Three years ago, as a student at Hanoi-Amsterdam high school, I had a chance to watch Le Minh Duc performing a Linkin Park’s song. “That girl has something”, I said to myself. I was very impressed not o­nly by the way she sang, but also by the way she talked and dressed. And I know I had not got the wrong impression when my friend and I were asked to interview Duc three years later.

Graduating from Hanoi-Amsterdam high school, Duc earned the top score in the entrance exam of Hanoi Academy of Theatre and Cinema. More than that, she was the first Vietnamese to win a full scholarship of the Ministry of Education and Training to study TV/Cinema production at Columbia College Hollywood in California, USA. She said to us: “I had no shock at all when I came here, and now have settled down after just o­nly 3 days”. Amazing, isn’t it?


- Duc, congratulations o­n your scholarship. How are you getting o­n with your new life in the USA?

- I didn’t know that there was a scholarship. I got the top mark in the entrance exam of Hanoi Academy and Theatre so the school chose me. Before coming here to do TV/Cinema production in Columbia College Hollywood, I had to stay in Vietnam to study my first year undergraduate. I’m enjoying my life here. The teachers are great, they are all like: “You’re the first Vietnamese student we’ve ever had, so glad to have you”. That doesn’t bother me much you know. My friends are nice too, they are all very talented and we’re all working real hard.

- Are you planning to go back to Vietnam afterwards? The Hollywood film industry seems to be too attractive for people to leave.

- Certainly, I want to make changes. Before that, I might do a course o­n directing for my MBA if I get a scholarship. MOET students have to go back, you know. Unlike Hollywood, we don’t have huge studios, good equipment and enough money, which is the most important thing, in Vietnam. I’ll try to make some good commercial films first, and then get some money to build my own studio. However, my current dream is producing a film about our HN-AMS school, particularly made for my A3 class, you may say that’s where I had such a most wonderful time.

- When making decision to study production –an unusual option compared with other Vietnamese students nowadays, were you supported by your family?

- Starting to write from 8th grade, after a while, I realized that I wanted to make my writings into films, guess that’s how it all started. My parents and my sister have been very terrific. They support me in everything I do even though I’m the oddball in a family of scientists. Feeling lucky to have them actually.

- Did anyone influence you then, if not your family member?

- Hmm, this is difficult. But I think it’s Linkin Park. Did you see me singing Linkin Park songs when I was in high school. I’m a true fan of them and proud to say so. They have a big influence o­n me, both artistically and personally. Linkin Park is a big band, but they are terrible hard working, workaholic, I should say. They are also serious about their jobs, creative and perfectionistic. The perfectionistic part is the o­ne that affects me most. I’m a perfectionism seeker. Brad o­nce said :” Sometimes you have to be able to let go and realize that you’re not gonna make something perfect”. So I guess I let go o­nce in a while o­nly. You should see my closet. The clothes are all colour coded. My friends said I’m nuts, but I don’t care. Linkin Park has taught me to be patient as well. I think in a film industry, perfection and patience are the two crucial things though.

- We agree with you Minh Duc. Our country needs people like you, who are not afraid of challenges and passionate enough to make differences in the leisure industry particularly, and also in other fields generally. It’s nice interviewing you. May all your dreams come true and we’re looking forward to seeing your first movie.

Interviewed by Vo Quynh Anh (L2 02-05) and Vu Hoang Yen  (A2 02-05)
Edited by Quang Nguyen (T1 00-03)
Submitted by Le Huy Hoang (L2 00-03)