Nguyen Van Chung: 'In real life, I'm not as lecherous as in Hermit Crab'

Renowned Vietnamese musician Nguyen Van Chung has ventured into the film industry with his acting debut in the recently released movie 'Ốc mượn hồn' (Hermit Crab). In the film, Chung portrays Mr. Manh, a doting father fiercely protective of his daughter. Although a supporting character with limited screen time, his appearances have consistently elicited laughter from the audience due to his natural comedic timing and endearing portrayal.

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An artist is not allowed to be complacent.

Director Dinh Tuan Vu reportedly spent considerable time persuading Chung to take on the role. Initially, the musician declined, concerned about potentially wasting the production team's time and compromising artistic quality if his acting skills proved insufficient. He believes that artistic endeavors require genuine talent, stating, "If you want to sing, you must be able to sing live; if you want to act, you must act well and be suitable, not stubbornly push into it at all costs."

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If you want to sing, you must be able to sing live; if you want to act, you must act well and be suitable, not stubbornly push into it at all costs.

However, Chung eventually accepted the role after the director emphasized its suitability, suggesting it required minimal acting from him. Reflecting on his character, Chung described Mr. Manh as appearing potentially dangerous or "shifty" on screen, but asserted that in real life, he is a "righteous" and "modest" person who maintains appropriate boundaries with women. He humorously noted that his acting fee was modest, less than what he earns from composing music.

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He looks like a dangerous 'boss,' 'looks a bit shifty,' but in real life, the musician himself assesses that he is an 'upright' and 'modest' person. He always maintains the right distance when interacting with women.

Rumors circulated online that Chung traded his music for the acting role, especially since several of his hit songs are featured in the film. Chung vehemently denied this, clarifying with a hearty laugh that he was compensated for both his musical contributions and his acting performance, earning "from both ends." Singer Tung Duong, a friend of Chung's, initially doubted his acting abilities but was pleasantly surprised by his captivating performance, calling him a "new actor" and expressing hope for his future professional acting career. Director Dinh Tuan Vu praised Chung for maintaining a stable rhythm, demonstrating confidence, and professionalism, noting that his character's scenes were the only ones not cut from the final film.

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It's a rather sad story because the acting fee is not high and not equal to writing music.