Hue meets all the criteria to become a film studio
In the conference on "Building and developing Thua Thien Hue province until 2030 with a vision to 2045", Mr. Nguyen Van Binh, Member of the Politburo, Head of the Central Economic Committee once suggested establishing Hue as a film studio.
“We can build the biggest film studio in the country like the Chinese or like Hollywood. Film-makers can go to the appropriate studio and film on the set that they want, using the most satisfactory technologies. It can be the largest film studio, becoming a cultural center of the country. From there, it has the power to reach not only domestic film-makers but also international ones,” Mr. Binh said.
The parasol tree in the middle of a sugarcane field in Ha Cang village, Quang Phu commune, Quang Dien district would not be famous if the movie “Dreamy Eyes” had not filmed there. Quang Phu Primary School, the corner of Huynh Thuc Khang street, Thien An hill, Hue University of Education ... the settings so familiar to Hue people suddenly appeared one day full of poetry and romance on the big screen. Through the eyes of film-makers, a few small settings can become extravagant and fancy when appearing on film.
Trees like the parasol in Ha Cang will also be normal and quiet for decades if it has not appeared in the film footage. This image had been so familiar with people in that area that they failed to see its beauty. It was not until the cinematographers put a little bit of “make-up” on it that it appeared full of charm.
Hue meets all the criteria to become a film studio
It was not until "Dreamy Eyes" that people began to see Hue as a place of beauty, with cinematic features. Hue has been the setting for many movies. With the theme of war, there were "The quiet river" and "Hue in the red apricot blossom season". With the sentimental topic, there were "The moon at the bottom of the well", "The girl on the river" ... With the forbidden palaces there were "Royal candle", "Trang Quynh", and the film "Phuong Khau" which is being produced ... All of the above films are either entirely shot in Hue or half of the scenes are in Hue.
Hue is a city surrounded by lakes, forests, lagoons, seas and villages. Therefore, directors have more choices to be creative with their filming locations. In addition to its natural beauty, Hue’s system of heritage and relics will also be an advantage to help Hue become a good choice for film-makers.
Victor Vu, the director of "Dreamy Eyes", when looking for the location for the film, was really impressed with the filming locations in Hue and did not hesitate to choose this place. “Actually, the team found a lot of settings to use in this movie. I see a beauty. I can imagine if I shoot this context, this corner, in the film, I believe that I can convince this is the context of the time, of the 70s," director of "Dreamy Eyes" shared.
With the famous film capitals of the world, before becoming a luxurious splendid place, it was just an anonymous land. Hollywood in 1900, before becoming the capital of the world’s cinema, was only a small village with several fields and a few hundred people.
By 1911, David Horsleys Nestor Company opened its first studio here. Shortly thereafter, another 15 film studios left central New York for Hollywood. The first movie made in Hollywood in 1914 was called "The Squaw Man".
The "lonely" tree in the movie "Dreamy Eyes" becomes the "check-in" point of tourists
Hue is different from Hollywood in its starting point as it has many suitable locations stretching from monarchic to modern times. Hue’s nature and villages fit many different movie settings. A city that is divided into regions with its own development and mission is an advantage for film-makers to choose.
It is no coincidence that Mr. Nguyen Van Binh suggested Hue to become a film studio. It is no coincidence that many people dream that Hue could set up a film studio to serve the film industry. That dream and those suggestions are not fictional. They have been affirmed with movies made thus far and have left a mark as the perfect setting.
What does Hue need in order to become a big film studio? I think we must boldly raise the issue and call for investment in this field. And the most important thing is to know what to preserve in order to have settings that stretch from the past to the present, from the mountains to the lagoon, to the sea, to the villages...
Story: NGUYEN DUC THANH - Photos: TRUNG PHAN