'Many people of the same age may not go further than me'

In his third time as a director, Khuong Ngoc admits that he has entered a new chapter, more calm and thoughtful in perceiving and handling problems. He does not even hesitate to accept criticism because he knows that he can never completely satisfy everyone.

- LIVE-#Livestream is the third film you directed. In the trailer that was just released, the audience saw many shocking details, including the dialogue. Do you have to restrain from swearing in the film?

During filming, in addition to not being able to control myself, I also encouraged everyone to curse more. Many people asked me if we were filming a movie. I had two options: go ahead even though it might get cut during censorship or use beeps to “cover up” the cursing.

Of course, I would rather choose option 2 for life. No movie has ever beeped so much before. It's also a fun thing for the audience because they can easily understand what the word is. But in the end, I have to choose option 1.

I think again, if someone regularly watches livestreams, it's quite normal. But some people will say, spending 100,000 VND on a movie ticket just to listen to swearing. Everyone understands that swearing is swearing, no matter how heavy or light. Because making a movie has to be for the majority, I accept reducing enjoyment instead of increasing discomfort. But while filming, I considered both options, so in the end everything went smoothly without bothering the crew.

Khuong Ngoc launches a new film project called "LIVE-#Livestream".

- Your upcoming film explores the topic of social networks. Many filmmakers have explored this topic. So what is new in your film?

If the film only simulates reality, the audience will go to social networks to watch. I tell people, I choose that material but raise the issue through hypothetical creations. That is how to film the topic in LIVE-#Livestream.

This approach also helps avoid the situation where the audience sees that this already exists in real life, there are movies online, so why buy tickets? Therefore, with what is too familiar, I just skim through. The method of making may be the same, but in the next part, how the story will develop is important.

Simply put, when I give you coffee, hot water... it will definitely create 1,000 cups of coffee that cannot be the same. That is how I bring the audience into the story.

- You once said that doing LIVE-#Livestreaming is like responding and receiving signals from the universe?

Before doing this project, Nguyen Ngoc Thach and I worked together on a rather heavy series, adapted from his stories. I was quite interested because this series has many interesting stories and issues. When making films, everyone understands that they have to accept the limitations of content and artistic techniques. Therefore, with this series, I was able to overcome those limitations, so I found it even more exciting.

After going a while, everyone asked the opposite question: Why not do the light things first, and do the heavy things later. And, finally, the crew decided to start working on the film project first. In essence, the two are closely related.

The series is the source, the inspiration for us to develop into a film version. I always believe that everything is fate. At first, I thought of making a special series with cinematic quality. And that thought sent to the universe was finally answered: if you want to make a film, do it. That's how the film was born.

- That journey must not be easy?

It was a tough, exhausting journey. There were times when I wondered if I should continue. But, from the beginning, we decided to do this for fun. And it really brought a lot of inspiration to all the members of the team.

I also thought, why don’t we try to do it “go with the flow” for once. Every time there is a blockage, we calm down and tomorrow it will be cleared. It’s not a miracle, but everything will be solved step by step in its own way. And, in the end, everyone agrees.

- You said you ever thought about giving up?

I often have a habit of looking at everyone while working and only caring about myself last. At that time, everyone was exhausted even though my close colleagues told me to just keep going and it would be okay. There was a moment when I stopped in the middle of the set and saw the actors and their assistants dozing off and lying down exhausted.

I saw everyone struggling. Even though there were only 10 more scenes left, my mind urged me to stop, not to make everyone work anymore. I accepted to take on everything. Even though I knew that if I stopped, it would be the end when there was no backup plan. But I thought it was impossible to finish in that state.

At that time, my best friend, DOP Ngoc Cuong (Cuong CU), asked what time it was, should we shoot or cut? At that exact moment, a ray of light suddenly appeared, pulling me out of the darkness. The idea came very quickly, filling the screen in my head. At exactly 3:30 am, we recalculated everything, decided to shoot this and that. And so, everything was done.

"I accept to take responsibility for everything."

- When making this film, was Khuong Ngoc still as strange and eccentric as people know him to be?

In my opinion, this movie shows my true nature the most. When I was free, I was no longer constrained, and everything developed to its fullest. But it no longer had many strange and bizarre things, especially when I felt like I had entered a new chapter of my life.

One interesting thing is that I sprinkled a lot of what I thought were hidden meanings in the film. Right from the poster, people see square frames, circles, and eye shapes. Looking at it, it feels very cramped.

I always wonder when Facebook first appeared, it did not have much impact on each individual. But now, social networks are human life. Admittedly, it is an inevitable trend, but do we ask ourselves if we feel suffocated when we only talk to frames? And in the future, will people only talk to machines?

Those are the questions I ask in the film. The film also reflects that there are people at the bottom who want to rise and there are people who fall from the top. We will choose one of the two, or choose in the middle.

- Do you think you are confusing the audience?

The audience just watch the movie as usual because it is for everyone, nothing too profound. Maybe those who are on the same wavelength as me will find those interesting things, or more.

"I feel lucky because I can value myself."

- You've been quiet all this time, do you think your time is up?

I feel lucky because I can evaluate my own value. Value here is not comparing myself to others. It is also not converted into money, but joy, happiness, and love from the audience. Status today can be here, tomorrow somewhere else.

As for the concept of time, it could be the time to make money, the time of peak performance, having a large audience, but in reality it is not necessarily so. There are things that will not be lost. The audience, the amount of money earned can increase, decrease but what we can do will still be there. So why don't we base it on fixed values, just keep chasing after variable values. My thinking may also be contrary to everyone else's. But, I always base it on that to feel truly happy.

Many people of the same age may not have gone further than me. At least in terms of value, I have done many things that are inspiring and creative. From this perspective, whether I am still working, at home or alone, I am still happy. I know, feel and enjoy everything so that I do not have to constantly follow trends and never be able to calm down.

"Maybe my thinking is contrary to everyone else's."

- But do you want to go back to acting like before?

I don't know, but I always want to work. Going to work, although the position and nature of the work may be different, the essence is the same. If we can't cooperate, I will build my own boat and find people who are on the same boat to accompany me.

I decided not to sit around and wait, but instead create the characters I wanted, write them down and give myself the opportunity to play them.

Khuong Ngoc

I decided not to sit around and wait, but instead create the characters I want, write them down, and give myself the opportunity to play them.

But I also understand this. Some seniors in the profession say that at my age, I often stop because I am not young yet and not old yet. If the role is young or old, they have many choices, so why choose me? I see that I am at that threshold, so I just wait and accept it.

No need to think that you are out of date. I also realize that many views are a bit biased. If you look horizontally, you can see that he is taller than everyone else. But looking vertically, everyone is the same.

So why not think that you are standing with everyone, instead of thinking that you are at the top. In life, it is all about perspective. When you are loved, it is easy to think that you are being praised in the star position. But there are many famous people who still ride motorbike taxis and get along with everyone. No one can deny that they are number 1, the first, the real stars.

- Surely, having children is a big step for you?

Before, I heard many people say that after having children, they know. I just thought it was bullshit, they were just making excuses. After having children, I realized what they said was true. Since having children, I often tell young men, encourage them to have children because it is wonderful. Children teach you a lot.

An Nguyen

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