Brave Soldier: Looking back at the journey of 'steel training' on VTV3
Director Mai Tham shares about the unprecedented scale of production, the harsh real-life challenges and special emotions after 15 episodes of the reality TV show Brave Soldiers.
Distinctive features from scale and practicality
The program is not just an entertainment game show, but a real "role-playing" journey, where the artists have to eat, live and sweat together on the harsh training ground like real soldiers. This core difference is shown through the large-scale production with the participation of about 500 personnel, more than 70 cameras and dozens of specialized equipment of the police industry.
According to General Director Mai Tham, these numbers are not for show but to ensure that every moment, from drops of sweat to the most genuine expressions, are recorded and conveyed vividly to the audience.
Fierce challenges and broken limits
Throughout the program, the crew and artists faced countless challenges. Director Mai Tham shared about the pressure of having to balance two requirements: ensuring absolute safety without losing the intensity of the training sessions, and recording genuine emotions without falling into "acting".
Many artists suffered injuries and exhaustion after intense training sessions with limited rest. The female director admitted that there were times when she felt "sorry" for them, but also understood that these challenges helped to convey the hardships and sacrifices of the People's Public Security force.
Among the challenges, the "breathtaking rescue" stage in episode 3 with a burning house situation and the final stage of carrying out a major drug case in Long Luong (Son La) in harsh weather conditions are considered the most difficult. This is when the artists have to face danger, responsibility and their own limits.
Cooperation with the Ministry of Public Security: Advantages and responsibilities
The program received close direction and coordination from the Ministry of Public Security. This was a great advantage, helping the team access rich sources of documents and real stories, and receive support from professional units. However, this also posed a big challenge in terms of accuracy and credibility.
"When working with a professional team, you cannot do things 'carelessly'. Each scene must be based on professional principles and must be correct - otherwise you will lose credibility," director Mai Tham emphasized. Safety is also a top priority, because a small mistake can lead to big consequences.
Beyond the Script: Genuine Emotion and Engagement
After the show ended, what remained was not only the footage but also the change in perception and strong relationships. Many artists shared that they had a different view of police officers and themselves.
The relationship between artists and soldiers does not stop at the studio. Artists such as Mono and Le Duong Bao Lam still keep in touch and occasionally return to visit their "old units". For General Director Mai Tham and the crew, the greatest success is opening the door to the warm, simple inner world behind the tough exterior of the soldiers, a world "extremely harsh - extremely loving".
