HCM CITY — HCM City television studios hope to make 1,800 serials this year, compared to just 300 four years ago, but face an acute shortage of directors. Established ones are, as a result, being run ragged. Truong Dung has made many trips between HCM City and Phan Thiet in the last four months to make Giac Mo Bien (Dreams of Sea).
"I was busy with two other projects but I had to spend most of my time with Dreams of Sea to finish it in summer," Dung said.
The serial about a group of junior high school students' summer holidays is currently being screened on HTV 9 at 6pm from Sunday to Wednesday.
Dung's recent TV films like Cha Con Dau Dua (Dau Dua and her Father) and Tam Ho Chieu Vao Doi (Passport to Life) have been popular with audiences.
Nham Minh Hien has started making a 30-episode serial titled Phien Cho So (Digital Market) immediately after completing Hoa Thien Dieu (A Bird in Paradise).
Dinh Duc Liem is among the busiest directors in HCM City. Last year, after the 45-episode comedy Cuoc Chien Hoa Hong (War of Roses), he made the 70-part Vua San Coû (Football Kings).
His recent production, the 40-part Tham My Vien (Beauty Clinic) is being broadcast on HTV9 from Thursday to Saturday at 6pm.
Dung, Hien, Liem, and other well-known directors like Xuan Phuoc and Chau Hue are always busy with film projects while studios usually want their productions completed quickly.
Some studios, unable to sign professional film directors, have turned to well-known theatre directors to make TV serials. Tran Ngoc Giau is thus making Lau Dai Tinh Ai (Love Castle) and stage actor Le Binh will start making Nhung Co Cau Tuoi O Mai (Teenagers), a serial about teens, next month.
Another stage director, Nhat Tuan, started making TV serials a few years ago. His first film, the 30-episode Mua He Soi Dong (Interesting Summer Holidays) was a hit among younger audiences when it was shown on HTV last year.
It was about six teenagers who become good friends while on a 10-day summer vacation.
Many well-known Ha Noi-based directors like Nguyen Thanh Van, Pham Nhue Giang, and Do Minh Tuan travel to HCM City to work with the studios.
Tat Binh is directing Huyen Su Thien Do (History of the Capital's Move) for Sao The Gioi (World Star) Company.
"With more and more TV serials produced, studios not only face a shortage of directors but also actors and interesting scripts," HTV director Nguyen Van Nam said. — VNS