VietNamNet Bridge – A shortage of scripts and funding has seen film studios drastically reduce the number of TV serials they usually make for children during the summer vacation.

Summer sensation: Trinh Tham Nghiep Du (Amateur Detectives) is the only new TV series for children made by the HCM City Televison Studio (TFS) this year. — Photo xemphimso.com

Trinh Tham Nghiep Du (Amateur Detectives) is the only new TV series for children made by the HCM City Televison Studio (TFS) this year.

"We lack funds to make more serials," said Pham Truong Son, head of the HCM City Television's Film Selection Office.

"The money needed to make a TV serial for children is nearly double that for adults," Son said.

Several years ago, TFS made three or four serials.

Reruns of Giac Mo Bien (Dreams of Sea) and Gia Dinh Phep Thuat (A Witchcraft Family), produced by TFS three years ago, are being broadcast now.

The acclaimed serials have been shown many times on HTV Channel 7 and other television channels nationwide.

The Viet Nam Television Film Studio (VFC) has not produced any serial for children for years. It makes serials for adults that focus on family life and scandals involving corruption and drugs.

"We lack scripts and child artists," said Nguyen Dieu Huong, head of VFC's filmmaking division.

"If we have a good script, we'll develop it right away," she added.

M&T Pictures is the only private studio in HCM City to invest in a TV serial for children this year. Its 30-episode He Khong Phai (Unfading Summer Memories) received warm applause from its target audience when it was broadcast on HTV7 last month.

The serial tells the story that a group of teenage students from rich families living in the city spend a few days in the countryside during their summer vacation. They get to meet with their rural peers and learn from them the hardships faced by a farming household. They also have the opportunity to discover and enjoy the beauty of nature.

"We're happy that young people like the serial. Many commercial spots have been taken during its broadcast," said Truc Mai, M&T Pictures production director.

Film director Xuan Phuoc said that the Government should provide financial assistance to develop films and TV serials for children.

"If studios don't produce more children's films and series, children will turn to foreign films," said Phuoc who has made several acclaimed children serials including Dong Ho Cat (The Sand Glass) and Nhung Dua Tre Tinh Nghich (Playful Kids).

Those who work with children's theatre these days have the same complaint – that they lack scripts.

"We've spoken to several writers to ask them to co-operate with us and provide us with new scripts," said Huynh Anh Tuan, manager of mini-theatre at the Institute for Culture Exchange with France (IDECAF).

Without financial assistance from the State, the IDECAF is one of the city's best known entertainment centres, drawing young audiences with an exciting repertoire of plays.

"However most plays shown by IDECAF are magic and fairy tales," said playwright Quang Thao.

Thao is well-known for writing the scripts for many plays including Con Gai Nang Tien Ca (Mermaid's Daughter) and Chuyen Than Tien Xu Phu Tang (Fairy Tales of Japan) which were staged by IDECAF recently.

Thao said fairy tales from Viet Nam and many other countries had been staged not only at IDECAF, but at several theatres in the city.

But "theatres need plays featuring activities of children of today", Thao said.

"Only children under 10 years old love fairy tales," said artist Hong Van, director of the Phu Nhuan Theatre.

"Teenagers will get tired of such plays and they cannot understand those that are made for adults, which focus too much on social and family issues," Van said.

"We need scripts that will suit teenagers," she added.

"We should not think that if teenagers don't like children's plays, they can see plays for adults."

Source: VNS