Buzz
'I don't know any formula for success. I only know to strive for a well-crafted product and a compelling story, something relatable and easy to understand,' said director Lý Hải.
On the afternoon of September 28, director Lý Hải and producer Minh Hà officially introduced the cast of the movie Face Off 6 with the title 'A destiny ticket'. During the press conference, Lý Hải shared interesting insights about the film and the series that has built his 'brand' for nearly a decade.
Finding the right actors, not chasing after box office guaranteeing stars
'Face Off 6' is introduced as a combination of thriller, drama, comedy, and action. How do you balance meeting market demands while maintaining your unique style as in the previous five parts?
I think to meet audience tastes, one must evolve. Evolve to improve quality as foreign films flood the Vietnamese market, and competition becomes fiercer with each passing day.
Both producers and directors must be aware of this, figuring out how to make their movies find a 'home.' Luckily, Vietnamese people strongly support Vietnamese films, which is an advantage for Vietnamese filmmakers.
For Face Off 6: A Destiny Ticket
Historically, I never choose star actors or those who guarantee box office success. What's more, in this installment, I've selected many new faces. Even seasoned actors are only familiar to TV and stage audiences, not cinema-goers. Why, you ask?
For the Face Off series, now in its sixth installment, I've never aimed for star power to ensure box office success. Instead, I look for actors who fit the roles and have the stamina for the project.
Actors from previous parts like Võ Thành Tâm and Ốc Thanh Vân, while familiar faces to audiences, aren't box office draws. This installment is no exception.
There's no formula for success; I only know to exert maximum effort
Face Off 6 is expected to be released on April 30 next year, but shooting won't start until October. How do you ensure this schedule?
Typically, with my approach and the crew's, pre-production takes a long time, but shooting happens quickly. When working on the script, the team and I carefully plan to be ready on set for shooting instead of wasting time. It's been the same for previous installments.
The only thing I hope for is that when we start shooting, there are no external factors like bad weather hindering us. That's all I need; I believe the film will stay on track, maybe at most a day or two behind. Alongside the shooting process, the crew has been working in parallel for the release day, so I'm confident this schedule will be maintained.
The title A Destiny Ticket somewhat reveals that the film will be set in a riverside landscape?
I'll return to the Mekong Delta, but not the same image people saw in Face Off 5; it's a very different Mekong Delta.
The focus will be on a craft village. In the Mekong Delta, the traditional weaving villages have decayed by 90%, despite being beautiful. Many locals have abandoned the craft. I want to revive the weaving craft village and make people more aware and interested in this craft through my film.
The Face Off series has achieved massive success with 5 parts raking in significant revenue. Can you share the formula for gauging audience appeal that led to this success?
Honestly, I don't know the formula for success. I only know to strive for the most polished product and tell a story that is relatable and easy to understand.
Some say Lý Hải is a director who doesn't fear guns, does what he likes, and tells the stories he wants. However, there's determination in it. How do I make it so that when I tell a story to 10 people, 7 like it? If I tell it to 10 people and only 3 like it, that's a loss. I just need 7 out of 10 people to like it, and I'm confident.
You once promised Tú Tri a role in your film. Is her role in Face Off 6 a result of that promise?
I knew Tú Tri from the program 'Cinematic Faces.' For this role, Tú Tri went through the casting process like everyone else, even casting twice. The first time, she was nervous and couldn't perform well. My perspective is that the actor must fit the role and deliver a good performance for selection. I told Tú Tri, 'If this project doesn't work out, there will be many more projects to come.'
Hearing that, Tú Tri went home and thought a lot. Later, she requested another casting. She was more confident and performed more convincingly, so I decided to choose her.
Thanks for your insights!
