MC Trường Giang of Nhanh Như Chớp (Lightening Quiz) sets up equipment to prepare to film at home. Photo courtesy of Đông Tây Promotion

HCM CITY TV show producers in HCM City are facing challenges in producing new programmes due to current social distancing restrictions.

In order to fulfill their schedule and serve audiences, they have decided to create shows with at-home editions. 

Triệu Thế Hiệp, a representative of Đông Tây Promotion, one of the country’s leading TV production companies, said: “Although we are facing a tough time, our staff are trying their best to offer ideas to adapt to current circumstances.” 

After discussion, the company decided to film at home, starting with game show Nhanh Như Chớp (Lightning Quiz), a Vietnamese version of a Thai show where contestants must answer questions within two minutes to win. 

Nguyễn Thành Vinh, Nhanh Như Chớp’s producer, said: “It’s the first time the artists have to become technicians. They must set up machines, adjust frames, filming and sound recording. Sometimes the internet connection is unstable and causes video calls to shut down.” 

He said that it takes a lot of time to produce one episode. “Filming at home is a special experience for our staff and the artists. I hope the audiences understand our work and ignore imperfect details.” 

The first three episodes of the at-home edition of Nhanh Như Chớp received encouragement from audiences after it began airing on HCM City Television’s HTV7 channel early this month. 

The show features MC Trường Giang and guest contestants like comedy actors Khả Như and Dương Lâm and singer Ali Hoàng Dương. It has had nearly 2 million views on Đông Tây Promotion’s YouTube channel. 

YouTube viewer Phu Nguyen said that he gave 10 points for the show’s production team, Giang and other guests who have made great efforts to bring entertainment programmes to audiences during the pandemic. 

Giang said: “Life without laughter is no life at all. No matter how hard the situation is, we should face it with strong minds and head forwards to positive things. We, the artists, are trying our best to bring laughter and useful knowledge to home audiences.” 

The artists in the show encourage audiences to stay strong and safe, and to strictly comply with the Ministry of Health’s 5K prevention protocol.  

Hiệp of Đông Tây Promotion said: “We are so lucky that our show has gotten attention, sympathy and support from audiences, which has motivated us to continue producing at-home editions of various shows.” 

The company is rushing to produce more shows to serve audiences as soon as possible, including music shows Tần Số 15 (15Hz Frequency) and Ca Sĩ Bí Ẩn (Hidden Singers), and talk show Tâm Đầu Ý Hợp (Harmony in Marriage). 

These new shows are expected to air soon. 

Artists from the music show Tần Số 15 (15Hz Frequency) perform at home. Screenshot by Đông Tây Promotion

Schedule delays

Many television stations have announced they are suspending the broadcast of a number of game shows due to the pandemic. 

HTV decided to change the premiere of the second season of Running Man Vietnam, one of the most popular TV reality shows in Việt Nam in 2019. 

The show was expected to air in July, but will be rescheduled to September. 

The 15-episode show is adapted from South Korean reality-variety show Running Man in which participants complete various missions in urban areas to win the race.  

The Vietnamese version will feature nine participants, including MC Trường Giang, rapper Karik, actors Ninh Dương Lan Ngọc, Jun Phạm, Liên Bỉnh Phát, Trương Thế Vinh and Thúy Ngân, and singers Ngô Kiến Huy and Jack. 

The show began filming in April in HCM City and will travel to famous destinations in Việt Nam such as Phú Quốc, Sa Pa, Đà Nẵng and Hà Nội. But it had to stop filming due to the pandemic. 

Meanwhile, Việt Nam Television (VTV)’s dance show Nhóm Nhảy Siêu Việt (Vietnam’s Best Dance Crew), which is adapted from the US show Best Dance Crew, was postponed in early July. 

According to the producers, as HCM City has carried out strict social distancing under the Government’s Directive No 16, the show cannot continue filming and dance crews cannot gather for training. 

Nhóm Nhảy Siêu Việt was one of the most popular shows of VTV, highlighting famous Vietnamese dance crews like Mania Family, Saigon Kiddiez, 218 Dance Crew and M.U.G., who follow jazz, contemporary and hip hop. 

Hiệp said: “While the broadcast of many shows must be temporarily delayed, filming at home is the best choice during this tough time.

"We know that we have to face many difficulties and obstacles filming at home. The shows may not be perfect as usual, but we are working hard to make them as good as possible.” VNS