Viet Nam News
By Phuong Mai
HCM CITY — Private film studio Chanh Phuong Film has taken a risk by using several amateur actors famous on the internet to perform in the teenage romantic comedy Em Chua 18 (I’m Not 18).
“The film is a risky project. The cast includes young amateur actors with little acting experience,” said Charlie Nguyen, the film’s Vietnamese-American producer and director, at a recent press meeting in HCM City.
The director invited 18-year-old high school student Kaity Nguyen to play the leading role in the film. Kaity is famous on the internet as a beauty blogger with nearly 250,000 followers on her Facebook page and over 80,000 followers on Instagram.
“Em Chua 18 is my first step in the film industry,” she said. “I really appreciate the opportunity. After reading the screenplay, I was impressed with my character. We share similar characteristics, which inspired me.”
Directed by Le Thanh Son, the film is a love story between a high school student Linh Dan and a playboy named Hoang (played by Kieu Minh Tuan).
After meeting in a pub, Dan and Hoang have a one-night stand. After that, Dan, an 18-year-old girl with a strong personality, finds a way to seek revenge and becomes stuck in a love triangle with Hoang and his former girlfriend.
Speaking at the meeting, Son said: “The film’s plot is interesting. It contains meaningful lessons about young love, friendship and lifestyle.”
Son became famous with the action movie Bay Rong (Clash) starring Vietnamese action movie stars Johnny Tri Nguyen and Ngo Thanh Van.
The producer also asked other young people who are popular on the internet, including Ngoc Trai, Kieu Trinh Xiu and Chau Bui, to play roles in the film.
Most of them are TV hosts and fashionistas who have hundreds of thousands of followers on social network sites.
The film also features amateur actors Will and Kieu Minh Tuan, and experienced artists Kathy Uyen and Huy Khanh.
“I felt young and happy working with young actors,” Son said, adding that the cast had a professional attitude and good acting skills.
Kaity said that she and her colleagues were lucky to work with experienced filmmakers like Son and Charlie Nguyen.
“We learned and improved day by day during the filmmaking,” she said.
Charlie Nguyen, known in Viet Nam for the comedy movies De Mai Tinh (Fool for Love), Teo Em (Little Teo) and Fan Cuong (Fanatic), said: “We don’t have any bankable stars, but these young actors were an inspiration for our staff and our film.”
“Fortunately, I discovered a few faces who will become talented and are potential actors for the movie industry,” he added.
Charlie said the actors would bring a breath of fresh air to the film and help lure audiences, particularly teenagers, to the cinema.
Em Chua 18 is in post-production and is expected to be released on April 28. — VNS