A student from Hanoi Amsterdam High School For the Gifted takes an unconventional path into the world of cinema
Updated: 2 hours ago
Sep 24, 2026 04:00 PM - Tuong Kha
TPO – At 17 years old, Đặng Minh Nam, a student at Hanoi–Amsterdam High School for the Gifted, took an unconventional entrance into the world of cinema. Today, he has already collected several short film awards, founded a high school film club with over 100 members, and serves as a teaching assistant at the Centre for Assistance and Development of Movie Talents (TPD).
Turning Classroom Assignments into Hands-On Opportunities
Đặng Minh Nam is currently a 12th-grade Dual Baccalaureate student at Hanoi–Amsterdam High School for the Gifted (Hanoi). Nam’s love for cinema began during his elementary school years, when he tinkered with photo slideshows set to music. His real turning point came in 8th grade, when he independently directed his very first film project.
Lacking professional gear and specialized equipment, he began learning how to frame shots and adjust lighting using just his phone, a desk lamp, and a corner of his bedroom as a "film set." Navigating these constraints made him realize that cinema wasn't just a passion—it was his most powerful language for storytelling.
Classroom assignments became practical opportunities. He taught himself online, analyzed techniques in classic films, constantly asked "why...", and learned to watch movies through the lens of a filmmaker. To build a deeper, more professional foundation, Nam enrolled at TPD and went on to found the Hanoi Cinematography Club.
To date, Nam has produced numerous short films featuring diverse perspectives and relatable real-life stories, focusing particularly on the dreams and anxieties of youth. Rather than taking a direct approach, his screenplays weave layers of meaning throughout the imagery.
For Nam, writing a great script is tough, but convincing an entire crew to believe in it is even tougher. He always comes to script meetings thoroughly prepared with shot lists, reference materials, narrative arcs, and character psychology breakdowns. "I don't view my script as an absolute answer; I always listen to perspectives from the rest of the crew," he says.
In terms of directorial style, Nam emphasizes character psychology and visual metaphors, maintaining a measured pace interspersed with unexpected plot turns. He aims to forge a signature voice—balancing the emotional lyricism of Damien Chazelle with the grounded authenticity and technical precision of Christopher Nolan.
"My ultimate dream is to prove to the world that Vietnamese culture and human stories have full potential to create works that compete on equal footing in the international arena," Nam states.
Through his works, Nam conveys reflections on identity, human psychology, and the journey of young people chasing their dreams—themes closely tied to his own personal experiences.
"I want to create an evocative space where viewers can look in and reflect on themselves," Nam shares.
Balancing Academics, Filmmaking, and the Film Club
In 2025, Đặng Minh Nam founded the Hanoi Cinematography Club (HCC), bringing together high school students who share a passion for exploring cinema. The club currently boasts over 100 members and a portfolio of more than 10 completed works.
To sustain this creative spark and elevate the team's skills, Nam organizes regular workshops with professional directors, leads internal training sessions on cinematography and editing, and launches short film competitions.
In addition, Nam and his club members actively pitch for sponsorship from TPD as well as external partners to build a solid operational budget. This not only solves the funding challenge for their projects but also gives members early real-world exposure, teaching them how to pitch project ideas persuasively and refine their communication skills with sponsors.
"A great director isn't the person with the most ideas, but the person who can make the entire crew see the story they want to tell"—this is the philosophy Nam applies to both filmmaking and club leadership.
To excel academically while pursuing his passion for film, Nam makes every effort to manage his time effectively. He maximizes class hours for schoolwork, reserving evenings and weekends for scriptwriting, post-production techniques, and activities at TPD and HCC.
Nam likens this period to living the double life of Peter Parker. By day, he is a regular student balancing coursework and exams; when making films, he leads an entire crew and takes responsibility for every frame. "The hardest part is feeling overwhelmed when trying to be both a top student and a capable director," Nam says.
To overcome this, he breaks tasks into smaller steps, delegates authority to his team, and constantly reminds himself why he started. Financially, Nam relies primarily on personal savings and competition prize money to invest in gear, set design, and crew support, keeping family reliance to a minimum.
Key Achievements of DANG MINH NAM:
Academic Record: Excellent Student standing for consecutive years, maintaining a overall GPA of 9.6/10.
Standardized Tests: IELTS 8.0 | SAT 1540 | AP Physics 1: 5/5.
Awards:
1st Place / Best Picture and Best Director at the Lenscape 2025 Short Film Competition (organized by BUV Photography Club, British University Vietnam).
2nd Place / Second Best Picture and Best Director at the Red Carpet 2025 Competition (organized by High School for Gifted Students, Hanoi National University of Education).
Summer Programs: Accepted into the University of Southern California (USC) Summer Program.
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