Reporting by DOAN HAO LUONG – Translating by H.L