Local films shine during Tet

Vietnamse flavour: A scene from Bong Ma Hoc Duong, one of the Vietnamese-made films shown in cinemas during the Tet holiday. — VNS Photo

HCM CITY — Despite stiff competition from entertainment centres, Vietnamese-made films attracted big crowds at cinemas in HCM City and Ha Noi during the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday.

One of the blockbusters, Bong Ma Hoc Duong (Ghost at School), drew thousands of young moviegoers to Galaxy, Megastar and BHD Maximart cinemas.

Audiences queued up in front of the cinemas' ticket kiosks for the chance to watch the country's first 3-D film featuring an amusing story of an online author haunted by three ghosts.

The horror comedy attracted dozens of young pop stars and fashion models including Wanbi Tuan Anh, Truong Quynh Anh and Dinh Ngoc Diep.

Attracting more than 300,000 filmgoers, the US$1 million-film Bong Ma Hoc Duong grossed VND22 billion ($1.1 million) after 12 days of release in only HCM City and Ha Noi.

"We believe our film will set a record in ticket sales this Tet," said Phan To Hong Hai, a member of Thien Ngan Studios' managing board, the film's producer.

District 5's Megastar HungVuong cinema attracted 10,000 people a day, an increase of 20 per cent over the same period last year.

Thien Ngan's competitor, BHD Company, also believes in the financial success of its production, the comedy film Co Dau Dai Chien (War of the Brides).

The producer said the film's Vietnamese-American director Victor Vu had brought something new to fans.

Co Dau Dai Chien revolves around the love of a group of young people living in urban areas, portrayed by Huy Khanh, Phi Thanh Van and Van Trang.

It attracted 230,000 audiences in 10 days, earning VND14.2 billion in ticket sales. The numbers are expected to be higher in coming days.

The private film company Phuoc Sang's Thien Su... 99 (The Cherub... 99) features a love story, offering comedy and exciting action.

The film contains a large cast of well-known artists, including young singers Khong Tu Quynh and Ngo Kien Huy. Like its competitors, Phuoc Sang also spent a large sum on filming.

"Comedies will be big hits with youngsters looking for more lighthearted entertainment," said Phuoc Sang, the film's director.

The film is being screened at cinemas across the country, and has thus far earned a profit of VND9 billion.

In HCM City, thousands of families have also flocked to theatres as well as cinemas.

Cat Phuong of the HCM City Small Drama Theatre said that mostly big drama troupes and theatres, including Phu Nhuan and Hoang Thai Thanh, staged more comedic plays during Tet and Valentine's Day.

The theatre's two plays, Chua Yeu Sao Hieu Duoc (Can't Understand Without Love) and Cuc Yeu (Fall in Love), feature performances of young artists, including Hoang Anh and Diem Chau.

"We will continue to stage comedies in the upcoming weeks instead of showing serious productions as we had originally planned," said a representative of Hoang Thai Thanh Drama Stage.

All the tickets for the theatre's three plays have been sold out for two months.

Phuong also predicts that comedies will continue to draw audiences to the theatre until International Women's Day on March 8. — VNS

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Box offices boom over Tet

Cinemas and stages had bumper box offices over the Tet holidays.

Tickets to a total of 18 films at eight theaters across HCMC were sold out with operators adding extra sessions to cope with the demand. Most of the productions were comedies, thrillers or social dramas.

The theaters said they have sold out  tickets until the end of February, with many people resorting to buy tickets from outside the theater for as much as VND800,000/pair, compared to the set price of VND100,000. Seats for live shows of local comedians for VND1.5 million were also sold out.

Vietnam’s first 3D movie, Bong Ma Hoc Duong (School Ghosts) produced by Galaxy Studios, lived up to expectations with a record VND22 billion after 12 days of screening nationwide, mostly attracting students.

Minh Thuy, a high school student in Ha Dong, said, “The movie covered some real issues such as school fights and violence.”

School Ghost has sold 300,000 tickets so far turning over VND1.8 billion a day, higher than local blockbusters last Lunar New Year. Co Dau Dai Chien (Battle of the Brides) produced by BHD was next with VND14.2 billion and 230,000 viewers during Tet.

Phuoc Sang Corp’s production Thien Su 99 (Angel 99) with VND9 billion and 200,000 tickets sold, ranked third but was down a third on Phuoc Sang’s offering last year called  Cong Chua Teen va Ngu Ho Tuong (Teen Princess and the Five Brave Generals Teaser).

A representative of Hung Vuong MegaStar Cineplex in HCMC’s District 5, said every day from the first to the fourth day of Tet, the cinemas welcomed 10,000 movie lovers, but American 3D cartoon, Tangled, was the biggest attraction.

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Provincial TV stations seek new ways to do business

HCM CITY - In a competition with leading television stations like Viet Nam Television (VTV) and HCM City Television (HTV), stations in the provinces are trying to lure local viewers to their programmes.

Vinh Long Province's TV station, for example, has worked with Phuoc Sang Studios, Vietcomfilm and Thien Nam An, three private film companies in HCM City, to produce TV series and game shows.

The station has increased its broadcast time for Vietnamese films from two hours per day to more than seven hours per day.

It has broadcast Anh Em Nha Bac Si (Doctor Brothers) and Me Chong Nang Dau (Mother and Daughters-in-Law), both long-running TV series produced by the station and its partners, Vietcomfilm and Thien Nam An.

Phuoc Sang Studios, one of the country's leading private film companies, has decided to release its 30-part TV series, Lau Dai Tinh Ai (Love Castle), on Vinh Long Television channel this year.

The show will be broadcast on channels of TV stations in Binh Duong, Tien Giang, Kien Giang and Lam Dong provinces.

"We have worked with Vinh Long Television to produce or exchange documentary films and TV series that will be broadcast on the station's channels," Phuoc Sang, the company's director, said.

"We see a change here to develop our business," he said.

Vinh Long Television plans to make a large investment to build its studio that serves film projects, according to the station's representative.

The station also has a TV mobile unit to serve remote areas.

"Our staff, including young directors and producers, has also diversified its programmes to cover culture and society, education, health, entertainment and sports to help viewers better understand the country and the world," he said.

He added that his station was conducting research to identify ways to co-operate with private entertainment companies to produce more quality programmes.

Like Vinh Long Station, TV stations in provinces have invested several billion dong to build and upgrade their technology at their studios, in an aim to improve programmes and signal transmissions.

Binh Duong Television has worked with its partners to produce Nguoi Dep Binh Duong (Binh Duong's Miss Beauty), a 30-part TV series, featuring the province's history and people.

The film will be aired on BTV1 channel next month, hoping to attract local residents and many audiences in HCM City and other provinces such as Can Tho, Vinh Long and Dong Thap.

"Our film producers and TV stations should work together to increase the number of Vietnamese films aired to at least 30 per cent of all TV film screenings," said Phan To Hong Hai, exhibition division director of Thien Ngan (Galaxy) Studios, the country's first film company.

Thien Ngan has produced entertainment programmes to release on TV channels in Ha Noi, HCM City and other provinces. -VNS

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