A recruitment post that stirs the waters

Recently, director Nguyen Quang Dung has posted a notice on his personal social media page seeking professional assistants. The post quickly became a focal point of online controversy. He stated that he is currently developing several major projects and needs support for specialized tasks.

However, the most contentious point is that the position is part-time and completely unpaid. The promised benefits include gaining experience and the opportunity to work on large-scale projects while networking with top market creators, producers, and investors.

Two sharply opposing viewpoints

Supporters of Nguyen Quang Dung’s view argued that this is a valuable learning opportunity. Supermodel Ha Anh said that learning directly from an experienced professional is extremely valuable and not something money can always buy.

She emphasized that this is a voluntary, mutually agreed arrangement between two individuals, with no coercion involved. Ha Anh criticized those who went to the director’s personal page to insult him or quote the Labor Code to prove their knowledge, calling such behavior toxic.

Writer Lucas Luan Nguyen shared details of a conversation he had with Nguyen Quang Dung three weeks earlier. He revealed that the job is not full time but mainly involves research and debriefing when projects arise, while also allowing participation in idea development meetings and meetings with major industry partners.

Lucas Luan Nguyen said Nguyen Quang Dung is very concerned about candidates’ interests, repeatedly expressing worry that they might be disadvantaged. He even messaged one potential candidate to prioritize taking a paid job instead. Lucas quoted him as saying: “I want a two-way relationship: you help me, you also get to attend that project meeting, and I will teach you and give you opportunities.”

Actor Quang Son commented that those who truly want to pursue the profession understand that what the director is doing is teaching and mentoring, offering real-world exposure. He argued that paying tuition would be more appropriate than expecting a salary, as no teacher pays students for assisting and learning the craft.

In contrast, critics argued that the move shows disregard for the value of labor. Reader Thuong Hoai said that advertising for an assistant means seeking a collaborator, not a trainee. “An educated public figure who undervalues the effort and talent of collaborators should reflect on themselves,” Thuong Hoai wrote.

Another user, Binh Thanh, bluntly stated that only directors of international stature could attract unpaid assistants, while in the current climate, recruiting an unpaid assistant is inappropriate.

What does Dung say?

On the evening of December 27, Nguyen Quang Dung raised his voice and thanked those who understood him and colleagues who wrote explanatory posts on his behalf, adding that it is normal for some people not to understand.

He shared his perspective: “In life, many things that are meaningful and useful to one person may be meaningless or unreasonable to another. That is life. Everyone has their own viewpoint and chooses what they want.”

He also spoke about his career journey, noting that for his first feature film, he only received a screenwriter’s salary and did not take a director’s fee. Notably, when working as an assistant director on an international co-production, he received only $500 for the entire three to four months of filming, then continued post-production work from Vietnam to Thailand and Singapore over two years without additional income. 

He said he accepted the job because it allowed him to travel across Vietnam and learn about making war films, even postponing his own directing project to work as an assistant director first.

However, these explanations have not fully eased the divided opinions among the public.

Nguyen Quang Dung is a famous movie director in Vietnam, especially for his ‘Dat Rung Phuong Nam’ (Song of the South).

Tinh Le