The strategy for developing Vietnam's cultural industries to 2030, with a vision to 2045, identifies 10 key industries such as: cinema; fine arts, photography and exhibition; performing arts (including music, stage, circus, dance...); software and entertainment games; advertising; handicrafts; cultural tourism...
Many industries face difficulties
To develop the cultural industry, since the 1990s, South Korea has sent thousands of students to the US to study in many different fields, from directors, actors, choreographers, screenwriters to cinematographers... This has become a classic anecdote showing the important mission of talented human resources in the development of the cultural industry.
Currently, in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, there are a number of universities training students in the fields of cinema, music, dance, television...
However, in some schools, the number of enrollment is very limited and uneven. For example, at Hanoi University of Theater and Cinema, according to the school principal - Dr. Bui Nhu Lai, each director class only enrolls 15-20 students, the actor class 15-20 students, and the screenwriting class also only has the same number of enrollment. In particular, there are classes about Tuong that have not been able to enroll anyone for decades because no one has registered to study.
The Cheo class also encountered difficulties in enrollment. People's Artist Tu Long - Director of the Army Cheo Theater - shared that he is worried when the Cheo stage shows signs of fading, and few students want to study.
The most "expensive" majors at Hanoi University of Theater and Cinema are usually directors and actors, but not every student can study until graduation. Many students drop out halfway.
Along with the rapid development of film and television industries, the demand for human resources for the film market is currently very large, but Dr. Bui Nhu Lai said that due to the specific training characteristics and limitations in facilities and practical equipment, the school cannot "break through" in the number of enrollments.
For example, in filming classes, we lack modern filming equipment because the cost is very expensive. Cameras used in teaching have been bought for decades, while science and technology are developing at a dizzying speed. We once dreamed of having a color car with many screens for directing students to practice, but the price of such a car could be up to 70-80 billion VND" - Dr. Bui Nhu Lai said.
In the field of music, reporters had a conversation with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huy Phuong - Director of the Vietnam National Academy of Music. Here, students are trained in many fields, from performance, composition, musical instruments to arrangement, orchestration... A few years ago, many instrument departments were also very difficult to recruit students, for example, the Bronze Brass Faculty - sometimes it takes several years to recruit a student.
However, the strong transformation of the performing arts industry in the past 3 years has had a major impact on the human resource needs of the market, thereby also affecting the enrollment and training at the Vietnam National Academy of Music.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huy Phuong said: "When the performing arts industry in particular and the cultural industry in general are invested and developed and have breakthrough milestones in the past 2-3 years, the demand for human resources increases. A series of large-scale concerts are organized, the public's demand for enjoying, watching and listening to music increases, so our enrollment is also better.
If a few years ago, the Bronze Horn Faculty was very difficult to recruit students, sometimes only one student registered every 2 years, this year, our Horn majors have recruited 30 students, distributed into about 5 different majors. Many other faculties such as: Piano, Vocal Music, Folk Instruments... have also attracted more students”.
If we do not train human resources in a timely manner to supply the performing market, domestic organizing units and producers will have to hire foreign workers, and the costs will naturally be very high. The Vietnam National Academy of Music always strives to "supply" the performing market, research work and a team of experts with the most excellent quality, in-depth, capable of holding many positions at the same time" - Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huy Phuong said.
According to Dr. Bui Nhu Lai and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huy Phuong, students of art schools really need to practice, have practical contact and receive in-depth training. Dr. Bui Nhu Lai always strives to invite foreign lecturers to teach at Hanoi University of Theater and Cinema.
Soft skills
Due to the specific nature of art school students being future artists, training only talent is not enough.
In the context of social networks strongly dominating the reputation and image of artists, changing the methods of education and training for students of art schools is urgently being raised.
In which, many "soft skills" can become content to be taught in art schools, such as handling media crises, handling rumors, how to face scandals, fame and how to behave in front of the media and the public...
Actress Bao Han once shared that she almost didn't know what to do, how to behave when she became famous in just one night thanks to the spread of the movie "Go Home, Son".
Discussing the issue of teaching "soft skills" to students of art schools, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huy Phuong said: "We also have lessons on professional ethics. As a unit under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, we also have sessions on the code of conduct of the Ministry. As lecturers of the school, we are always aware of the responsibility to set an example for students in their profession and maintain professional ethics.
In the coming time, perhaps we will also consider adding new subjects on handling media crises, how to face when a "verbal accident" can occur..., especially in the context of social networks developing so complicatedly as they are now”.
Rector of the University of Culture and Arts of the Army - Colonel, musician Ho Trong Tuan - affirmed that the military environment always emphasizes training in ethics, lifestyle, and genuine professional practice for students, in addition to developing talents. The University of Culture and Arts of the Army is increasingly paying more attention to training and educating "heart", "virtue" in addition to the word "talent".
With musician Quoc Trung, he believes that students are trained and educated in all aspects, but each person must also have the awareness to nurture aspirations and ambitions in themselves. "There must be ambitions and great aspirations to have motivation to study, rise up, improve skills and develop personal talents" - musician Quoc Trung stated his point of view.
