Directors weigh in on movie explosives

A scene of fire in the historic film "Huyền Thoại 1C" (1C Legend) (Photo: Phu Nu)

The discussion about using explosives in movies came a few days after a blast in District 3 killed 10 people in a house where dynamite had been stored by 58-year-old Le Minh Phuong, a well-known expert in creating fire and smoke effects for movies.

Film director Phan Hoang told Tuoi Tre that dynamite was once used in a scene in Anh hùng Nguyễn Trung Trực (Hero Nguyen Trung Truc).

“Of course, the person in charge of using the dynamite was supposed to be very prudent to ensure that no danger or damage came to actors or actresses involved, but I always felt such use of dynamite as dangerous,” Hoang said.

“Therefore, we later did not use any dynamite in another film but we used 3D animation to create of fire and explosion,” Hoang added.

The director noted that using such technoology is more expensive than using TNT, but it is also much safer.

Charlie Nguyen, another director, said using TNT is much cheaper than using chemicals that can be bought from Thailand.

Young actor Tuan Anh said that four TNT blocs weighing 2.5 kg each were used in the historic film Huyền Thoại 1C (1C Legend). These blocs were arranged two to four meters away from him.

The first explosive was trigged and he felt pressure on his heart. The second and third exploded and he felt dizzy, and the fourth explosion left him with multiple injuries, including a burn on one of his hands. The actor had to be hospitalized later for treatment.

“The scar from the burn remains,” Anh said.

Director Nguyen Thanh Van suggested that many risks may occur at any time when dynamite is used while filming, although necessary safety precautions are taken.

Therefore, those who are in charge of creating fire and smoke effects for films must be trained professionally. In addition, it is advisable that using real dynamite should be replaced with technology that can create similar effects but are not dangerous.

“Using technology and cinema techniques will help avoid regretful accidents,” Van said.

Vuong Duc, a film director and director of the Vietnam Feature Film Studio, said that Decree 25 by the Government, which took effect on May 20, 2012, allows film makers to use simple explosives but bans them from using military-grade explosives. However, many Vietnamese film producers still use military explosives.

Huu Muoi, another director, said the first principle in using explosives in movies is that they must not be stored in residential areas.