The son of People's Artist Hong Van opens up about the pressure of being the "child of a theatrical family".
With a famous artist mother, Khoi Nguyen admits he can't avoid the pressure. However, the son of People's Artist Hong Van chooses to try his best to overcome it.
Born in 1997, Khoi Nguyen is the second son of People's Artist Hong Van. He impresses with his towering height and outstanding academic achievements. Khoi Nguyen graduated with a degree in film production from Fullerton College in California (USA), and then successfully passed the entrance exam to study directing in the film department at Chapman University. Through his efforts, the 26-year-old has made People's Artist Hong Van proud, as he has now become his mother's colleague in the arts.
Sharing with us, Khoi Nguyen recounted how he used to watch his mother perform, even joining her on stage. After years of hard work, this young man in his 20s has become a director, giving him the opportunity to work with his mother in a new role.
He said: "When I started studying film, many new things opened up, for example, working with Hong Van as both director and actress. She's experienced in the profession, so while everyone else felt nervous working with her, I felt comfortable. We discussed and worked together – those were precious moments and experiences for me."
Khoi Nguyen admitted that working together, he inevitably had disagreements with People's Artist Hong Van. However, both of them knew how to reconcile their egos to bring the best results to the project. "My mother has her reasons, and I have mine. But my mother and I always strive to compromise to achieve the best for the film," the young director expressed.
Khoi Nguyen admitted that he couldn't avoid pressure because he comes from a family of professionals. The young director gave the example that he tries his best at work, but some people don't acknowledge it, taking it for granted thanks to his solid family background. Conversely, Khoi Nguyen still receives criticism if he doesn't do well. "Besides those things, there are also positive aspects that I have to acknowledge about being from a family of professionals," he said.
Speaking about the rumors surrounding him "riding on his mother's coattails," Khoi Nguyen said he doesn't pay attention to them. Explaining this, the son of People's Artist Hong Van confided: "That's my starting point, so I can't avoid those comments. The way I deal with it is by doing the best I can in what I'm doing."
In his efforts to prove himself, Khoi Nguyen faced many difficulties, but he never thought about giving up. The director said he has "artistic blood" so "it would be difficult for me to do a job outside of the arts." "Therefore, I never thought about giving up. When faced with difficulties, I always remind myself to try harder every day," he affirmed.
Khoi Nguyen once studied directing in the United States. After graduating, he spent time abroad gaining experience and exploring opportunities. However, the young director also wanted to return to Vietnam to challenge himself and, above all, contribute to the country's film industry. "From then until now, my mother has always supported my decisions. Of course, every choice has risks, but as long as my family thinks the decision is right, they will support me," Hong Van's son confided.
