Local film experts have revealed plans to adapt some of Vietnam’s most famous novels into TV series.
Lều Chõng (Tents and Pallets) a successful series directed by Nguyen Thanh Van
Director Nguyen Huu Phan said one of the reasons why Vietnamese TV dramas were so unattractive was because of the lack of good scripts.
In the current situation, famous novels become even more precious. Phan said, “Anyone who has read Vietnamese literature during the 1930-1945 period can feel the 'magic' of this era's literature. In a short time, Vietnamese literature boomed with big names such as Nam Cao, Vu Trong Phung or Ngo Tat To. For example Vu Trong Phung, even though he only lived until 27, he left many amazing works and his concepts and characters remain as lively and true today."
Vietnam Cinema Association’s Nguyen Huu Phan and Hodafilm, the production company of Vietnam Cinema Association plan to adapt famous novels into TV dramas. They also received support from Vietnam Television (VTV) and the Vietnam Television Film Centre (VFC).
They will first adapt the novels Số đỏ (Dumb Luck), Cơm thầy cơm cô (Household Servants) and Kỹ nghệ lấy tây (The Industry of Marrying Europeans) by Vu Trong Phung into 30 episodes and the series will be directed by Pham Nhue Giang and Nguyen Thanh Van who had successfully directed a movie adapt from famous novels before.
Van said if the series is successful, the crew will continue to adapt other novels. He also said the makers must fully understand the novel and be able to depict the past, but what is most important is that they tell a story that is relevant to modern audiences.
Answering questions whether the series will attract advertisers and audiences to boost ratings when broadcasted at prime time, Van said, "VTV and VFC have agreed to co-operate with us, which means that they must have calculated all the possibilities. Furthermore, the first series is like a test, if the audience like it, we'll expand the project. To me, this an interesting project."
Director, meritorious Artist Nguyen Huu Phan
