Difficulties are inevitable in any endeavor; if you're afraid of challenges and don't dare to try, you'll never know what you're capable of. This is the philosophy held by the team producing educational documentary television programs.
As mentioned in the previous article, the difficulties and obstacles that the three film crews encountered while making their episodes were only part of the story. So, what more did you gain after completing your projects?
Enthusiastic support and assistance
Every beginning needs a foundation, and fortunately for the students, they had solid support. The first was the course instructor, who assigned the topic, provided guidance, and supported them from start to finish – Mr. Nguyen Cao Cuong (Deputy Director of CMP). “When we were assigned the topic, we thought the instructor had set too high a standard for a 15-week course, as it was too short a time to complete and our abilities were limited, with almost zero experience. But through each week, through each completed ‘item,’ we realized that the requirement was entirely reasonable and not ‘impossible.’ Of course, with the finished product, we have to thank the instructor for his expectations, trust, and close supervision,” said Nguyen Tham. Each week, the students would report on their progress, outlining what they had accomplished, what they hadn't, and what was impossible, so that alternative solutions could be found. And of course, the teacher will help you achieve this by pointing out new paths and different approaches. Alternatively, Mr. Nguyen Cuong has become a permanent production consultant, always available to help students by guiding them in solving problems. Approaching and interviewing the subjects of each group becomes much easier and more practically valuable when the subjects themselves help by supporting and giving feedback on many things that aren't taught in school. Thuy Ngoc, the MC of the episode on the production process of a game show, shared: “As an MC, I had to interview famous people, which made me very scared, to the point of trembling and stumbling over my words. They helped me by chatting and getting acquainted before the interview and giving me time to regain my composure, even though they were busy. Quang Minh even showed me how to hold the microphone correctly. Minh Thao gave me advice on how to ask questions. And the interview went from feeling scared and pressured to feeling comfortable and enjoying it.” In addition, the famous television personalities in the film were friendly and enthusiastic, taking the time to help the interviewers with filming, vouching for them at the station entrance, guiding them on how to view issues and teaching them skills in questioning and using body language. All that enthusiasm helped the interviewers overcome pressure and complete their work more effectively.
Valuable experiences
Those initial challenges of carrying cameras and microphones for interviews, conversations, and exchanges gradually transformed into unforgettable experiences, precious memories, and valuable lessons that not everyone has the opportunity to encounter.
“You only understand the true nature of television work after you've done it. It's not as simple and glamorous as what you see on TV. To get those few minutes on screen, an entire team has to work very hard and professionally. I really wanted to be an MC, but when I went filming, I realized that passion alone isn't enough to be a TV MC.” That's what Thuy Quynh learned from this film project. Meeting and interviewing famous professionals in the field provided opportunities for students to gain practical experience that they wouldn't find at a career workshop, networking event, or even in school. From the sharing of these "veterans," students gained skills in questioning, time management, teamwork, and how to learn more effectively. Hong Nam, team leader of the TV Presenter Production team, said: “During the interview with Mr. Tran Ngoc, after it ended, he spent more than an hour exchanging and sharing his experiences in television, specifically in the MC profession. Those shared insights were more valuable than any theoretical lessons.” Over 15 weeks of training, the students honed many other television production skills as well as other soft skills: “At first, I didn’t know how to edit, do post-production, or read commentary appropriately, but now everything is no longer a problem for me,” said Dang Thi Mai, from the Game Show Production Process team. “Television is a fascinating field, and through film production and filming, I realized that television is a collective effort,” Hoai Thuong confided. "Traveling broadens the mind" is perhaps the most cherished sentiment among the students involved in producing this educational documentary series about television program production.
