VietNamNet Bridge – Film studios are likely to make 5,000 TV serials this year, compared to just 50 a decade ago, but many filmmakers are worried about their quality.

"With more and more TV serials being produced, studios are facing an acute shortage of directors, good scripts and artists," Duong Cam Thuy, president of HCM City's Cinematography Association, said.

Thuy and other members have met film producers, artists, television officials and representatives of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to discuss ways to improve the quality.

HCM City-based director Minh Cao said it was difficult to create interesting productions when filmmakers had to complete dozens of episodes in a short period of time.

"Last year I worked for a private film studio. My crew and I had to complete a 30-episode TV serial in 60 days to save cost for the producer.

"Filmmakers and artists face pressure. We need time to understand the script."

With a larger number of serials produced each year, many private studios, some of whom are also big advertisers, have stepped in to assist State-owned studios.

VTV and HTV have set up committees to examine the quality of serials.

"However, with a serial having up to 100 episodes, they only read the script for the first 10 or 12 pilot episodes," Ha Noi-based reporter Hoang Dang pointed out.

"This is the reason why many serials are good in the beginning but become unclear and nonsensical in later episodes."

VTV last April pulled out its 36-episode Anh Chang Vuot Thoi Gian (A Man Travelling Through Time) after showing 18 episodes following complaints from viewers and the media about its quality, he said.

The serial, produced by the HCM City-based Nang Dong Viet Co, was broadcast during prime time on VTV3.

The working methods of the committees [themselves] must be improved, many filmmakers said.

Artists including Kim Xuan, Kim Phuong and Hanh Thuy said serial makers should select professional actors rather than pretty faces and models who could not act for leading roles.

"Amateurism will destroy our serials," Thuy warned.

Participants said training should be provided to filmmakers to improve the quality of serials.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News