Quang Dung Nguyen
- Director
- Writer
- Actor
Nguyen Quang Dung's father is a Vietnamese famous writer, Nguyen Quang
Sang. Growing up among his father's friends, including composer Trinh
Cong Son, director Hong Sen, Dung learned from them about music, movies
and art at the time people in Vietnam tried to survive after the war.
In 1999, he graduated from Ho Chi Minh city's Films and Theater
college's first Directing class. Among his classmates are Vu Ngoc Dang
(who is one of the most famous new generation directors in Vietnam),
Thai Hoa, Vo Tan Binh. He directed his first feature-length TV movie
called Con Ga Trong (Rooster), adapted from his father's short story. A
year later, he composed soundtrack for the first private-owned studio
movie in Vietnam, Nhung Co Gai Chan Dai (Long Legged Girls, 2005,
directed by Vu Ngoc Dang). At the time, people start calling him Dung
Khùng (Dung "crazy". He explained his nickname differently from time to
time in his interviews. Sometimes, he said because his crazy ideas that
people think he's crazy, sometimes he said because he dares to do
things people don't so they think he's crazy. He directed his first
theatrical feature in 2005, Hon Truong Ba, Da Hang Thit (Truong Ba's
soul in Butcher's body, 2005). In spite of the expecting of a big hit,
the movie failed at the box office because of bad reviews from film
critics. However, movie-fans from online community love this movie.
Understanding his audiences after his first failure, Nguyen Quang Dung
makes three big hits movie back to back - Nu Hon Than Chet (A Kiss of
Death), its sequel Giai Cuu Than Chet (Rescue The Death) and Nhung Nu
Hon Ruc Ro (Bright Kisses) - the first Vietnamese commercial musical.
These movies all top box-office, the later broke the previous's record
at the box office.
Not only success in film, Nguyen Quang Dung is also well-known as music show producer, television game-show director, Vietnam's idol judge, music composer and magazine columnist.
Meanwhile, Dung is directing and producing MTV Vietnam channel. He's also prepping for his next feature, a period female martial art piece.
Not only success in film, Nguyen Quang Dung is also well-known as music show producer, television game-show director, Vietnam's idol judge, music composer and magazine columnist.
Meanwhile, Dung is directing and producing MTV Vietnam channel. He's also prepping for his next feature, a period female martial art piece.