Jordan Vogt-Roberts, the director of Hollywood’s blockbuster Kong: Skull Island and Vietnam’s Tourism Ambassador for the 2017-2020 tenure. (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA)- As Kong: Skull Island tops box offices worldwide and shattersrecords in Vietnam, its director, Jordan Vogt-Roberts, has taken on a new role:Vietnam’s Tourism Ambassador for the 2017-2020 tenure.
Kong: Skull Island, whose backdrop was mostly filmed in Vietnamese locationsincluding Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh province, Trang An Scenic Complex in Ninh Binhprovince and Son Doong Cave in Quang Binh province, is the third film by the USdirector and the first Hollywood blockbuster to be shot in Vietnam.
Vogt-Roberts is the first film director to serve as tourism ambassador, whichaims to promote the image of Vietnam’s people and land to internationalfriends and to bring the country closer to Hollywood film producers anddirectors.
He spoke about his hit film and his plan for his new mission in a recentinterview.
Reporter: Can you share your feelings on receiving the title of Vietnam’sTourism Ambassador?
Vogt-Roberts: It’s an incredible honour and one of the greatest privileges thatI have ever had. I honestly could not believe that I has been given thisopportunity to continue to help the rest of the world see what I see, which isthat Vietnam is one of the most special, beautiful, wonderful places on thisplanet.
I appreciate the hospitality from locals who have welcomed us as their guests,and I feel so alive and inspired by their spirit.
Reporter: Why did you choose to shoot Kong: Skull Island in Vietnam?
Vogt-Roberts: Vietnam was one of many places we visited during the early phaseof production. We were under a lot of pressure to shoot the movie in a placethat my colleagues had worked before, but when we looked around in thiscountry, it became clear to me instantly that there was nowhere on the searchmore beautiful than this country.
Then it became a mission for me to figure out how to shoot here, because it hadnever been done on that scale before. It became a mission for me to put thecountry on screen to instill a sense of pride into Vietnamese locals and toshare its beauty with the rest of the world.
Reporter: How do you think the movie will promote Vietnam to the world?
Vogt-Roberts: Right now it is the number one movie in the world. Millions ofpeople are watching the movie right now and witnessing Vietnam. I promise youevery single one of them will say: “Oh my God, where did they shoot that? Suchbeautiful places! Where is that?” I hope to help people discover how gorgeousthis country is.
Reporter: What is your plan to promote Vietnam’s tourism as a new tourismambassador of the country?
Vogt-Roberts: It is a great responsibility and I don’t feel I can do it fromafar. First, I want to further my understanding of this country’s traditionsand the cultures even more than I already do. I’m selling my house in the US tocome here. I want to be more represented and I understand it.
And then at the same time, I will work with Hollywood to bring actors here,bring other directors here, letting them know this is a viable option. Youcould set a movie here every day for the next 20 years and not run out ofbeautiful locations to shoot. While I’m collaborating with the people here, Iwill try to make things that people notice in the same way as Kong.
I’m looking forward to finding all the ways I can collaborate with everyonehere and make sure things grow properly.-VNA
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