A reporter from Lao Dong Newspaper had a conversation with actor Chi Nhan when he was known as a person with the qualitation of "opposite from the ground".
When the film Cach em 1 milimet aired, many scenes of Nghiems role were shared on social media platforms, with some scenes attracting more than 10 million views. Is the effect of Nghiem's role in your plan?
- No one can predict that. With each role, I always try to complete as best as possible and when the role is welcomed by the audience, it is a great joy and motivation for artists like me. From there, we have the motivation to do better, and can have more love from the audience.
The audience now is very smart people, they watch the film very carefully. Sometimes for an actor, the happiest thing is that when on the street, people will not call him Chi Nhan anymore but will call him Tran Bat or now call him Nghiem for example.
That is a success because the nature of the work of artists is to live with different lives and fates. The audience only comes into contact with characters through TV series, not with actors in real life. Therefore, when the audience remembers a character that the audience believes is "not an actor", it is a great encouragement for those working in the profession like me to be motivated and try to represent more.
In his career, Chi Nhan has played many types of villain roles. For the industry, villainous roles are considered to have more screen time, with many complex psychological developments - so that actors can show off their talents and strength - compared to main roles. Does Chi Nhan think so?
- No small role, no easy role. Any character will have psychology, thoughts, and hidden corners that need to be dug deep to learn. In life, it's the same thing, no one is a completely bad person and no one is a completely good person.
When being a villain, sometimes in addition to doing bad things and doing things that are not right, there must still be a good part in the nature of that person.
villainous roles sometimes require more range of acting, technique or more lively expressive nuances, the audience feels that there is a lot of room to act, but not. The problem is whether the actor can exploit the depths of the character's psychology or not.
Character villains who are superficial, according to the available formula, are also easily defeated. I think, with the villains, from the image to the way of speaking, the way of behaving in all relationships, we need to portray the psychology and hidden corners of people. That is the way to build a character.
When Nghiem's role with a colorful scene of female students being beaten by her boyfriend was shared, the audience commented, he acted as if he was not acting, that he had a "facial disguise"... How would Chi Nhan receive the audience's comments, would he consider this a compliments or humor from the audience?
- No one can get the anti-aging substances from within the soil. Many directors commented that I have a wide range of acting and can do many things. I am lucky to have the trust of the directors. When there is a difficult role, or any segment that requires depth, the director will think of me. That is thanks to the time I have cultivated and studied at school for nearly 15 years in the profession. Having the trust of demanding directors, I think I am on the right track.
Even with villain roles, it will be easy to be commented as "one-dimensional", especially in the context that prime-time films are being considered increasingly cyclestic, with old topics and overlapping actors. Is this a challenge for Chi Nhan, what way should you choose not to get bored?
- To avoid boredom, I have to be self-aware to renew myself. No role can be compared to any other role. I believe that when I have accepted a role, I must first like it. From love, I will want to build a more lively character. Because from script to role is the entire working time of the actor. Sometimes in a script, the character is just a spine. When I discuss with the director, co-star and work at home on my own, I can find more skin and meat for the living character, and the important thing is to convince myself that that character really exists in this life.
From there, I have scenes or techniques in my acting style to convince the audience, gaining the trust of the audience that the character I take on is no longer a film but a life.
Chi Nhan is both a stage and television actor and sports editor... Do you want to show versatility? Or, simply live with what you like?
- When I can do what I like, I see it as not going to work every day, but enjoying happiness, enjoying passion.
During this time, I was able to do everything I wanted. In terms of profession, in terms of expertise, I am an artist. Besides, I am also a sports lover, and that passion has supported my work.
Sports editors or sports presenters often have to stay up all night. Instead of staying up all night at home to watch alone, I now get to air with the audience, interact with the audience. That is how I do a hand job as a sports editor.
I come from the role of sports viewers, when talking to the audience, they may sympathize more, creating intimacy because I am also a person who likes to watch at home. That is also my advantage compared to those who are purely sports fans or purely television fans.
Reading a biography about Chi Nhan introduced him, he was born in 1988, a former student of the prestigious Amsterdam School. Speaking about the "ams school" is often often said to be "a good school, a rich family". Is that true for Chi Nhan?
- Just half. I studied from secondary to high school at Amsterdam. When I look back at my time as a student at Hanoi Amsterdam High School for the Gifted, I see that I have built a way of thinking for myself. It was a blessing that I had a good foundation from my time as a student at Amsterdam until I entered the arts.
At this age, when he is almost 40 years old, what do you feel like you have, and have not achieved anything - that you have always wanted?
- I have been in the profession for 15 years. What do I have and what do I not have? I believe that I have gained the attention, affection and love of the audience. What is not yet available is that I have to maintain a lot of attention and follow-up from the audience during a long period of my career. To be reminded of roles by the audience, to call me by the names of roles, that is happiness.
When he was young, Chi Nhan had gone through storms, breaks and even noise. Will those storms change who you are and create a big turning point in your life?
- I believe that nothing happens in my life without a reason. And each experience, each event that happens in life will help me mature, help me have more material to do art.
I have experience to know how the character will handle when falling into such a situation, with such a mentality. I realized that what happened in my life was natural, all the events had shaped who I am today.
No one can go back in time, so those are the experiences I have to overcome, the lessons I have to learn in life. I have finished studying, I will never stumble again.
What is your definition of happiness and success in the present?
- Happiness and success are the roles that the audience remembers. That will be joy, happiness and motivation for me to try harder.
I hope the audience will always love a Chi Nhan in Tran Bat (The Son) or now Chi Nhan is in Nghiem (The How You Are 1 thousandlimet film).
villainous roles leave emotions and impressions on the audience, that is my happiness.
