US professor to train Vietnamese TV hosts

American expert Professor Michael Castengera will provide professional tips to TV hosts and emcees at a three-day workshop to be held by the Saigon International Film School from Thursday.

Castengera, currently an instructor at the University of Georgia, the US, has more than 40 years' experience in education, communication, TV, and consulting with TV stations around his country.

He teaches broadcast news writing and production at the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication from where American Idol host Ryan Seacrest graduated.

More information abut the programme is available from SIFS, 15A Hoang Hoa Tham Street, Binh Thanh District, HCM City, and at www.sifs.edu.vn or 0965152310.

Paris exhibition features photos of changing VN

A photo of a Gia Rai woman taken by Sebastien Laval.

Portraits of Vietnamese ethnic groups taken by photographers Sebastien Laval from France and Le Vuong of Viet Nam will be on show in the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris from today until July 6.

Entitled 54...Visions of Viet Nam, the exhibition showcases monochrome and colour photos taken since 1980. They capture portraits and the daily activities of the 54 ethnic groups in Viet Nam.

A similar exhibition was held last year in the HCM City Museum of Fine Arts as a part of the Viet Nam - France celebration of cultural activities.

Laval was born in 1973 in France. He first came to Viet Nam in 1995. Entranced by the people and landscape, he has devoted 18 years to documenting the lives of ethnic minority people.

His work introduces the beauty of ethnic people and their diversified cultures to the world and provides a visual document for ethnologists.

Laval's works in black and white reflect the energy and delight of a young photographer discovering an intriguing, exotic world, said Suzanne Lecht, director of the Art Viet Nam Gallery.

"He captures the natural easy grace of the people with measured precision," she said. "From everyday activities to poetic landscapes, Laval's photos portray the passion and beauty he discovers in the simplest of moments."

More than 60 of Laval's works were recently displayed at the Hue Festival.

Vuong is a highly respected veteran photographer from Ha Noi who has dedicated his entire life to taking photos of the country and people, mainly in colour.

The 95-year-old photographer still goes out on his bicycle early every morning to capture the day as well as secret moments of the capital city.

He has travelled throughout the country tirelessly, collecting an archive of memories that show how life is rapidly changing.

His works have been exhibited in many European and Asian countries. In Viet Nam, they are displayed at the Viet Nam Fine Arts Museum in Ha Noi.

Festival highlights culture of ethnic groups

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said a festival featuring the culture of ethnic minority groups will kick off at Dong Mo Tourist Village in Hanoi on June 28 as part of the activities held on the occasion of Vietnam Family Day.

The two-day event on the theme “Vietnamese people with the nation’s sacred sovereignty” is expected to welcome more than 200 local folks and students representing 32 ethic minority groups.

Fishermen from the provinces of Ninh Thuan, Quang Ngai and Danang will stage their rituals and ceremonies at the festival. The event also comprises an exhibition on Vietnam’s sovereignty over waters and islands, including Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly); a campaign to collect signatures of representatives of ethnic minority groups and visitors; and a gala. An art performance will be broadcast live by the Vietnam Television (VTV) in the evening of June 28.

The festival, which will take place amid rising tensions in the East Sea after China’s illegal deployment of a giant oilrig and escort ships in Vietnamese waters, asserts Vietnam’s determination to protect its sovereignty by all appropriate means.

HCM City beauty behind Bang Duong’s lens

‘No Regret for the past, no project on the future, there is only on June 24” is the name of a solo-exhibition in the project “My City” by artist Bang Duong which is open at ZeroStation in HCMC’s District 7.

The photo collection depicts the values of life, charms and local culture of HCMC.  It was inspired from a seven-day workshop for photographers and artists who want to develop personal photo projects with Singaporean photography curator Zhuang Wubin in 2013.

His “My city” project is a journey to look for the multiple views on the urban architecture. In the time of fast urbanization, by capturing the transition between the old local architecture and the new ones, the artist raises the questions about the conflicts of the time values and the globalization.

His photos in this project are taken with the multi-exposure method. During an interval of 30 seconds between the two shutters, the artist seeks the two landscapes within a possible area. Watching this kind of photography, the audience can have a multidimensional view of an illusionary landscape that is overlapped, mixed and moved lively.

This exhibition will be much more effective with accompanied sound. The photos will be on display until July 12 at ZeroStation at 12, Alley 43 on Lam Van Ben Street in HCMC’s District 7.

Fashion & Stars unveils new Autumn-Winter collections

Fashion and Stars is one of the most famous fashion shows, welcoming all fashionistas and others who are working in the fashion industry in Saigon. Guess what, it is back this Thursday, June 26 from 6 p.m. at Grand Palace.

The show will be presenting Autumn/Winter ’14 Collections by various designers such as Adrian Anh Tuan, Linda Mai Phung, Li Lam, Jenny Kim, Nguyen Ha Nhat Huy, Tu Ngo – Phuc Nguyen. It is expected that the fashion featured in Fashion and Stars this time will be practical for everyday wearing. The designers of the show hope to bring a realistic touch to their collections, and to get closer to the modern customers.

The behind-the-stage story this time features the world-famous hair artist – Michael Barnes will be coming to make hair-do for the models, including vedette Thanh Hang, model Hoang Yen, Truc Diem, and Kha My Van, among others. The organizers of the show hope to bring a totally new experience for the guests. Catwalk will be directed by supermodel Ha Anh. DJ Petro is also invited to spin the music for the show.

Grand Palace is located at 142/18 Cong Hoa Street, Tan Binh District, HCMC.

Sakura fashion design contest for students

A fashion contest with a Japanese theme has been launched for non-Japanese students and amateur designers in Asia.

Titled Sakura Collection 2014, the contest is open to entries in Viet Nam until July 15.

Participants can submit up to five drawings inspired by Japan to sakuracollectionvn@gmail.com or at the Japan Foundation, 27 Quang Trung Street, Ha Noi.

The top ten best collections will be selected through an online poll for the final round on July 29, after which the collections take to the catwalk on September 19.

The winner will receive a one week trip to Japan to join the Sakura Collection in Kansai and Tokyo, before their collection is showcased at the Sakura Collection Show in Paris.

The contest has been held annually since 2012 by Adventure Japan to discover and encourage young fashion talents in Asia.

Imperial Citadel designs receive top honours

Six architectural designs have named as the best options for the conservation of the historical site at 18 Hoang Dieu Street, Ha Noi.

The entrants were short listed through a contest launched by the Centre for Thang Long-Ha Noi Heritage Conservation, to uphold values of the site belonging to the Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long- Ha Noi.

Within three months, organisers received 24 entries from 23 different architecture firms at home and abroad. The top six designs were put on public display at the Centre's headquarters at 19C Hoang Dieu Street ahead of the official awarding ceremony yesterday.

There was no first prize awarded, with designs by Studio Milou Singapore Pte Ltd and a joint venture between the Viet Nam National Institute of Architecture and Boydens Engineering Viet Nam sharing second prize. A third prize went to a joint project between the Consultant and Investment Construction No 36 and the Cultural Works Designing and Building Joint-Stock Co. The other three designs received consolation prizes.

The designs were required to compile schemes to preserve the historical site whilst ensuring the architecture blended in with surrounding structures. The move aims to construct a cultural and historical park within the Imperial Citadel in the long run and facilitate public activities.

TV series on rural issues to be telecast

A new TV series that focuses on hot social issues in the northern rural region will be telecast from next month.

Entitled Bao Qua Lang (Storm Sweeps Over Village), the 30-episode series deals with issues such as land withdrawal, vote of confidence on leadership, the effect of urbanisation on rural regions and its negative effects such as social evils, corruption and impact on human dignity.

Produced by the Viet Nam Television Film Centre (VFC), the series is expected to be screened from July 24 on VTV1 channel.

Directed by Quoc Trong and Le Manh, the Storm Sweeps over Village features many popular TV actors such as Quoc Khanh, Cong Ly and Quang Thang.

The VFC had produced several rural-themed series which have all been acclaimed by audiences. These include Dat Va Nguoi (Land and Human), Bi Thu Tinh Uy (Provincial Party Committee Secretary), Gio Lang Kinh (The Wind over Kinh Village), and Ma Lang (Village's Ghost).