The man behind the 'cinematic angles' at National Day

Le Bao Han spent more than two months preparing, under pressure to shoot precise steadicam shots at the 80th National Day celebration.

Le Bao Han uses the Arri Trinity 2 steadicam system during a filming session. Photo: Character provided

During the parade celebrating the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day on September 2, many viewers were impressed by the footage showing the heroism of the entire event. In particular, the semi-circular shot and close-up angle capturing the soldiers' commanding movements received much praise. The person behind these scenes is Le Bao Han (also known as Bi Han), 37 years old, born in Ninh Thuan , currently working in Ho Chi Minh City. The behind-the-scenes video he posted on his personal page attracted millions of views and more than ten thousand shares.

Bi Han has 18 years of experience and is a famous steadicam photographer - a device that helps stabilize the camera and eliminate shaking when moving. He has performed one-shots for the movies Bo Gia (2021) and Dat Rung Phuong Nam (2023). In addition, he participated in producing promotional videos , trailers for the program Vietnam's Next Top Model 2025 , and music videos for Hieu Thu Hai, Rhyder, and Anh Tu Atus.

Le Bao Han working at the A80 anniversary ceremony. Photo: Facebook character

He said he received an invitation in July from the crew of Vietnam Television (VTV) and the Vietnam Television Film Production Center (VFC), with the request to bring a cinematic style to the program. During the event, he was assigned to be in charge of the moving scenes on the main stage using a steadicam, while the rest were handled by VTV and VFC.

"After the crew contacted me, I immediately canceled other projects to arrange to go to Hanoi . Having worked as a freelancer for many years, I never thought that one day I would stand at Ba Dinh Square to film such an important event," Bi Han said.

Bi Han has 18 years of working experience and is a famous steadicam photographer in the profession. Photo: Facebook character

The preparation process was rushed, forcing him to come up with his own filming and moving plan. Three days before the parade rehearsal, on the evening of August 24, Bi Han and his assistant drove a 16-seat car carrying equipment from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi. Technically, he used the Arri Trinity 2 steadicam system - worth 150,000 USD (nearly 4 billion VND), weighing 38 kg, to record the rotation, panning, and movement of the parade blocks and equipment. He combined it with a balance vehicle to adjust the speed of movement.

The program set strict security requirements. During the first practice session, the team limited their operations, discussed shooting angles, and tested the scene. Safety regulations only allowed the steadicam to move within a 30-meter range, so the shots were quite limited. In addition, because the area had tanks and military artillery, he had to concentrate completely to avoid mistakes. Bi Han had to present a plan for arranging camera angles, how to enter and exit the formation according to the regulations to convince the director and security forces, proving that he could meet the requirements.

"In the command script, distance and pace are clearly defined. Just being off by half a meter or one step behind can ruin the formation and affect the entire mission," he said.

He has done one-shots for the movies Bo Gia (2021) and Dat Rung Phuong Nam (2023). Photo: Character's Facebook

Cinematographer Nguyen Trinh Hoan - director of production company HKFilm - commented that Bi Han is a dedicated photographer on set. In his first years of working, he took on many positions such as lighting technician, camera assistant, and equipment manager.

According to Mr. Trinh Hoan, to operate a steadicam, the cameraman must have good health and balance skills to control the heavy equipment. They wear a specialized vest with a mechanical lever to reduce vibration. The lever is attached to the camera frame, ensuring the stability of the device. Although there are many cameramen in Vietnam, the number of professional steadicam users is not much due to the high cost of equipment and the time required to practice skills.

"Bi Han's shots at the National Day ceremony partly show his talent. The smooth camera movements and the transitions between the parade blocks help the audience fully feel the atmosphere of the ceremony," he said.

On the evening of September 2, Bi Han packed his things to drive back to Ho Chi Minh City, which was expected to take more than a day. He said filming the National Day celebration was hard work and stressful, but it was a proud milestone in his career. "I will never forget the moment I stood in the middle of Ba Dinh Square, recording every synchronized step of thousands of soldiers," he said.

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Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/nguoi-dung-sau-nhung-goc-may-dien-anh-o-le-quoc-khanh-519851.html