Recently, audiences have seen Doan Quoc Dam appear more in film projects, while before that he was mainly associated with Northern television. Many people think that this is a turning point in his career. How do you see this change?
- I don't think it's a major shift in terms of changing direction or strategy. For me, cinema or television is both a form of work. It's where I work, labor, earn a living and show my abilities. Previously, in the North, there were not many opportunities to do cinema, so even if I wanted to, I didn't have many projects to participate in. When the market started to have more investors, more interest in cinema, then naturally I had an opportunity and I did it.
I don't set the goal of having to leave television to go to cinema or vice versa. I just simply think that wherever there is a job opportunity, I do well there. Cinema has the fun of cinema, television has the fun of television. As for me, the most important thing is still to work, to interact with new characters, to challenge myself.
In the past time, some film projects you participated in have achieved positive results in revenue, attracting the attention of the audience. As an actor, how do you see the revenue factor, and your feelings when the films you participate in achieve good results?
- Actually, my first joy is not for myself, but for producers and investors. They are the ones who put money, effort, and trust in the project. I often jokingly say they are my "first customers". When they succeed and make a profit, I am happy for them first.
Then there is the joy when the movie is accepted by the audience. When you make a product and there are viewers, there are people interested, that is precious. As for whether you appear a lot or a little, big or small roles, I don't put too much emphasis on it. I think the overall result of the movie is more important.
In many projects, you often take on roles with quite special colors, sometimes villains or characters with complex psychology. Is this the direction you choose to create your own mark?
- I don't think I have a clear orientation of having to follow the right or the wrong side. I just want my character to have color, to have a life. If the producer sees that I am suitable for any type of role, they assign it, and I try to do my best within my ability.
I don't think I'm so good that I can choose too many. The important thing is that when I get a role, I have to do it thoroughly. Doing this job superficially is very difficult to last long.
There is a reality that many young actors today often put a heavy emphasis on playing main roles, having a long appearance time to make an impression on the audience. Have you ever been interested in the main or supporting role, or the length of the role?
- I think the saying "there are no small roles, only small actors" is very true. In a movie, there are times when the story does not revolve around you, but that does not mean that your role is not important.
There are scenes where I only appear very short, but if I do it well, the audience still remembers. Conversely, there are long roles, but if I don't do them well, I won't leave anything behind.
I always think each character has their own functions in the overall picture. My task is to do my part well. Today's light may not shine on me, but it does not mean tomorrow either.
In the process of working, you have certainly received many mixed opinions, even criticisms from the audience. How do you face those feedbacks so as not to be affected in your psychology and work?
- Audiences have the right to comment, that's normal. But to be honest, I don't have time to worry too much. There are periods when I continuously do many projects, my mind is only enough to focus on work.
If I just read all the comments and think too much, I will have no energy to do the next projects. I choose to focus on my work. If I am wrong, I will learn from experience.
In the process of working, have you ever proactively refused a role even though it was a good opportunity, just because you felt it was not suitable or did not bring novelty to yourself?
- There are roles that I see colors similar to what I have already done, I will refuse. Not because that role is not good, but because I don't want to repeat myself.
To do a role similar but better, deeper, sometimes it takes a lot of time. I want to spend that time on new roles, characters that make me think more.
There are actors who are often obsessed with the character for a long time when they enter the role. Do you have that happen, or do you have your own way of separating work and life?
- Not for me! When the director shouts "cut", I return to myself. I don't bring the character back to life.
I think doing the job requires knowing how to separate. If you keep bringing the character's psychology into life, it is very difficult to live normally. I work within the scope of my work, doing that part well is enough.
He is one of the few actors who maintains a rather private lifestyle, especially in terms of private life. While many artists choose to share more to be closer to the audience, he goes in the opposite direction. What makes you maintain this view?
- I think the audience should know me through projects, through roles. Private life does not bring them any value.
Every family has their own life, nothing too special. If I share too much, sometimes it creates unnecessary emotions. So I choose to keep it for myself.
Not sharing much about your personal life, how do you maintain the attention of the audience, especially in the current media context?
- The audience is the "largest customer". They don't care about the process, they care about the results. If I do well, they will remember. If I don't do well, even if I talk a lot, it doesn't make sense. So the only way is to do my job well.
Looking back at the journey from the early days of the profession to the present, what is the milestone that you remember most and influences your thoughts about the acting profession the most?
- Maybe it's the difficulties of school days. I once had a period of working part-time myself, not asking for money from my family. It wasn't until everything was discovered that I had to face it.
My father once said a sentence that I remember to this day: If you are not good, don't do this job, because you will suffer for life. That sentence made me always try, not allowed to do it superficially.
Finally, what do you want the audience to remember about you after all the roles you have and will perform?
- I just hope the audience remembers me through my roles. As for people in real life, knowing a little is okay. For me, that's enough.
