Nguyen Quang Dung hires unpaid assistant, reveals his professional views, sparks outrage among fans.

A job posting for an assistant unexpectedly became the center of debate on social media. The person at the center of the "storm" is director Nguyen Quang Dung – a name familiar to Vietnamese audiences through a series of hit films such as "Southern Forest Land," "You Are My Grandma," etc.

Hiring unpaid assistants sparks intense debate.

It all started when director Nguyen Quang Dung posted an advertisement seeking a part-time, unpaid professional assistant. Immediately, this information attracted significant attention and sparked a lot of conflicting opinions.

One side argues that not paying wages is unfair and could set a bad precedent in the creative work environment. The other side sees it as a practical learning opportunity, especially when the mentor is a director with many years of experience in the film industry. In a short time, the post became a hot topic of discussion, spreading from the professional community to netizens in general.

Director Nguyen Quang Dung officially speaks out.

On the evening of December 27th, director Nguyen Quang Dung shared his personal views after the article sparked much controversy. He stated that he remained quite calm in the face of differing opinions.

The director shared that after a day of work and endless meetings, he realized that his assistant job posting had become a "major debate" when he checked social media. He expressed his gratitude to those who understood, as well as colleagues and friends he had worked with who spoke up to explain the situation.

Regarding the dissenting opinions, the director stated that it's normal in life. Everyone has their own perspective and choices, and will decide for themselves the path that suits them at each stage.

Stories of the profession behind the glamour

In his sharing, Nguyen Quang Dung also recalled his career journey many years ago, before he achieved the position he has today. He recounted a time when he worked as an assistant director, earning about $500 for several months of filming, while the post-production process lasted nearly two years.

Notably, for his directorial debut, he only received a screenwriter's salary, not a director's salary. For some projects, he was willing to postpone his personal plans to participate as an assistant, simply because he wanted to travel to more places, gain experience, and learn from real-world situations.

These shared experiences partly show that the path to a career in film is not just about the spotlight, but also a series of sacrifices, accumulations, and perseverance.

Vietnamese celebrities speak out: this is a personal agreement.

The story not only attracted the attention of netizens but also many artists. On her personal page, supermodel Ha Anh spoke out to express her opinion, defending director Nguyen Quang Dung against negative comments.

According to Ha Anh, this is a private agreement between two individuals, not a mass recruitment process. The chosen person will work as a personal assistant, directly working with a professional director, thereby learning many practical things that cannot be accessed simply by paying for them. She also expressed her disapproval of some netizens using harsh language towards the director on social media.

Vocational training opportunities or a boundary that needs discussion?

The story of director Nguyen Quang Dung hiring an unpaid assistant actually reflects a larger issue: the boundary between apprenticeship opportunities and labor rights in the creative field.

For many young people, working closely with experienced professionals is valuable. But for many others, the lack of compensation remains unacceptable, especially in the context of rising living costs. There is no absolute right or wrong in this matter. What matters is transparency, willingness, and a clear understanding of expectations from both sides.

A debate with no end in sight.

What started as a job posting for an assistant quickly transcended personal experiences, becoming a topic of discussion about career paths, the value of work, and opportunities for young people.

Regardless of the perspective, it's undeniable that this debate is forcing many to reflect: where should one begin when learning a trade, working in a profession, and growing within the creative industry, and what sacrifices should be made?

Nguyen Quang Dung: Hospitalized for myocardial infarction, girlfriend is a "beautiful sister" who takes good care of him JLO20:13:14 31/05/2025Nguyen Quang Dung is a famous Vietnamese director, screenwriter and film producer, known to the public as Crazy Dung because of his unique creative style in cinema. He is currently in a romantic relationship with singer Bui Lan Huong.