Larry Berman, the author of “Perfect Spy” (left), script writer Daniel Blake Smith (middle) and the interviewer at the Book Fair 2007 held by the US National Press Club.

American professor and his book about Vietnamese secret agent

The “Perfect Spy” tops bestseller list

Translation of “Perfect Spy” out soon

At an annual book fair held by the US National Press Club in Washington DC on November 1, Larry Berman and his “Perfect Spy” were chosen as one of the 50 best authors and books from over 500 authors and books throughout the US introduced at the festival.

Larry Berman said that he has selected a script writer-producer, Daniel Blake Smith, to make “Perfect Spy” into a movie.

In Vietnam, more than 20,000 Vietnamese copies of “Perfect Spy”, translated by journalist Nguyen Dai Phuong, have been sold since October 1.

Daniel Blake Smith talked with Tien Phong newspaper about this project.

You will turn the “Perfect Spy” by Larry Berman into a film script so you are very experienced?

Partly right. Because I’m a US history lecturer at Kentucky University. My left-handed job is writing film scripts and producing films and I have done this job since the early 1990s. I’m now the co-owner of Phoenix Film.

I and Berman agreed to turn “Perfect Spy” into a film. Today I’m at this book fair to meet with Larry to discuss this project.

When will the film come out?

It will be produced in 2008 and will be presented in spring 2009.

From what you have said, the project seems to be going very smoothly?

I hope so. “Perfect Spy” is a good book about a famous man in not only Vietnam and the US. It is interesting that even when he died, he still left behind many secrets. This will create the attractiveness of the film.

How will the film progress? How will you develop the secrets?

A feature film is around two hours long. It will focus on three outstanding events in the life of the main character, Pham Xuan An, the Ap Bac victory, Mau Than event and the collapse of the Saigon Regime.

I will develop secret details to make the film attractive but I will not deeply exploit the political aspect. This film is not for only Vietnamese but also American audiences.

Do you know much about Vietnam and have you ever written any script or produce a film about Vietnam? What difficulties do you expect in making this film?

I’ve gained some successes in film making, have written many scripts and taken part in making many films. My latest documentary, “The Trail of Tears”, won Best Documentary Film at the US-India Film Festival 2006 in San Francisco and it was introduced at the Smithsonian Museum.

I cannot imagine what the biggest difficulties will be but perhaps it is the same as Larry Berman, to sculpt the character of Pham Xuan An. An’s life is a chain of events and it is difficult to connect them and highlight the character.

Berman had nearly five years to talk with An and write the book, but I have half that time to make the film. But I believe that with cooperation from Berman, I can do everything.

Berman told me that the Vietnamese version of his book is also very successful in Vietnam. This is a challenge but also an advantage for me. The audiences will be curious to know how the film is, whether it is as good as the book.

I don’t want my audiences to despair. I want the film to be “perfect” like the book.

Do you plan to cooperate with Vietnamese film makers?

I hope so. As the co-director of Phoenix Film I can make the film myself but I can also seek investors, producers in Hollywood or in Vietnam. Cooperation can be also in other stages, such as techniques, studio, actors, assistants, etc.

It is certain that the leading actor must be Asian and many scenes need to be shot in Vietnam. I hope to have cooperation from Vietnamese film makers.

Will the film keep the name “Perfect Spy”?

Now, I still think that I will keep the name of the book. However, there is a film named “The Perfect Spy” already. I don’t want the audience to mistake my film with that one. However, I still have a lot of time to think of it.

(Source: Tien Phong)