Lights, Camera, Banter: Ten years later, how two mavericks reshaped production in Vietnam

Celebrating a decade of cinematic collaboration, Gordon Westman and Hoang-Lan Pham stand as stalwarts in Vietnam’s film production landscape, nurturing its growth and steering it towards a new era of evolution and innovation. In 2014, these two filmmakers, hailing from different backgrounds, established 116 Pictures in the heart of Saigon, embarking on a journey marked by diversity, ingenuity, and occasional culinary debates.

Their recent deliberation over the finest Bun Cha spot in Hanoi epitomizes their contrasting yet complementary personalities.

“He prefers a venue with a breathtaking view, modern elegance,” remarks Pham, a native of Hanoi, while Pham favors the allure of a hidden, time-honored gem. “That’s pretty much our dynamic,” Westman muses.

Fast forward to 2024, and 10 years down the road, 116 Pictures now boasts a prestigious clientele encompassing global and regional agencies, brands, and media giants. Their portfolio, ranging from advertisements to documentaries, echoes their unwavering commitment to quality—a cornerstone principle that catalyzed their partnership and something they aim for with every project.

Reflecting on their first decade, Westman reminisces: “We crossed paths on various sets, sharing a love of creativity and craft, and a desire to shift the Vietnamese industry’s trajectory. We believed in the potential for improvement, we both believed that things could be better.” With Westman’s extensive experience in longform and film, and Pham’s background in US studio productions across Southeast Asia on titles such as “The Amazing Race”, their merger seemed destined for success.

However, their initial foray into Vietnam’s film scene was met with challenges.

Says Pham, “Those early months were tough. We held onto the belief that prioritizing quality and constantly folding every penny back onto the screen would eventually resonate with the market.

Underscoring their unwavering commitment to their craft, Pham adds: “Working to bring international standards to a developing market, was definitely not a straight forward task, it took a lot of blood, sweat and tears which led us to learn, adapt and constantly evolve”.

“In essence, we are both filmmakers. We love to tell stories with style,” says Pham. “We were so consistently idealistic, even when we weren’t winning, we were fortunate the market gave us their trust and belief.”

As 116 Pictures flourished, so did Vietnam’s production landscape. Once viewed merely as a picturesque backdrop, the country now entices international clients with its robust infrastructure and youthful talent pool.

Says Westman, “We played a role in its evolution,” attributing their success to the collaborative spirit of their colleagues within Vietnam. “We’ve got the whole infrastructure here now, whereas we didn’t a decade ago. We like to think we played our part in its incubation, to be sure, but credit goes to the people we work with. The crew and equipment here have worked as hard as the production companies to successfully raise the bar.”

Their partnership is characterized by contrasting approaches, and thrives on creative tension. “We’re like good cop, bad cop,” jests Pham, emphasizing the synergy that is derived from their varied perspectives. Adds Westman, “Embrace the contrasts, find the balance, enjoy the hire wire act of risk and reward. That’s what sets us apart and also binds us and the industry here together.”

For the past decade, 116 pictures have been quietly chipping away at Vietnam’s production industry. Having mentored literally hundreds of incredibly talent and committed production professionals, many of whom have gone on the become captains of the industry themselves.

Looking ahead, Pham envisions a reversal of their initial goal—to export Vietnamese cinematic excellence to the global stage. “Our mantra has evolved,” says Westman. “It’s no longer ‘if we build it, they will come’; it’s ‘if you come, we have built it.'”

“On the one hand, things are changing faster than ever – we’re super excited to be using AI, VR technology wherever and whenever it’s justified, and, yeah, we’ll pivot the big shoot to TikTok microcontent on a dime. At the same time, this is a 100-year-old business model, the same principles still apply but we keep evolving and setting a fine balance between tech and tradition. That’s why we like to use balance as a verb and not a noun,” says the production veteran.

In their reflective moments, Pham and Westman marvel at the transformative journey that brought them full circle. “From aspiring to globalize Vietnam’s production scene to actually showcasing its inherent qualities to the world,” muses Pham, “our decade-long journey embodies the spirit of Vietnamese productions supported by a budding talent pool, a hunger for executing the very best craft possible. We are resilient, innovative, and boundless in our potential and will continue to bring Vietnam’s ingenuity to the world.”

For more information on 116 Pictures, click here.