The cast attended the red carpet for Tran Thanh's film "Tho Oi" in Ho Chi Minh City. Video: Mai Nhat
In addition to the three main female actors, the crew announced two male stars: Quoc Anh and Vinh Dam. Singer LyLy takes on the role of a talk show host, delving into personal lives. She and her celebrity guests discuss views on marriage and love, drawing from their own experiences.
Phao portrays a girl wearing a rabbit mask, who participates in the show to confide about being threatened by her boyfriend, played by Tran Thanh. She finds herself unable to escape the toxic relationship. Phap Kieu and Ali Hoang Duong appear in supporting roles as MC assistants, working alongside the main characters.
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From right: actors Quoc Anh, Van Mai Huong, director Tran Thanh, Phao, LyLy, Vinh Dam. Photo: TT Town
Most of the cast, with the exception of Quoc Anh who previously acted in "Bo Tu Bao Thu", lack acting experience. Tran Thanh stated that while he recognized this as a risky endeavor, he accepted it because he felt these individuals suited the film's youthful aesthetic. He also aimed to challenge himself by discovering new talents, thereby surprising viewers.
Following auditions, Tran Thanh organized several acting workshops for the cast before filming began. The director invited artists, such as scriptwriter Trac Thuy Mieu, to speak with them, helping them better understand dialogue techniques and character immersion. On set, he personally guided each actor on how to evoke emotions and demonstrated complex scenes.
First-look "Tho Oi" - expected to premiere on the first day of Tet. Video: Film crew provided
This upcoming Tet season, Tran Thanh's film will compete with several other productions. These include "Nha Ba Toi Mot Phong", directed and produced by Truong Giang; "Mui Pho", starring Xuan Hinh and Thu Trang; and "Bau Vat Troi Cho", featuring Tuan Tran and Phuong Anh Dao. Tran Thanh views the Tet film season as a marketplace with many stalls, offering diverse products for audiences to choose according to their preferences.
"Saying revenue isn't needed is incorrect, but for me, if the film doesn't lose money, it's a success", he remarked. "I just hope this film makes a small profit, enough capital to make another project."
Tran Thanh discusses Tet film season revenue pressure. Video: Mai Nhat
Huynh Tran Thanh, 39 years old, is an actor, host, and filmmaker. In 2021, he gained recognition with his debut feature film "Bo Gia", which won numerous domestic awards including the Golden Lotus and Golden Kite. In 2023, he released "Nha Ba Nu", his first self-directed work, which achieved the highest domestic box office revenue at that time.
In early 2024, his film "Mai" became the highest-grossing Vietnamese film, earning 520 billion VND, until it was surpassed by "Mua Do", directed by Dang Thai Huyen. During the Tet At Ty period, "Bo Tu Bao Thu" garnered over 300 billion VND, ranking among the highest-grossing Vietnamese films of the year.
Mai Nhat
