Interview with Vicent Tran

Interview with Vincent Tran:
B-Boy Director Vincent Tran Talks About His Superheroine Films

by Long Bui

Release date: Monday, Nov. 3rd, 2014
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama/Action/Thriller

Vincent Tran's short film B-Boy was screened at Viet Film Fest 2014. Since then he has been working very hard on his superheroine films. Viet Film Fest's editor Long Bui has a chat with Vincent about his upcoming heroine films Girl of Steel and Batgirl Rises, which will be premiered at Universal Studios on October 24th and online November 3rd.

Can you explain the leap from movies like B-Boy to Batgirl Rises (and before that Girl of Steel)? What were the challenges and joys of doing this project?	∧
The transition from a dance film to heroic genres was not a huge leap. I've always focused my stories around inspirational and emotional themes. Over the past decade, there has been an absence of transformative films. We concentrate on escaping rather than turning inwards. It's my goal to remind human beings the joy of that experience. This has benefited my craft and gives purpose to my work.
Why a superheroine movie? Where did you the find personal inspiration to take on a female character Batgirl? What makes her so compelling?	∧
The motivation behind my version of superheroine films comes from my real life female superheroes. Our mothers gives us life, our wives help us see our colors and find love. Love is lost in our superheroine movies. Batgirl and Supergirl have been portrayed as having misguided motivations. I wasn't able to discover this if it weren't for the help of my assistant director & fiancé, Riyaana Hartley. Danny Saab had written a compelling story. Riyaana read through the first draft and asked us, "What is the motivation behind these characters?"-a question we should all ask ourselves.
Many are saying your movie is part of a new genre of art called "fan fiction" (the film is not affiliated and licensed with DC comics, the company that owns rights to Batgirl). Can you tell us how independent artists outside the big-budget film industry like you are helping to change the movie-making game?	∧
The word "fan fiction" is just a name. We do not care so much of our identity, but rather our idea of female empowerment in the cinematic world. Not just on screen, but behind the camera as well. Less then 5% of television directors are females and the lack of female driven stories still poses an issue. The way we change the movie-making game is becoming bold by asking ourselves: Is this coming from the heart or is it coming from another desire? Independent artists are becoming more aware of this. It's up to us to fuel the fire.
You were one of the guest speakers for our Youth in Motion program. Can you tell us your experiences with the young filmmakers you met?	∧
I found the Emerging Filmmakers: Youth in Motion Program to be a very exciting experience for me. Not only was I able to connect with fellow Vietnamese brothers and sisters but a different age range as well. As a young filmmaker, it was very easy to connect and relate to their circumstances. This program must exist in order to preserve the art of storytelling. Nowadays, the internet has shifted the filmmaking process, allowing anyone to access equipment and programs. But the schooling in narrative and crafting a story are not present. Unfortunately, today, film schools and colleges can be unaffordable for up-and-coming filmmakers. But a non-profit organization like VAALA and VFF can save the future of filmmaking. For them, I would come back any day. The reward for me is not money, but to change the lives of others.
What is your next project? Do you plan to do more comic book stories in the future?	∧
Right now, we are scheduled to premier Girl of Steel and Batgirl Rises at Universal Studios on October 24th and online November 3rd. The future of our heroine films is based on the reception of our audience. We care about our idea of female empowerment and hope that it can spread further then super hero films. But if the audience will only listen based to our message based on these fictional characters, then it will be our motivation for now.
At Viet Film Festival, we feature works by filmmakers of Vietnamese descent to showcase our many stories and talents. What movies or artists inspired you to become a director, screenwriter, and actor?	∧
Over the past 5-6 years in the film industry, I've gained more rewards just being myself. Creativity is not latching onto other ideas, but being still and spending much time with yourself. Film directors that inspire me are Stanley Kubrick, Danny Boyle, Christopher Nolan and many others.

Date of posting: November 19, 2014