Co Loa outdoor studios in Hanoi’s Dong Anh District has failed to attract a lot of local film makers due to substandard infrastructure and high service fees.

Modest facilities of Thai Su Tran Thu Do film.

With an initial investment of VND108 billion (USD5.13 million) for the first phase, Co Loa Studios was put in use in early 2012. It was expected to become Vietnam’s cinema capital. However, now the facility is largely unable to find production companies willing to film there, and now faces the risk of becoming irrelevant.

According to those in the industry this is a result of the lack of stable infrastructure at the studios. Now most films created there are historic productions.

Between 2009 and 2010, producers of Thai Su Tran Thu Do or Great Tutor Tran Thu Do and Huyen Su Thien Do or The Legend of Relocating the Capital chose Co Loa Studios for their films.

Producer of “Tro Doi” or Life Comedy had to provide their own props and costumes.

However, they had to spend from VND300-400 million (USD14,261-USD19,015) on creating temporary sets for films. Such props age quickly and take a lot of money to replace.

The situation is attributed to the limited funding by producers who can’t build stable and costly facilities.

Director Nguyen Huu Phan said, “Film producers don’t want to return to Co Loa Studios due to its substandard infrastructure, its distance from the city centre and high service fees. With most productions on a limited budget, for example an average TV episode may have a budget of around VND200 million (USD9,507). Film producers don’t bother coming there because they have to create completed new sets for their films.”

According to Huu, if the studio maintained sets, costumes, and props for lease, it would help save costs for producers who come later. However, he added, the studio now is like a wasteland and doesn’t have any store.

New extra services.

Director Bui Tuan Dung agreed, saying, “It requires considerable investment to maintain sets for films. Good sets, however, are not the decisive element when it forces artists to travel a long distance to a place where they don’t have standard accommodations and support services.”

Several other film producers said Co Loa Studios cannot be compared with international standard studios like China’s Hengdian World Studios and Studios in South Korea, such as Dae Jang Geum Film. These facilities satisfy all film producers due to their high standards and sufficient infrastructure. They also can earn money from tourism to these areas.

Due to a lack of clients and high service fees, the managers of Co Loa Studios have recently been compelled to launch some extra services to earn money including, leasing the venue for wedding parties and photo shoots.

VNN/DanTri