"Bloodshed" when playing the role of Ut Luc Lam
After the news that actor Tuan Tran will play the role of Ut Luc Lam in the movie "Dat Rung Phuong Nam" (film version directed by Nguyen Quang Dung), many audiences mentioned artist Trung Dan because he was very successful with this character in the TV version directed by Vinh Son. What chance brought you to this role?
- I don't know why director Vinh Son chose me. At that time, I had only graduated for 1-2 years and had acted in a few films. I remember director Vinh Son asked me if I knew how to row a boat, I said yes. He asked me if I knew how to swim, I also knew. Then I played the role of Ut Luc Lam.
When I read the script, I liked it so I just acted. I was sick back then, and I'm from the South, so I fit the role. As for preparation, it seems like I didn't prepare anything (laughs).
Artist Trung Dan shares "bloody" memories while filming "Southern Land" (Produced by: Nga Trinh - Cao Bach).
What memories from filming "Southern Land" do you still remember?
- I remember the time I followed the film crew of Southern Land , there were times when I had to sleep under mosquito nets, wade through forests and water with difficulty. The character I played was a wanderer, there were some fun scenes, like stealing roasted pigs, roasting clay chickens...
I went to film Dat Phuong Nam for more than half a month, following the film crew to travel throughout the southern provinces such as Can Tho, Tien Giang... then went back to District 9 (now Thu Duc City - PV) to continue filming. District 9 was very wild in the past, not like it is now...
When you filmed "Southern Land", did you think this would be a "lifetime" film?
- When I was filming, I never thought that the film would resonate with the audience. After a while, when I had the opportunity to go to Can Gio, I was in a car going across the ferry when someone discovered me. I don't know how they spread the news, but when the ferry docked, hundreds of people were standing on the other side waiting for me.
At that time, there were no phones, no pictures, they just hugged, held hands, laughed, and asked me questions. Only then did I realize that my role in particular and the film Dat Phuong Nam in general had left an impression on the audience.
After that, I went home to read the novel Southern Forest Land by writer Doan Gioi. Director Vinh Son did a great job in depicting the context of the work.
Artist Trung Dan in conversation with Dan Tri (Photo: Trinh Nguyen).
Actor Trung Dan in the role of Ut Luc Lam (Photo: Document).
After decades of acting and taking on countless roles, what is the significance of the role of Ut Luc Lam in particular and the film "Dat Phuong Nam" in general in your career?
- When I was only 23-24 years old, I was lucky enough to play the role of Ut Luc Lam and work with a professional director like Vinh Son in my early days of pursuing art.
Director Vinh Son is very dedicated and understands Vietnamese culture in general and Southern culture in particular. He "passed" those things on to me and the other actors.
Actually, back then, people loved me and encouraged me. I thought my acting wasn't good because I was still young. Now, I have more experience and life experience, so I think I can act better.
Now, when I look back at my role, I wonder why I acted like that back then, and then wonder why I acted like that but the audience liked it (laughs).
The movie "Southern Land" is set in a "sacred forest and poisonous water" place. What obstacles and dangers does Trung Dan encounter?
- At that time, the film was shot with only one camera, so the scenes had to be divided into many segments. There was a scene where I was pickpocketing, then running away, hiding in a broken drum behind the communal house. When I was running on the iron bridge, I stepped on a nail. Only when I was lying in the drum did I realize I was "bleeding" (laughs).
But there were a lot of nails in the drum, and the collisions caused me a lot of injuries. However, I didn't feel any pain while filming. Only after filming was I treated my wounds myself and went home to get vaccinated.
Actors Trung Dan and Hung Thuan (as An) in the movie "Southern Land" (Photo: Document).
Filming for months, how was the relationship between Trung Dan and the actors in the film? Do you still keep in touch with them?
- In the movie, Hung Thuan (playing An - PV) and I have many fun interactions. Up to now, I only often meet Uncle Mac Can (playing Uncle Ba Phi - PV) and Ms. Mai Thanh Dung (playing Mrs. Tu U - PV).
Recently I also visited Uncle Mac Can, and saw that his health had declined a lot. As for Mai Thanh Dung, she is currently sick, but her life is also good. However, in the past few months, we have been so busy that we have not been in contact with each other.
"The setting of the movie "Southern Forest Land" is magnificent, but…"
Once again appearing in the film adapted from the novel "Southern Forest Land", but playing the role of Mr. Ba Sang, the pawnshop owner, how does artist Trung Dan feel?
- Actually, this is a film adapted from a famous Vietnamese literary work, so I really appreciate it. Whether it's good or bad will come later.
We must encourage the adaptation of valuable literary works into films. It is better than buying foreign works and then awkwardly and inappropriately adapting them to Vietnamese culture. Does Vietnam lack good works?
Artist Trung Dan plays Mr. Ba Sang in the film "Southern Forest Land" (Photo: Provided by the film crew).
The audience is worried that Tuan Tran is still young and will have difficulty overcoming Trung Dan's shadow when playing the role of Ut Luc Lam. What do you think?
- Maybe people favor me so they say that, but in the past my acting was normal, there was nothing to call a "big shadow". I haven't seen how Tuan Tran plays the role of Ut Luc Lam in the movie because the movie hasn't been released yet.
However, I acted with him in a scene in the movie. I found him young and handsome, which was an advantage. Seeing him love his job and work seriously, I really liked it.
Tuan Tran often asked me to practice my lines or re-write them if he was not satisfied with the combination of the two. He was the one who proactively sought me out to discuss the role.
I don't like him because he "sought after" me. I like Tuan Tran because he loves his job, is professional, and has the awareness to delve into his character to complete his role well.
Actor Tuan Tran plays Ut Luc Lam in the movie "Southern Forest Land" (Photo: Provided by the film crew).
What do you tell Tuan Tran when he takes on the role of Ut Luc Lam?
- Due to lack of time, I couldn't talk much with him. I told Tuan Tran that his appearance looked like a young master, without the wandering nature of the character. So I told him to remember to put the "street life" quality into the role, that would be fine.
When the setting of the movie "Southern Forest Land" was announced, some viewers thought that creating a fake ancient setting would be difficult to convince and would not bring the same emotions as in novels and TV dramas of the past. What does artist Trung Dan think?
- Talking about the setting, the crew of the film Southern Forest has advanced, modern machinery and a very grand construction.
I myself - as an audience and as an actor participating in a scene in the film - have my own feelings about each detail of the setting. However, the film has not been released yet, so I hope the audience will have their own feelings when watching the film first.
In the South, this is where cajuput and mangrove trees grow abundantly. Only very rich people can have a house with wooden walls. For example, in the original, Mrs. Tu U is very poor, her tea shop must be made of cajuput, mangrove, coconut leaves...
As for the boat, the materials and designs vary from era to era, so it is difficult to find the exact boat from the past. However, the design team and set designers of Southern Forest Land did a great job!
The setting of the movie "Southern Forest Land" (Photo: Provided by the film crew).
What advice does Trung Dan have for the director and producer when participating in "Southern Forest Land"?
- When making a film about a historical subject, it must be described correctly, as accurately as possible. Because this work will be preserved for a long time for future generations to see. If the description is not correct, the next generation will have a distorted view of the past.
Doing art must be done properly, because we do it not only for ourselves, but also for our children and grandchildren, for the next generation. When doing art, we must not be egotistical, we must listen and accept criticism, not just praise.
Thanks for sharing artist Trung Dan!
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