Among the young cast, Tran Gia Huy (born in 2002) attracted attention with the role of Tan, the last soldier to be added to the 1st squad, supporting the ancient citadel battle. Actor Tran Gia Huy had a conversation with Lao Dong Newspaper, sharing about his role marking a turning point in his first time touching the cinema entrance.
Unforgettable memories and experiences
What fate brought you to the role of soldier Tan in Red Rain, when you were still a young face of Gen Z?
- To me, the role of Tan is a great fate.Hearing the news of the film crew selecting actors, I was excited because I rarely had the opportunity to try my hand at such a large-scale historical film project.
At first, I just thought of simply trying out, not expecting that director Dang Thai Huyen would trust me to give Tan the role.I have prepared carefully, trying to fully express the spirit of a young soldier.The moment I knew I was accepted the role, my emotions really burst out.This is a special milestone in my career when I first touched the cinematic alley, and in a work about war released on the occasion of the nation's important anniversary.
Selected by director Dang Thai Huyen, how do you feel about collaborating on this work?
- Before coming to the role of Tan, I had the opportunity to transform into some characters such as Police Lieutenant in the TV series "Co anh can doan thanh" or the role of military soldier in "Khong thoi gian". Those roles are close, prone to image, while Tan is a real challenge that requires both psychological depth and physical endurance. I consider this a valuable opportunity to practice and mature in the profession.
In particular, when working with director Dang Thai Huyen, a person who is very serious about his profession and always devoted to young actors, I was taught and learned a lot. From working style, artistic thinking to strictness in every detail, everything became a valuable experience, helping me shape my acting more clearly.
In the process of transforming into Tan's role, which memories touched him the most?
- My greatest fortune and the young actors' is to meet historical witnesses and listen to the memories of veterans who participated in the Quang Tri battlefield. Those stories are the key to helping me truly transform into the role of Tan, a young but brave student, the soldier who finally survived and returned.
Coming out onto the set, I was overwhelmed by the grand scale of the project. Coming to Quang Tri, seeing the ancient citadel with my own eyes and witnessing the ancient battlefield being recreated, I appreciated the great sacrifice of our ancestors in exchange for peace.
The journey of filming "Red Rain" left me with many experiences. I have had to do scenes witnessing teammates sacrificing, fighting in dead battlefields, or working in harsh rain and wind. In particular, the scene of eating snake for life due to cutting food was a challenge that I never thought I would experience.
After many scenes, I cried a lot because I suddenly realized that compared to the sacrifice of my father in history, the difficulties I had experienced were worthless.
The role of Tan is not only a challenge but also a special milestone in my career, a final nail in my first film and the belief that I have chosen the right path.
From football athlete to film actor
It is known that he was a football athlete who was a former national youth champion. What made you shift from sports to screen?
- Sports give me endurance and discipline, while cinema gives me the opportunity to live many different lives. At first, my parents were worried when I shifted from football to art, but when they saw me serious, my family became the biggest support. My father used to be an actor but was unfinished, so I wanted to continue his career and fulfill my dream instead of him.
I chose a slow but steady path, always learning and working with sincerity. What I hope is that every time I appear, the audience will see a new, different role, and remember me with diverse roles, not just a new face.
From your perspective, what is the biggest advantage and disadvantage for a Gen Z actor when participating in a war-themed film?
- I think my biggest advantage is my abundant energy, enthusiasm and a spirit of always being ready to learn. But it is also because of the difference in generation that to get into the role seriously, I have to read many documents, learn books and newspapers and listen to memories from those who came before me.
I am very proud to contribute to telling the sacred historical stories of the nation, but that pride comes with a lot of pressure, because the audience, especially the previous generation, always have high expectations for the film. I hope Vietnamese audiences will have the opportunity to watch "Red Rain" at least once, to deeply feel the value of peace, love the country more and cherish the present.
