The opportunity to make artificial intelligence (AI) films using smartphones originated from Pham Vinh Khuong's journey of more than 20 years with this device. Those were the early days when he only knew how to take photos and shoot videos with rudimentary quality on old devices until smartphones became a real mobile studio.
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| Director Pham Vinh Khuong. (Photo: NVCC) |
Creativity has no limits
When AI appeared and developed rapidly, director Pham Vinh Khuong realized that this was not just a support tool, but a revolution in creative thinking. He asked himself: "Why should I depend on expensive equipment and a powerful team, when I can tell stories with the phone in my hand, combined with artificial intelligence?"
Thinking so, he quietly experimented, explored, shaped and gave birth to the concept of "True Smartphone Film" - making minimalist films, without the need for specialized equipment, but still achieving artistic quality and profound messages.
Determining a challenging journey, but also a way for Pham Vinh Khuong to prove that creativity has no limits, just dare to think and dare to do. And then, his first short film on Touch was produced entirely by AI on the phone, released for free in June 2024 to promote the issue of domestic violence.
MV "Cheo Moi Lai Ra" continues to be a project that the male director puts a lot of effort into, because the theme is about a traditional art form of the nation, which is picky about listeners in a modern context.
His motivation “comes from a deep love for Vietnamese culture and a little ambition to revive those values in a way that the younger generation can feel”. He sees AI “not only as a tool to create visual effects, but also as a bridge to recreate history and culture in a more vivid and intimate way”.
In this MV, he uses AI to recreate the image of military culture, integrating it with valuable documents, combining traditional Cheo with Epic music to create a strange yet familiar blend.
The director “wants the audience not only to watch, but also to feel proud of their roots. Bringing Cheo closer to the public today is not a matter of forced modernization, but of using technology to breathe life into it, making it a vivid story, touching the hearts of even young people who are unfamiliar with this genre.”
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| A scene from the MV “Cheo Moi Lai Ra” by Pham Vinh Khuong. (Photo: An Binh) |
A new cinematic experience
For director Pham Vinh Khuong, preserving culture is not about keeping it in a museum, but letting it "continue to breathe, to continue to live in the new era".
Therefore, he devoted a lot of effort to completing a big project - the music video "The Declaration" to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and to deeply express gratitude to the indomitable spirit of the Vietnamese people.
“This is not a dry historical MV, but a work of art combining AI technology, virtual reality (AR) and 3D cinematic style, telling the story of the country's pride, solidarity and aspirations to rise up.” The male director combines images, music and technology to recreate heroic moments, while sending a message about the future: We are not only proud of the past but also must continue to build an increasingly strong Vietnam.
According to Pham Vinh Khuong, the project posed a great challenge both technically and in terms of content, as he not only worked independently, but also collaborated with leading photographers and artists in the field of culture and art in Vietnam and internationally to ensure the best quality of sound and images. He hopes that when released, the Manifesto will not only be a work of art, but also affirm the creativity of Vietnamese people in the digital age.
Another project being nurtured – the film White Shirt After a White Night – is scheduled to premiere on February 27, 2026, on the occasion of Vietnamese Doctors' Day.
Without limiting the copyright of images and sounds, he decided to allow doctors as well as audiences to use them for free to serve propaganda activities, helping the film reach a wider audience.
The project's unique feature lies in the application of AI technology throughout the production process. For the first time in the history of Vietnamese cinema, a film honoring the medical industry has been made entirely with AI. From visual effects, scene reconstruction, 3D effects to post-production, all are supported by AI, bringing a creative, new and technological cinematic experience.
Not just a normal film project, White Shirt After a White Night is also scientific and educational. The work was built with the advice of medical experts, doctors and researchers in the medical field to ensure the content most accurately reflects the work and life of medical professionals.
In addition, to optimize AI's operational capabilities, the director's IT team has developed specialized software to help AI process data more accurately and efficiently, contributing to affirming the development of AI technology in the film industry.
| Pham Vinh Khuong was born in 1992 in Ho Chi Minh City, known for his unique film projects using AI technology and mobile phones such as "Dai Viet Painting" honoring the cultural, historical and national values of Vietnam, "White Party" promoting child protection, "Eye of the Storm" towards people in flood-hit areas, "Opening the Boat" honoring the nation's art form, "Steel Flame" commemorating the late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong... |
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| Director Pham Vinh Khuong on HBO channel. (Photo: NVCC) |
Voice affirmation tool
Pham Vinh Khuong always believes that AI is not a "magic wand" to replace humans, but a potential companion, if humans know how to exploit it.
From his experience, he said: “First, start with simple, accessible tools on your phone – basic AI applications for images, sound or film editing can all be downloaded directly to experience.
Most importantly, don’t let AI lead you. Lead AI, control it well and master it. Creativity is not about technology, it’s about ideas, knowledge, skills, emotions and the stories you want to tell.”
In the era of advancement, the 9X director encourages young people to use AI to explore and honor Vietnamese identity - from culture, history to contemporary issues.
“Let’s turn AI into a tool to affirm the voice of our generation, not only domestically but also internationally. AI can help save time, manpower and production costs, but only humans can create depth. Therefore, don’t be lazy in cultivating knowledge and emotions – that is the key to mastering technology, instead of becoming a slave to it,” he emphasized.
Director Pham Vinh Khuong's creations not only demonstrate his vision but also affirm the breakthrough creativity of a young generation shaping professional art.
| “I am fortunate to have my academic research and achievements recognized by Vietnamese and international media beyond expectations. But for me, the greatest recognition does not lie in awards, or in the media’s constant pursuit or praise, but in when the audience feels the message, emotions, and passion I convey through each frame.” Pham Vinh Khuong |
Source: https://baoquocte.vn/dao-dien-pham-vinh-khuong-the-gioi-phim-ai-trong-chiec-dien-thoai-309047.html
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