Blood paradise chooses the topic of online scams - a topical issue but difficult to express in cinema. Why did you decide to pursue this topic right from the script?
- I myself often have many concerns about many things in my life, in society and want to contribute, be useful in some way, even if it's small.
Choosing topical issues and wanting to warn society is also one of the things I often do in my writing.
The topic in "Heaven of Blood" is really not easy to do because of many pressures. But I was fortunate to receive sympathy from director Hoang Tuan Cuong and the decision to choose a difficult topic from Ms. Bich Lien - Director of MegaGs - so I boldly started building a script.
However, it should be added that "Heaven of Blood" is the name that director Hoang Tuan Cuong gave to the film, because initially the film had a different name. And he also both refuted and gave very valid opinions to make the material for building this complete script.
When researching the forms of cyber fraud, what is your most haunting thing?
- For me, the most haunting thing when writing "Heaven of Blood" is that people who are deceived not only lose money but also sometimes lose all their savings, lose faith.
As for those who deceive, whether forced or voluntarily, they lose self-respect, morality and ultimately humanity. The most haunting thing to me is the breakdown of trust between people - a loss that is very difficult to heal.
In your opinion, the most dangerous point of online scams is not technology but where?
- In my opinion, it lies in human psychology. Cyber scams target very common weaknesses: the need for livelihood, the desire to change lives, the fear of being left behind or the belief in acquaintances. When reason is put under pressure, people are very likely to make wrong decisions.
The script not only talks about victims but also delves into the world of manipulators. How do you build this character line to avoid one-sidedness?
- I approach the story from many sources and many different perspectives. The most important thing is to see them as people with ego, remorse and choice, not just "evil". No one is born ugly, they become ugly because of their own choices. That choice is what I want to ask the audience to think about.
The characters played by Quang Tuan and Hoai Lam both have psychological depth. When writing the script, do you see them as victims or perpetrators?
- I don't see them as the culprit but I'm not completely innocent either. They are people who are hurt, caught up in a chain of overlapping causes and consequences. In certain circumstances, the line between right and wrong becomes blurred, and the way out becomes increasingly narrower.
For Hoai Lam personally, what adjustments did you make in the script to suit him?
- When I knew Hoai Lam took on the role of Thanh, I wrote the character more gently and honestly. Lam has a very special acting style: not ostentatious but only living true to the emotions of the character. Lam's voice is gentle, sincere and has great emotional power. There are lines that sound very simple but touch me from the first reading.
How does your acting experience support writing dialogues and psychological climaxes?
- Acting experience helps me clearly visualize the character's psychology and emotional space of the actors. When writing dialogues, I always ask myself if that sentence is psychologically correct, if there is enough space for emotions to develop. Thanks to that, climaxes are built naturally, helping actors easily access the depth of their inner selves instead of just saying superficial words.
Blood paradise shows that online scams not only cause material damage, but also destroy trust and morality. Is this what you want the audience to remember most?
- I don't want to impose a message, but only reflect a reality. What I want the audience to remember most is vigilance. Empathy is necessary, but empathy cannot be used to justify wrongdoings. Everyone must be responsible for their choice, because in real life, unlike movies, the price to pay is often very high.
Thank you, sister!
