Can an administrative order inspire domestically-made movies?

A new decree fixing the time for Vietnam-made films on domestic television channels took effect on July 7. The order is an opportunity for the film industry, but many challenges are still ahead.

VietNamNet Bridge – A new government decree fixing the time for Vietnam-made films on domestic television channels took effect on July 7, 2010. The order is said to be a great opportunity for the domestic film industry, but many challenges are still ahead.

International mark is good news for domestic film industry

At MegarStar Hanoi.

Decree 77 stipulates that Vietnamese movies must account for at least 20 percent of total shows at cinemas and domestic films must cover at least 30 percent of total broadcasting time on television. Vietnamese movies must be broadcast from 8-10pm, as well as other stipulated hours.

In addition, the decree says that films for kids under 16 must account for at least 5 percent of total broadcasting time for movies on tv channels.

To encourage Vietnam’s film industry, the State will wholly or partly buy ownership of films produced by domestic firms that are considered to have value. Film companies are exempt from registration fees for land and housing usage. Provincial authorities must give priority to film firms in land allocation. In addition, film companies must have authorized capital of at least 1 billion dong.

The Government will set up the Movie Assistance Fund, an independent financial firm funded by the State.

Do Hoang Nam, a manager from Nam Giao company, a film distributor, remarked that the decree will be good for both film producers and distributors and it will promote the development of Vietnamese movies.

Well-known scriptwriter Nguyen Thi Hong Ngat agreed the new rule is good, but observed that implementation depends on many factors and the most important is the quality of these films.

Commenting that the new regulation will not affect Vietnam Television’s (VTV) film broadcasting schedule, VTV scriptwriter Pham Ngoc Tien went on to say that it is important that Vietnamese film makers improve quality to lure viewers and ensure advertising revenues for VTV.

“Regulations are regulations – it is another matter whether or not the audience welcomes it. Vietnamese only want to use Vietnamese products if they are good. Don’t think that we can force the audience to watch domestic films. If films on VTV channels are bad, they can immediately turn on cable TV to watch foreign movies,” Tien explained.

It may be very difficult for domestic TV stations, because they don’t produce their own films but instead purchase films. Nam Giao Manager Do Hoang Nam revealed that they have imported films from the US, South Korea and China for years to sell to Vietnamese TV stations. These stations prefer foreign films because they can easily sell advertising. In contrast, the Vietnamese films are mainly old and advertising time is not as easily sold. Domestic film producers also often sign contracts with big TV stations like Hanoi Television, HCM City Television or VTV.

What do audiences say about Vietnamese movies? Tran Thi Kim Cuc, a Hanoi housewife, likes watching Vietnamese movies because they are close to her own life, but she admitted just several films are good.

Thanh Huyen, a media company employee in Hanoi, prefers foreign films because she claims that Vietnamese films are very boring.

Seeing a big opportunity in Decree 77,  directors and actors also realize its challenges. Director Quoc Tuan wondered: “We still lack good scripts. Funding is also restricted, with only 200 million dong ($11,000) for one episode. Foreign friends praise Vietnamese filmmakers for being able to make films with such modest capital.”

Actor Viet Anh worried that, when many films are shooting, actors will be so busy and won’t have time to renew themselves.

A manager at a big Hanoi cinema who prefers to remain anonymous told VietNamNet that the new regulation will especially hit cinemas with only one projection room.

National Cinema Centre Director Nguyen Danh Duong worried: “Vietnam produces just several large-screen films a year, so are they enough to cover 20 percent of films screened at cinemas? Our centre introduces around 100 movies a year, so we must show 20 Vietnamese films to meet the new regulation. Also, the show time depends on the quality of Vietnamese movies.”

“We are ready to give golden times to Vietnam films on the condition that there is enough of an audience. We will stop screening Vietnamese films that attract only 5-7 viewers in a room of 100 seats,” Duong added.

Director Phan Dang Di was very happy with the new regulation, saying that this will motivate Vietnamese film directors, but he also worried about the shortage of films to meet the 20 percent ratio.

Film producer Phuoc Sang had a different view. “I think this decree won’t encourage Vietnamese films. The most important thing now is restructuring the system of cinemas. The decree will not work if we have only a few cinemas to screen Vietnamese films,” Sang observed.

PV

Tags: New Regulation, The New, The New Regulation, Vietnamese Films, Vietnamese Movies, Physics games

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