HCM City (VNS/VNA) - Vietnamese artists inrecent years have been investing in web dramas which have attracted tensof millions of views on YouTube.
Actor Tran Thanh’s Bo Gia (Old Dad) is the most-viewed web drama inVietnam, having earning more than 90 million views for fiveepisodes. It ranked number 1 on trending on YouTube in Vietnam afterthe film premiered on January 2.
The five-episode series is about the life an older motorbiketaxi driver who faces problems earning enough money for his family.
He sometimes behaves cruelly to his two children and wife,but he is also a kind-hearted man who loves his family and likes to helppeople.
“My wife gave me ideas for the film, andwe finished the screenplay together,” Thanh, who plays the leading role,told local media in interviews.
“In Vietnam, people love to do films about mothers, but not many fathers,”he said, adding that he hoped that the film would enhance understandingabout Vietnamese fathers.
“People often complain that Vietnamese fathers are rude andthey forget what they have done,” said the 33-year-old actor who invested 4billion VND (172,000 USD) in the production.
To achieve the best quality, Thanh invited experienced filmmakers to workon the production.
The film’s director is To Gia Tuan, aka To, who has directedpopular web dramas like Thap Tam Muoi (The 13th Sister)and Vi Ca Tien Truyen (Chasing Love).
The film also features young actors Tuan Tran and Ali Hoang Duong, and veteranactors including People’s Artist Ngoc Giau and Le Giang.
Bo Gia has been praised by the media and thepublic, receiving thousands of positive comments on Tran Thanh’s YouTubechannel.
Viewer Vuong Thanh Liem said the film "feels close topeople and it's about good things in life”, while viewer Duy Tran said hesaw it twice.
Tran Thanh, a graduate in acting from the HCM City Universityof Cinematography and Theatre, is known primarily as an MC, a comicand movie actor, voice actor and producer.
As an MC in 2006, he earned several awards for his roleat Mai Vang (Golden Ochna) Awards in 2013 and 2014, the Vietnam TelevisionAwards in 2015, and the HCM City Television Awards in 2014.
He has played leading roles in top Vietnamese films suchas Cua Lai Vo Bau (Falling in Love Again) earning 191.8 billion VND (8.25million USD) in ticket sales, and Trang Quynh (Dr Quynh) with 100billion VND (4.3 million USD).
Last year, he also released an eight-part web drama called The Call onYouTube. The drama, about mysterious calls at night,has attracted more than 2 million views for each episode.
Like Thanh, Thu Trang, Huynh Lập and Nam Thu have investedbillions of VND in making web dramas and have achieved success.
Singer and actress Hang is a new face in the genre. She isworking on her first production, which is still a secret.
“I spent half a year on writing the script and casting. Iwill be the director and play a leading role because I want to control thefilm to ensure it is perfect,” said the 34-year-old actress.
Hang played a leading role in movies like Sac Dep Ngan Can,a Vietnamese version of Korean movie 200 Pounds Beauty, and won a Mai VangAwards for favourite actress in 2017.
“My film will reflect hot topics of today's society withthrilling details in hopes of bringing audiences a unique production,” sheadded.
Hang and her colleagues Truong Thanh Long and Xuan Phucare on set for filming.
She expects to release her film on YouTubein mid-2020./.